PARIS (AP) 鈥� The European Union launched a drive on Monday to attract scientists and researchers to Europe with offers of grants and new policy plans, after the Trump administration froze U.S. linked to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
鈥淎 few years ago, no one would have imagined that one of the biggest democracies in the world would cancel research programs under the pretext that the word diversity was in this program," French President Emmanuel Macron said at the 鈥淐hoose Europe for Science鈥� event in Paris.
鈥淣o one would have thought that one of the biggest democracies in the world would delete with a stroke the ability of one researcher or another to obtain visas,鈥� Macron said. 鈥淏ut here we are."
Taking the same stage at the Sorbonne University, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU鈥檚 executive branch would set up a 鈥渟uper grant鈥� program aimed at offering 鈥渁 longer-term perspective to the very best鈥� in the field.
She said that 500 million euros ($566 million) will be put forward in 2025-2027 鈥渢o make Europe a magnet for researchers.鈥� It would be injected into the European Research Council, which already has a budget of more than 16 billion euros ($18 billion) for 2021-2027.
Von der Leyen said that the 27-nation EU intends 鈥渢o enshrine freedom of scientific research into law鈥� with a new legal act. As 鈥渢he threats rise across the world, Europe will not compromise on its principles,鈥� she said.
Macron said that the French government would also soon make new proposals to beef up investment in science and research.
Last month, hundreds of in the United States had National Science Foundation funding canceled to comply with U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 order to end support to research on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as the study of misinformation.
More than 380 grant projects have been cut so far, including work to combat internet censorship in China and Iran and a project consulting with Indigenous communities to understand environmental changes in Alaska鈥檚 Arctic region.
Some terminated grants that sought to broaden the diversity of people studying science, technology and engineering. Scientists, researchers and doctors have .
While not mentioning the Trump administration by name, von der Leyen said that it was 鈥渁 gigantic miscalculation鈥� to undermine free and open research.
鈥淲e can all agree that science has no passport, no gender, no ethnicity, no political party,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e believe that diversity is an asset of humanity and the lifeblood of science. It is one of the most valuable global assets and it must be protected.鈥�
Von der Leyen's drive to promote opportunities in Europe in the field of science and take advantage of U.S. policy shifts dovetails with the way that she has played up the potential for with other countries since Trump took office in January and sparked a last month.
The former German defense minister, and trained doctor, vowed that the EU would also address some of the roadblocks that scientists and researchers face, notably excessive red tape and access to businesses.
Macron said that science and research must not "be based on the diktats of the few.鈥�
Macron said that Europe 鈥渕ust become a refuge鈥� for scientists and researchers, and he said to those who feel under threat elsewhere: 鈥淭he message is simple. If you like freedom, come and help us to remain free, to do research here, to help us become better, to invest in our future.鈥�
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Lorne Cook reported from Brussels.
Catherine Gaschka And Lorne Cook, The Associated Press
