Major report says research should be EU’s ‘fifth freedom’

Former Italy prime minister Enrico Letta calls for joint digital infrastructure and more researcher mobility

Research, innovation and education should be the focus of a “fifth freedom” of the EU’s single market, according to a major report.

Former Italy prime minister Enrico Letta (pictured) produced the report as one of two requested by the European Commission to help inform efforts to improve the EU’s competitiveness amid fears it is falling behind the US and China. He was asked to focus on the single market, while fellow former Italy prime minister Mario Draghi will focus on competitiveness more broadly in a report expected in June.