CDEFI releases its manifesto for a sovereign, exemplary, open and democratic Europe

CDEFI has published its manifesto and recognises the significant milestone that is the European election campaign of 9 June 2024.

We keep on enjoining French and European higher education scientific communities to actively partake in these elections in support of the European values and initiatives around which their action revolves, in a world faced with various challenges such as armed conflicts, foreign interference, the rise of illiberal regimes and growing ecological threats.

The manifesto highlights our vision for a strong, dynamic and forward-looking Europe. Higher education institutions play a crucial role in the process of building Europe. As driving forces of innovation and economic growth, they are central in Europe’s competitiveness and ability to meet today’s political, social and environmental challenges.

We strongly believe that higher education and research are the keystone of our collective future. This is the reason why we are enjoining the forthcoming Parliament to invest more in higher education institutions and research and innovation programmes across the EU. By strengthening these sectors, we can not only stimulate scientific and technological innovation, but also generate new economic and social opportunities for all of Europe’s citizens.

Open science is an essential segment of our vision. By encouraging transparency and the sharing of knowledge, we can hasten discoveries and make research accessible to all. We also advocate a proactive Europe on the world stage, capable of defending its industry, its values and its interests.

In addition, we reiterate that Europe must remain an attractive destination for international talents if it is to address labour shortages in a number of key strategic sectors. By encouraging researchers, students and professionals from multiple backgrounds to come in Europe, we are enriching our intellectual, cultural and scientific heritage. Diversity of talent is a major asset in stimulating innovation and strengthening French and European competitiveness on the world stage. It is therefore essential to promote an open, demanding and humanist migration policy, especially regarding the receiving of uprooted populations.

CDEFI defends fundamental values such as inclusion, democracy and academic freedom. We advocate inclusion, ensuring that all voices are heard and respected. Democracy is a cornerstone of our society, and we encourage efforts to promote the active participation of all citizens in decision-making processes. Finally, academic freedom is crucial to ensuring that researchers and academics can work without hindrance and express their ideas freely. It is vital that this principle should be a European priority at a time when illiberal regimes are on the rise.

For more details on our recommendations and positions, see the complete report below or its synthesised version here.