LIBER Joins European Research and Higher Education Organisations To Call on Commission Not to Neglect Their Needs in Lawmaking 

In our 2023-2027 Strategy, LIBER pledged to speak up for our members on issues that impact research libraries’ position as engaged and trusted hubs of their user communities. As part of this promise, LIBER has joined forces with other key stakeholders in the research landscape to urge the European Commission to consider the needs of the research community in their lawmaking.

The below statement was formed as part of the Knowledge Rights 21 Project, to which LIBER contributes as partner.   

Eight organisations, representing key actors in the public research and higher education sectors, have released an open letter addressed to Ilze Juhansone, Secretary-General of the European Commission, and colleagues demanding the Commission prioritise research and education in its ex-ante impact assessment process. 

Too often, Regulations and Directives have been proposed with far-reaching consequences for universities, research centres and the people who work there, but with little or no consideration of these implications. 

The letter proposes concrete steps, including a review of the Union’s Innovation Principle, which is currently focused only on private-sector research, as well as an update of its tools for impact assessment and more effective outreach both between European Commission’s services and to stakeholders. Finally, it urges rapid steps to correct the uncertainties caused by recent legislation. 

Giannis Tsakonas (LIBER Vice-President), stated: 

LIBER works consistently to promote the interests of research libraries and the communities they represent and serve. To do so, we need to secure a legally clear and unambiguous environment that allows the innovation in our organisations to flourish and contribute to European growth and coherence. We join our voice with other concerned organisations to urge the EC to balance the impacts of European legislation and revalue the driving forces of public institutions. 

Read the Open Letter 

The signatories: 

• European University Association (EUA) 
• The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities  
• International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)  
• Knowledge Rights 21 (KR21) 
• LIBER (Ligue des Bibliothèques Européennes de Recherche – Association of European Research Libraries)  
• Science Europe 
• SPARC Europe  
• Stichting eIFL.net (EIFL)