The debate on how to fund EU research has moved from the European Commission to the Parliament. Tania Rabesandratana recounts the Brussels hearing that set the scene for detailed negotiations.
Attending a hearing of the European Parliament is an experience subtly different from any other. One of the first challenges is to locate room PHS 3C050 in the maze that is the Parliament’s Brussels building. After several years of frequenting it, your correspondent still gets lost in its many wings, lifts and corridors. Once there, the hearing is free of charge and open to all. But occasional visitors to the European Parliament must register several days ahead with their date of birth and ID number.