Panel discussion on social science and humanities funding in Europe at the European Parliament. On 3 May the EU Liaison Office of Freie Universität Berlin organised a panel discussion on the “The future of social science and humanities funding in Europe" at the European Parliament on Brussels. The panelists were MEP Maria Da Graça Carvalho, Patricia Reilly, Member of Cabinet of Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Prof. Erika Fischer-Lichte (Freie Universität Berlin), Prof. Iain Begg (London School of Economics and Political Science) and Dr Charlotte Fiala (Head of the EU Liaison Office of Freie Universität Berlin). During her intervention, Ms Carvalho gave an overview of how she sees the future of the different EU research and innovation programmes with particular reference to the social sciences and humanities. The MEP, who is rapporteur for the simplification of the EU research and innovation programmes and EPP permanent rapporteur for the research area in both the current Budget Committee and in the Future Budget Committee, stressed "the need for increased funding in the present and future budgets for EU research and innovation programmes". She also underlined that the social sciences and the humanities (SSH) have a role to play in confronting the great challenges agenda of the future Research Framework Programme. Panelists at the meeting argued for earmarked funding for SSH in the next European Framework Programme.
More information about the meeting – including a discussion paper by Dr Charlotte Fiala on “European Funding for Social Science and Humanities Research beyond 2014" is available from the website of the EU Liaison Office of Freie Universität Berlin.
