Soft approach to ERA won’t work, say universities

The European Commission’s proposal to use non-binding agreements to regulate the European Research Area is not enough to ensure timely completion of the ambitious project, according to the League of European Research Universities.

To develop ERA further, the Commission has opted for so-called European Research Area Pacts rather than binding EU regulations, research commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn announced on 30 January. The pacts are supposed to help complete ERA by 2014.