ETUCE calls for stronger social dialogue and decent working conditions to attract and retain research talent in Europe
On 10 July 2026, ETUCE participated in the European Commission's Implementation Dialogue on Attracting and Retaining Research Talent in Europe, hosted by Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva. The discussion brought together stakeholders from across the research and higher education sectors to explore how Europe can become a destination of choice for research talent and how research careers can be better prepared for the future economy and society.
Representing ETUCE, European Director Jelmer Evers stressed that attracting research talent is inseparable from providing researchers with decent working conditions, secure employment, fair salaries, academic freedom, democratic governance and genuine career prospects. ETUCE underlined that researchers will ultimately judge European initiatives by whether they improve their day-to-day professional reality, including employment stability, career progression, workload and social protection.
During the dialogue, ETUCE highlighted that precarious employment remains a major obstacle to attracting and retaining researchers in Europe. Short-term contracts, project-based employment and uncertain career pathways continue to affect many researchers, particularly early-career researchers, women and internationally mobile staff. ETUCE argued that Europe cannot seek research excellence while allowing insecurity to remain a defining feature of academic careers.
A central message from ETUCE was the need to strengthen social dialogue throughout the implementation of European research policies. While researchers' unions were consulted during the development of the European framework for research careers, ETUCE pointed out that they have not been meaningfully involved in its implementation. Academic and education unions must be recognised as key partners in designing, monitoring and evaluating reforms affecting researchers' working lives.
ETUCE therefore called for all European initiatives related to research careers to include structured social dialogue mechanisms and monitoring of employment quality, career progression and the use of precarious contracts. The organisation reiterated that meaningful implementation requires the principle of "nothing about us, without us."
Looking ahead, ETUCE welcomed efforts to recognise diverse research career pathways but warned that flexibility and mobility should not become a justification for fragmented or insecure employment. Researchers moving between institutions, sectors or countries must retain access to social protection, collective bargaining coverage, pension rights and fair recognition of their experience. ETUCE also stressed that teaching, supervision, public engagement, academic service and collegial governance remain essential aspects of academic work and should be properly valued in career assessment systems.
ETUCE further called on the European Commission to make respect for social dialogue with researchers' trade unions a requirement for institutions seeking access to Horizon Europe funding and other major European research initiatives, including European University Alliances. Such measures would help ensure that public investment in research contributes to quality employment and sustainable research careers.
The dialogue also opened the door for further exchanges with key higher education stakeholders, including the European Commission, the European University Association (EUA) and the European Students' Union (ESU), on how to improve working conditions and career prospects in the European research sector.
As Europe seeks to strengthen its global competitiveness and research capacity, ETUCE reaffirmed that attracting and retaining talent requires more than policy ambitions. It requires stable careers, quality working conditions, academic freedom and a genuine commitment to social dialogue for all researchers across Europe.
