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Official Journal of the European Union
EN
C series
C/2023/1640

29.12.2023

COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION
of 18 December 2023
on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe C/2023/1640

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 1825 and Article 292, first and second sentence, thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:

1

Commission Recommendation 2005/251/EC 1 played an important role in supporting researchers and research careers in the Union. The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers Charter and Code for Researchers have become reference points for researchers and employers or funders of researchers, contributing to strengthening the European Research Area ERA and supporting the development of a more attractive, open and sustainable Union labour market for researchers. A European procedure certifying the commitment and progress of an institution towards the implementation of the principles of the Charter and Code for Researchers, the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers HRS4R, is in place since 2008.

2

The Commission Communication entitled European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience, adopted on 1 July 2020 2, underlines that researchers are at the forefront of science and innovation, and that they need specific sets of skills to have successful careers within and outside academia. It foresees the definition of a taxonomy of skills for researchers to allow, inter alia, the statistical monitoring of brain circulation, the development of a European Competence Framework for Researchers, and support for equipping researchers with the skills needed for inter-sectoral mobility. The first flagship action of the Skills Agenda, the Union Pact for Skills, supports upskilling and reskilling through collaboration between industry, education and training providers, social partners and public authorities in largescale skills partnerships.

3

The Commission Communication entitled A New ERA for Research and Innovation, adopted on 30 September 2020 3, acknowledges that career development conditions to attract and retain the best researchers in the Union are necessary in the global race for talents, and that precarious employment, notably for early-career researchers, has not been adequately addressed over the past years. It also highlights the frequent misalignment between researchers skills and the needs of society and the economy, and the importance to train and incentivise researchers to pursue a career outside academia, involving industry. That Communication points out that in order to strengthen research careers in Europe, there is a need for a toolbox of measures aiming at the recognition of researchers skills, the development of a competence framework for researchers, enhanced mobility and exchange mechanisms between academia and industry, targeted training opportunities, and a one-stop-shop portal that researchers from the public and private sectors can all access for a wide range of support services. That Communication also foresees the improvement of the research assessment system to rightfully and properly recognise diversity of career paths and activities that better respond to the requirements of society.

1 Commission Recommendation 2005/251/EC of 11 March 2005 on the European Charter for Researchers and on a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers OJ L 75, 22.3.2005, p. 67.
2 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience, COM2020 274
final.
3 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions A new ERA for Research and Innovation, COM2020 628 final.

ELI: http data.europa.eu/eli/C/2023/1640/oj
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