In the Parisian Sorbonne, von der Leyen and Macron scientists seduce to come to ‘Safe Haven’ Europe

« What a huge miscalculation! » Ursula von der Leyen lets her words echo through the main hall of the Sorbonne University. There are no youthful Parisian study balls in the lecture benches opposite her, but seasoned researchers and scientists in Pak. They hear how the chairman of the European Commission breaks a lance for their work – and against an unqualified government.

« The role of science is being questioned today, » Von der Leyen announces among the pasting looks of the statues of Descartes, Pascal and other big names from French science. « Investing in fundamental, free and open research is being questioned! »

Should she still say which country she is talking about?

Von der Leyen is the main act in the Sorbonne on Monday, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron. The two have a common goal: seduce scientists from all over the world to settle in Europe. To reinforce that mission, Von der Leyen makes 500 million euros available from the EU budget. With that money, academics, « the sharpest and the smartest » spirits, according to von der Leyen, can be pays to do their groundbreaking research in the EU.

The urge to act of the US government sends shock waves over the world stage. Europe suddenly thinks about red armament, about its trade relationships, about its sovereignty. Von der Leyen is constantly talking about it in her speeches. But those sliding power panels also offer opportunities, the committee chairman knows. And the EU wants to reap the benefits.

Haven

With argus eyes, scientists have looked at the education and research policy of the United States since the return of Donald Trump in the White House. The Trump government wants to delete billions of dollars for universities. Universities threaten lucrative government contracts if they stick to their diversity policy or if they do not act harder against Palestine protests on their campus.

In March it turned out that a French researcher had refused access to the US while on his way to a scientific conference in Texas. According to the French government, that was the result of his « personal opinion » about Trump. The White House later claimed that the researcher had confidential information from an American laboratory without permission – but the French government does not seem convinced of that statement.

« Who thought that one of the world’s greatest democracies would make it impossible in one fell swoop to get a visa as a researcher? » Macron told the full room. « Who would have thought a few years ago that one of the greatest democracies in the world would delete research with the only explanation that the word » diversity « is in the program? »

It is unimaginable, the French president continues, that such a country, which is so dependent on free science for his prosperity, would choose « to commit such a mistake. » He also announces a program that scientists must attract, worth 100 million.

Direct confrontation

Von der Leyen does not release much about the details of the 500 million euros program in her speech. « What you probably have to imagine is that with the assignment of research funds you are more agile at researchers who are now in the US, » suspects an anonymous EU official who is not directly involved in implementation. « You see that even partly happening now. » In the case of the US, this may also involve European researchers who are still working at American universities.

Throughout Europe, governments are hand -wiping ready to accommodate academic refugees. In the Netherlands, education minister Eppo Bruins (NSC) announced in March a fund to attract swift top talent. The Cabinet Schoof is clearly more careful: every reference to the American political climate was avoided in the announcement.

At the conference in the Sorbonne room things are different. When education minister Philippe Baptiste speaks of « a reverse enlightenment » that takes place before our eyes, his audience knows on which he is referring. Earlier this year, the same Baptiste made a call to American scientists to move to France, after the case with the deported French researcher.

That Europe is so clearly focused on the ‘poaching’ of scientists from the US is a change. At the conclusion of new trade agreements, another spearhead of the new Von der Leyen committee, it was still to say that the EU was not fighting the US. That had to make Europe more independent, but the friendship with the Americans remained intact. That is different now: the EU no longer seems afraid of a direct confrontation with the US government.

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