Question for written answer E-000062/2021 to the Commission
Rule 138
Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D), Sven Simon (PPE), Maria da Graça Carvalho (PPE), Lina Gálvez Muñoz (S&D), Patrizia Toia (S&D)
The pandemic that broke out in February forced many researchers to suspend their works and research projects: conferences and seminars have been canceled, laboratories, libraries and archives closed. As a direct consequence, many researchers funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie program (MSCA) were obliged to accept unpaid extensions or to suspend contracts without achieving the expected results. Moreover, since these are international research mobility programs, these researchers work abroad without being able to count on financial support from the host country and without being able to rely on indirect support systems such as could be family or friends. In the last month, MEPs have repeatedly reached out to the Commission to request solutions; however, no satisfactory outcome has been achieved for dozens, if not hundreds, of researchers. In light of a second wave of lockdowns this winter that threatens the livelihoods of even more researchers:
1. Is the Commission willing to use exceptional circumstance clauses for MSCA researchers to give a blanket one-year extension to their funding?
2.Should the Commission refuse to do so, what alternative measures is it considering that go beyond the current scope of flexibility, as the current measures are insufficient?
cient?