Press Maria da Graça Carvalho says that the social sciences and the humanities have a role to play in confronting the great challenges agenda of the future Research Framework Programme

These themes include Environmental challenges; Energy Challenges and climate change; Demographic changes; Challenges for people and society; New ideas about quality of life; Social innovation and Challenges for European industry in a globalised world

Today, Maria da Graça Carvalho hosted the panel discussion on "The future of social science and humanities funding in Europe", organized by the EU Liaison Office of Freie Universität Berlin in Brussels. The event took place in the European Parliament.

During her intervention, Maria da Graça Carvalho gave a brief overview of how she sees the future of the different EU research and innovation programmes with particular reference to the social sciences and humanities. 

For Ms. Carvalho, the importance of EU funding in research and innovation across Europe "is enormous", adding that "this is a particularly crucial moment for us all as the Parliament, the Council and the Commission are in the process of conducting the mid term review of the FP7; they have also already started working on the FP8 and on the future EU budget, post-2013". 

Maria da Graça Carvalho, 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". The MEP concluded presenting her perspectives and recommendations concerning the major guidelines for FP8.

Among the panelists were also Patricia Reilly, Member of Cabinet of Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, EU COM; Prof. Erika Fischer-Lichte, ERC Panel Chair / Professor at Freie Universität Berlin; Prof. Iain Begg, Rapporteur, FP7 Interim Eval. Expert Group/Professorial Research Fellow at LSE and Charlotte Fiala, Head of the EU Laision Office of Freie Universität Berlin.