Written evidence submitted by Universities UK (LEA0275)

About us

Universities UK is the representative organisation for the UK’s universities. Founded in 1918, its mission is to be the voice for universities in the UK, providing high quality leadership and support to its members to promote a successful and diverse higher education sector. With 135 members and offices in London, Cardiff (Universities Wales) and Edinburgh (Universities Scotland), it promotes the strength and success of UK universities nationally and internationally.

Summary of positions and asks

• The UK’s world-class university sector is outward-looking and committed to international collaboration, which enables the exchange of people and ideas, enhances the excellence and impact of research, and supports universities’ roles as drivers of innovation and economic growth.

• The UK’s decision to leave the EU poses significant challenges to the UK university sector, in terms of access to funding, opportunities for collaboration and the recruitment and retention of talent.
   
• We must in this context work together to ensure the UK’s new relationship with the EU is one which recognises that excellent science and higher education improves people’s lives and contributes to economic growth, as well as capitalise on the opportunities that the current climate provides to forge an ambitious new international strategy for the UK and for its universities.

• UUK is calling on the Government to take the following actions to secure the UK higher education sector’s continued success and competitiveness:

Immediate term

• Provide immediate reassurances to EU students starting in academic year 2016/17 regarding their unchanged tuition fee status and for 2017/18 entrants on their ability to access student loans, recognising that the UCAS cycle opens on 6 September 2016
• Affirm that it is a priority to ensure that future academic and student mobility is not impeded by unnecessary bureaucracy regardless of the immigration status of EU nationals, communicating a welcoming and positive message worldwide
• Give assurance that any changes to EU students' immigration status, tuition fee requirements and access to student loans will only apply to incoming EU students beginning ​courses after exit
• Provide further details on the projects covered by the welcome commitment to underwrite Horizon 2020 projects approved before the UK exits the EU, as well as assurances that the associated funding will be in addition to, as opposed to drawn from, existing HE and research funding
• Confirm that there will be no change to the residency and immigration status of those EU nationals already in the UK before the date of Brexit, and that their rights will be safeguarded after this date

Priorities in relation to the EU-UK relationship

The UK’s status as a leading nation for science and research and the extensive experience of collaboration in the academic community provides a unique opportunity for constructive dialogue with the EU. In this context:

• Science and research must have a seat at the negotiating table and the UK Government must work with the research community in formulating relevant positions
• EU students, researchers and university staff must continue to be able to work and study across Europe, without unnecessary administrative burdens
• The UK Government should prioritise negotiating continued influence over and access to EU research programmes, in recognition of their disproportionate benefit to UK research excellence and impact and guarantee continued access for EU nationals to UK-based research facilities
• The UK Government should prioritise implementing an appropriate and proportionate regulatory environment, retaining harmonised policy and regulation with other European countries where possible and desirable
• The UK Government should prioritise ensuring continued access to continued EU funded mobility programmes, Erasmus+ and the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCAs) in recognition of their value for the employability and productivity of the UK workforce

Longer-term priorities for an internationalised higher education sector

• Invest in expanding and promoting the UK’s opportunities for international research collaboration, through new bilateral and multilateral research schemes with priority partners in Europe and beyond
• Commit to replacing any lost research and innovation funding associated with the UK’s exit from the EU
• Provide added reassurances to the UK’s research community and preserve the UK research base’s international standing by committing to a real terms increase in science funding
• Strengthen the UK’s capacity for economic growth delivered through innovation and collaboration at local and national levels by increasing investment in the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF).
• Reform the immigration system to ensure the most talented and entrepreneurial staff, students and academics globally can come to the UK, regardless of their nationality
• Launch an international student strategy, backed by investment to support international marketing, mobility and partnerships in both Europe and across the world including a quantitative target to increase international student recruitment
• Invest in international mobility programmes to international experiences for UK researchers and students, as well as to support talent to come to the UK
• Retain the Erasmus fee waiver mechanism which guarantees that institutions can charge students studying abroad up to 15% of the total tuition fee (or 20% for a sandwich year) and that these fees are covered for the student by the Student Loans Company.[[1]].

COLLABORATION:

1. International collaboration across borders strengthens the excellence, profile and impact of UK research. The UK has more articles per pound and per researcher than our major competitors – with 0.9% of the world’s population, the UK’s research base produces 15.9% of the world’s most highly-cited articles. This is in large part due to the UK’s high levels of international collaboration. Almost 50% of UK academic papers are written with an international partner, and international co-authorship is associated with 61% more impact than institutional co-authorship based on field-weighted citation impact (FWCI), and 41% more impact than national co-authorship.

2. Cooperation with European countries is a fundamental pillar of the UK’s international engagement. This is facilitated and incentivised by the funding and the networks offered by the EU: the EU guarantees freedom of movement for researchers and support staff, a harmonised regulatory environment and offers through the Framework Programme a single framework for collaboration.

3. Almost half (47%) of UK internationally co-authored publications between 2008 and 2012 were with EU and EEA research partners, and the average Field Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) for UK collaborations with the EU and EEA was very high at 2.97, compared to an average FWCI of 1.45 for collaborations within the UK and 2.00 for UK international collaborations. In addition, seven of the UK’s top ten, and 13 of our top 20, ‘most collaborated with’ nations are other EU member states. The field weighted citation impact of collaborative research between the UK and European partners is significant: Germany – 2.75; France – 2.88; Italy – 2.77, and Netherlands – 3.16.

Immediate action in relation to Horizon 2020 participation

4. In the immediate term, following the UK’s exit from the EU, it is essential that the UK’s participation in and access to EU programmes is not hampered by the uncertainty created by the UK’s decision to leave the EU. We welcome as a positive first step the Government’s commitment to underwrite UK researchers’ participation in Horizon 2020 for projects bid directly to the European Commission while we are still a member of the EU, (even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU).
    
5. However, in order for the statement to have the desired effect of addressing uncertainty among the research community, and maintaining the perceived attractiveness of the UK as a research partner, the Government should:

• Provide further detail on the projects and timescales covered by this announcement. 
• Providing assurances that funding used to underwrite Horizon 2020 awards will not come from raiding existing funding allocations within the science ringfence (e.g. QR), but be drawn from other funding sources, and that this will carry over past the end of the allocation of the current science and research budget. 

Long-term priorities in relation to EU collaboration

6. Longer term, and regardless of the constitutional settlement, the UK must continue to invest in and grow its collaborative relationships with European partners. In order to most effectively ensure this, the UK Government should:
    

• Prioritise ensuring continued UK influence over and access to EU research policy and programmes not just for the duration of the current programme but beyond, recognising that participation in this area of EU policy serves the national interest.
• Provide assurances regarding the future mobility of EU students and researchers, unhampered by unnecessary bureaucratic burdens
• Invest in additional bilateral and multilateral research and innovation initiatives with key European partners

Implications for Joint Research Infrastructures

7. The sharing and developing of joint Research Infrastructures (RIs) is a core element of European research collaboration. It will be paramount to ensure that leaving the EU will not impede access to this infrastructure for researchers based in the UK, and as a result make the UK a less attractive place in which to undertake research.

8. The expense of establishing research infrastructure means that it is often unfeasible for individual states acting on their own to do so. International co-ordination in this area is particularly helpful in streamlining and combining resources, and providing a forum for necessary negotiation. Research infrastructure can take the form of physical infrastructures as well as constructing and granting access to large datasets. Large datasets in the social science fields in particular are facilitated by the kind of collaboration between governments which the EU is able to underpin.
9. European research infrastructure activity has increased in recent years, with the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) now coordinating investment. The legal framework for European research infrastructure consortia (ERICs), the specific legal form designed to facilitate the joint establishment and operation of research infrastructures of pan-European interest, entered into force in 2009. The UK is leading on one of the first ERICs, the European Social Survey. The ESS ERIC headquarters are located at City University London.

10. Whilst researchers from non-EU Member States have access to these infrastructures in principle, those from member states may have preferential access.  Benefiting from the preferential access allows for streams of research which make extensive use of international infrastructure while being based in the UK, and which therefore contribute to the UK science base. Without treaty-like participation of the UK in these organisations this research would be seriously disadvantaged compared with that based in our European competitors.

11. We would also like to draw attention to the following testament RCUK has made, which we endorse:

‘Maintaining access to a full range of world-class research facilities, both in the UK and internationally, is vital for the UK to remain a leading centre of research excellence. RCUK will continue to work to ensure that our researchers have access to leading research infrastructure and facilities wherever they may be located in the world. The UK’s participation in major European partnerships that are not part of EU institutions will not be affected. These include CERN, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), European Space Agency (ESA), Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), European Spallation Source (ESS) and European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). The UK also remains committed to other major international projects, including the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), T2K and the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). We will also continue to promote the UK’s world leading research infrastructure and facilities as a key factor in the vibrant research environment that serves as a magnet for the most talented researchers and multinational R&D companies.”

Global collaboration priorities

12. As the UK prepares to leave the EU, government is presented with an opportunity to strengthen the UK research base’s international networks that are a vital contributor to research excellence.
13. While almost half of the UK’s internationally co-authored publications were developed with EU partners, the UK also has many close non-EU partners. Between 2008 and 2012, four of the UK’s top research partners in terms of the number of co-authored publications were non-EU/EFTA countries. The UK’s top research partner was the USA, with Australia fifth, China eighth, and Canada ninth. As the UK repositions itself globally, there will be opportunities to enhance research collaboration with countries around the world. Government could enhance the UK’s collaboration opportunities with non-EU countries by:

• Establish a cross-Government international research strategy which invests in opportunities for bilateral and multilateral international research collaboration through with the developed and developing world
  
• Promoting research collaboration opportunities (through the new Department of International Trade) as a central pillar of the UK's offer to overseas governments and businesses
• Recognising the economic potential of UK higher education in the Government’s industrial strategy, including through a specific higher education Industrial Strategy, to support the set-up of new funds to enhance collaboration

PEOPLE

14. The excellence of the UK research base relies on attracting the most talented researchers to pursue groundbreaking projects at British universities, regardless of where they come from. Almost half of UK academic papers are currently written in collaboration with at least one international partner, and this in turn drives the UK’s research productivity. 28% of the UK's academic workforce are non-UK citizens, 12% from countries outside the EU and 16% are from EU countries. These staff bring with them skills, experience and expertise sought the world over, and complement and enhance the quality of teaching and the quality of research. 
15. Similarly, the UK attracts the talented researchers of the future. 43% of postgraduate research students are from other EU or non-EU countries. The UK is the world’s second most popular destination for international students, who spend money and create jobs, generating more than £9 billion and around 171,000 full-time equivalent jobs across the entire country, as well as providing 15% of university income and sustaining courses in crucial areas like science and technology where domestic demand is not sufficient. There are currently 124,575 EU students at UK universities – 5.5% of total student numbers. EU students alone generated an estimated £3.7 billion for the UK economy and 34,000 jobs across the country, based on 2011/12 figures.
16. Enabling and encouraging talented students from across the world to choose to study in the UK enhances British cultural influence, and soft power. More than three out of four (77%) international students who graduate from a UK university state an intention to develop professional links with organisations in the UK in the future, and 87% seek to remain connected with their university – this rises to 90% amongst Chinese graduates. 
17. The UK’s decision to leave the EU poses significant challenges to the UK’s attractiveness as a destination for talent, and the UK’s associated export earnings. Polling done by Hobsons after the referendum showed that 43% of prospective international students feel that Brexit has affected their decision to study in the UK. Of these students, 83 per cent say it has made them less likely to study in the UK. Universities are also reporting top researchers from elsewhere in the EU reconsidering taking up positions at UK universities in light of the uncertainties caused by Brexit. This risks both the excellence of UK research, the internationalisation of our campuses and the financial sustainability of the sector.

Immediate actions to safeguard EU staff and student recruitment

18. In the short-term, UUK is calling on the UK Government

• Provide immediate reassurances to EU students starting in academic year 2016/17 regarding their unchanged tuition fee status and for 2017/18 entrants on their eligibility to access student loans, recognising that the UCAS cycle opens on 6 September 2016
• Confirm that there will be no change to the residency and immigration status of those EU nationals already in the UK before the date of Brexit
• Affirm that it is a priority to ensure that future academic and student mobility is not impeded by unnecessary bureaucracy regardless of the immigration status of EU nationals, in recognition of their essential contribution to the UK research base and wider economy

Wider priorities to enhance international staff and student recruitment

In the longer term, the UK Government should make it a priority to:

• Reform the immigration system to ensure the most talented and entrepreneurial staff, students and academics globally can come to the UK, regardless of their nationality
• Launch an international student strategy, backed by investment to support international marketing, mobility and partnerships in both Europe and across the world including a quantitative target to increase international student recruitment

Promoting global opportunities for UK students and staff

19. In addition, the employability, productivity and international connectedness of UK graduates and researchers depends on their ability to access international opportunities. Evidence shows that students who have studied abroad are 50% less likely to experience long-term unemployment, more likely to achieve academically and to reach a position of seniority in their professional lives. Research also demonstrates that mobile researchers are more productive than their counterparts who stay at home. In this context the UK Government should also prioritise:

• Invest in international mobility programmes to support international experiences for UK researchers and students, setting quantitative targets regarding the percentage of UK students and researchers accessing international opportunities
• Negotiate continued UK access to EU funded mobility programmes, Erasmus+ and the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCAs)
• Retain the Erasmus fee waiver mechanism which guarantees that institutions can charge students studying abroad on Erasmus or any other bilateral exchange scheme up to 15% of the total tuition fee (or 20% for a sandwich year) and that these fees are covered for the student by the Student Loans Company.[[1]].

FUNDING AND REGULATION

Funding

20.   UK universities have been extremely successful in attracting funding from abroad and particularly from the EU. Brexit presents a risk to the UK’s research base should adequate alternative sources of funding not be available to replace any foregone income. Between 2010/11 and 2014/15, UK universities received £5.2 billion research funding from EU sources, including EU governmental bodies and EU-based industry and charities[1]. The proportion of UK university research grant income from EU sources has steadily increased from 11.6% in 2010/11 to 14.1% in 2014/15.

21.   The UK has benefitted disproportionately from EU research grant funding in particular, securing significantly more funding through Framework Programme 7 than would be suggested by its population, its GDP, or its gross expenditure on research and development. The UK Office of National Statistics estimated the UK’s contribution to EU R&D at €5.4 billion in the period of 2007-2013[2]. During this time, the UK received €8.8 billion in EU funding for research and innovation[3]. From the inception of Horizon 2020 in 2014 up until May 2016, the UK received €981 million for the projects it coordinated alone.

22.   In addition, UK universities have received:

• more than £1 billion from the EU via European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) and European Social Funds (ESF) since 2003/04
• over €2.6 billion in European Investment Bank loans
• more than £600 million in EU student fee income in 2014/15 alone
• £558 million in research grants and contracts income from EU charities, industry and other non-governmental bodies since 2009/10

23.   The example of Switzerland demonstrates that losing full access to FPs can greatly reduce engagement. Under FP7, Switzerland coordinated 3.9% of all projects and was ranked in 7th position as a coordinator[4]. However, after failing to ratify a treaty allowing the freedom of movement of Croatian citizens, Swiss access to Horizon 2020 was reduced to just the European Research Council funds. In the first two years of Horizon 2020, the percentage of projects coordinated by Switzerland was just 0.3%, a fraction of its engagement in FP7.

24.   If the relationship negotiated with the EU prevents UK access to EU government funding for R&D or leads to a reduction in investment from EU-based industries or charities, this would represent a significant drop in overall UK research funding. There is an ongoing commitment by universities to drive efficiencies, however funding reductions cannot be compensated through efficiency savings and would instead impact on the excellence and sustainability of UK research.

25.   This underlines the fundamental importance of maintaining as high a level of access to EU funding as is possible. In addition, given future access is not guaranteed it further underlines the importance of national investment in the UK research base.

26.   Research is a long-term investment in the UK economy and society. Because research is a cumulative process, it needs long-term, patient investment to deliver maximum benefit to society. It often takes time for research to come to fruition and for its benefits to be accrued. Failure to invest adequate public funding in research or a loss of global reputation and collaboration will cause long term damage to the research base that will be impossible or at least extremely costly for future generations to reverse.

27.   The UK has fallen behind its competitors in terms of total R&D investment, spending less in this area than any other G8 country.[5]  This will put UK competitiveness, productivity and high-value jobs at risk if it is not reversed. The Government should produce a long term ‘roadmap’ for increasing public and private sector science R&D investment in the UK, as recommended by a previous Science and Technology Committee report.[6]

Key asks to secure stable and sustainable investment for higher education

• Commit to replacing any lost research and innovation funding associated with the UK’s exit from the EU
• Provide added reassurances to the UK’s research community and preserve the UK’s international competitiveness by committing to a real terms increase in science funding 
• Strengthen the UK’s capacity for economic growth delivered through innovation and collaboration at local and national levels by increasing investment in the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF)
• Invest in enhanced funding opportunities for innovation activity, with both established partners such as Germany and emerging powers such as India and China
• Fund capital investment projects to replace the funding opportunities represented by the Structural Funds

Intellectual property and commercialisation of research
 

28.   The main risk here is a general decline in research funding, both from domestic and EU sources. The less funding there is for research, the less commercialisation and technology transfer there will be. This is a real risk for the UK innovation landscape.

29.   Harmonisation of regulation has been a major enabler for research collaboration, and a common set of rules underpins EU funded research collaboration, including on IP and the commercialisation of research. If the UK is to continue to collaborate with European partners, and in particular if it is to associate to Horizon 2020 it will need to comply with EU arrangements relating to IP and research commercialisation.

30.   In this context, it would also be beneficial if new arrangements enabled the UK to participate in the Unified Patent Court and in the Unitary Patent.

Regulation

31.   The EU has a significant influence on the regulatory environment of UK research and science. International collaboration is essential for research excellence, and harmonisation of regulatory and legal frameworks across participant countries significantly supports international collaboration through providing certainty and consistency. UK science and HE organisations have invested substantial time in negotiating these arrangements and it is paramount that Government considers these carefully in making transitional and new regulatory arrangements.

32.   Aside from the interim evaluation of the EU budget (MFF), Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ and Structural Funds, EU legislation that should be considered in particular includes: 
 

-          Clinical Trials Regulation (EU) 536/2014

-          General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679

-          Regulation on In vitro diagnostic medical devices 2012/0267(COD)

-          Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes

-          Directive 2013/35/EU - electromagnetic fields (physical agents)

-          Directive 2013/55/EU on the recognition of professional qualifications

-          Directive 2001/29/EC on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society

-          Directive 2013/37/EU on the re-use of public sector information

-          UK employment law based on EU Directives, e.g. Working Time Directive 2003/88/EC, Transfers of Undertakings Directive 2001/23/EC (TUPE Regulations), Safety and Health at Work Directive 89/391/EEC
 

33.   This list is not exhaustive; a more extensive list may be found at Annex 2. After 40 years of membership, the influence of EU law is wide-reaching and this needs to be taken into consideration. We would recommend the Government, working closely with experts across the higher education sector, to undertake a thorough analysis of existing EU Regulations valid in the UK and EU Directives transposed into UK law. Our understanding is the latter would be unaffected by a repeal of the European Communities Act 1972 (presumably necessary to leave the EU) and it would then be up to the Government to explicitly repeal any of the UK Acts that have transposed the EU Directives. EU Regulations would presumably immediately fall away if the EC Act

August 2016

Annex 1: Different models for UK-EU relationship and their impact on research

EEA agreement

1. The EEA agreement requires signatories to adopt EU legislation in all policy areas of the Single Market. This includes the free movement of goods, services, persons and capital, as well as competition and state aid rules. In addition, the EEA agreement sets out a number of horizontal policies, including consumer protection, company law, environment, and social policy.

2. Protocol 31 of the EEA agreement sets out that EEA countries are able to participate fully in EU FPs, and describes the terms of this participation. This includes (1) the terms under which EEA states will contribute financially, and (2) the extent of EEA states’ involvement in EC committees and agencies related to research and development. Because access to EU programmes is set out in the agreement, it is not necessary to renegotiate access for each multi-year FP.

3. While the EEA agreement requires the acceptance of the freedom of movement of people, it seems possible within the parameters of EU single market legislation and the EEA agreement for the UK to negotiate specific terms and conditions. For example, it may be possible to accept the broad principle of freedom of movement of people in accordance with the Treaty, but negotiate restrictions on the associate rights and entitlements of EU citizens that are set out in various derivatives. Article 112 of the EEA Agreement also allows EEA states to take unilateral action to restrict freedom of movement in the event of “serious economic, societal or environmental difficulties.” Any such measures could impact on the free movement of researchers and students in practice.

European Neighbourhood Policy

4. ENP consists of a series of bilateral agreements and regional frameworks used by the EU to offer financial aid, market access and visa facilitations. These are offered to a select number of countries on the condition of domestic reforms in specific political, economic and administrative areas. ENP is used to advance EU foreign policy and to ensure stability and security on the EU’s borders. The aims of the ENP may not align with the EU’s objectives when establishing a relationship with the UK.

5. A number of ENP countries have negotiated full access to FPs. However, they do need to renegotiate access to each new multi-year FP. ENP countries do not have a deep level of access into the single market, and as thus have not had to accept the free movement of people.

Bilateral agreement including associate status to FPs

6. The UK may choose to establish a relationship with the EU based on a series of bilateral agreements on a range of issues. The UK may be able to negotiate an arrangement that includes Associate member status to FPs, like Switzerland did. Switzerland does have to renegotiate access to each new multi-year FP with the EU. This renewal requires approval of the European Parliament and the Swiss government. Historically, this has been a time-consuming process, taking approximately two years. As a result of delays, Switzerland missed the first calls of FP6. If the UK has to undertake the same process as Switzerland does, there is always a risk that there could be similar delays. This could impact significantly on the UK’s reliability and attractiveness as a partner and project coordinator.

7. In addition, Switzerland’s access to Horizon 2020 has now been restricted following its failure to ratify a protocol accepting the free movement of Croatian citizens in 2014. This demonstrates that engagement with FPs through this type of model could at short notice be blocked if disagreements with the EU arise, creating uncertainty for projects underway and potentially hindering the strength of UK research collaboration.

Bilateral agreements with Third Party status

8.                                                                                                                                                                                     The UK might also negotiate a bilateral Science and Technology agreement that includes Third Country status to FPs. Countries with bilateral S&T agreements may participate in FPs, but do not contribute financially and are not generally eligible for funding. Current countries with such agreements include the US, Australia and Canada. Policy makers and researchers from these countries are not involved in any agenda setting and the do not have an observer seat on any policy committees. They are also unable to coordinate projects through FPs, and are typically not able to access all part of the FPs. A number of countries, including the USA, have set up specific funding streams to help their researchers engage with EU FPs.

Annex 2:

Directives and Regulations affecting higher education and R&D

Innovation / Research

• Directive 98/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 1998 on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions
• Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (Text with EEA relevance)
• Directive 2013/37/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 amending Directive 2003/98/EC on the re-use of public sector information Text with EEA relevance
• Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) and repealing Decision No 1982/2006/EC Text with EEA relevance
• Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 laying down the rules for participation and dissemination in "Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020)" and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1906/2006 Text with EEA relevance
• Council Decision of 3 December 2013 establishing the specific programme implementing Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) and repealing Decisions 2006/971/EC, 2006/972/EC, 2006/973/EC, 2006/974/EC and 2006/975/EC
• Council Regulation (EU) No 1261/2013 of 2 December 2013 amending Regulation (EC) No 723/2009 concerning the Community legal framework for a European Research Infrastructures Consortium (ERIC)
• Council Regulation (EC) No 723/2009 of 25 June 2009 on the Community legal framework for a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC)
• Regulation (EU) No 1292/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 amending Regulation (EC) No 294/2008 establishing the European Institute of Innovation and Technology Text with EEA relevance
• Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1314/2013 of 16 December 2013 on the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2014-2018) complementing the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation
• Directive (EU) 2016/801 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au pairing
• Council Regulation (EU) No 557/2014 of 6 May 2014 establishing the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking Text with EEA relevance
• Council Regulation (EU) No 559/2014 of 6 May 2014 establishing the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking Text with EEA relevance
• Council Regulation (EU) No 558/2014 of 6 May 2014 establishing the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking Text with EEA relevance
• Council Regulation (EU) No 560/2014 of 6 May 2014 establishing the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking Text with EEA relevance
• Council Regulation (EU) No 561/2014 of 6 May 2014 establishing the ECSEL Joint Undertaking Text with EEA relevance
• Council Regulation (EU) No 642/2014 of 16 June 2014 establishing the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking
• Council Regulation (EU) No 721/2014 of 16 June 2014 amending Regulation (EC) No 219/2007 on the establishment of a Joint Undertaking to develop the new generation European air traffic management system (SESAR) as regards the extension of the Joint Undertaking until 2024 Text with EEA relevance

Education & Training

• Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing 'Erasmus+': the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport and repealing Decisions No 1719/2006/EC, No 1720/2006/EC and No 1298/2008/EC Text with EEA relevance
• Regulation (EC) No 452/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 concerning the production and development of statistics on education and lifelong learning (Text with EEA relevance)
• Regulation (EU) No 234/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a Partnership Instrument for cooperation with third countries
• Regulation (EU) No 232/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a European Neighbourhood Instrument
• Commission Regulation (EU) No 912/2013 of 23 September 2013 implementing Regulation (EC) No 452/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the production and development of statistics on education and lifelong learning, as regards statistics on education and training systems Text with EEA relevance
• Commission Regulation (EU) No 1175/2014 of 30 October 2014 implementing Regulation (EC) No 452/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the production and development of statistics on education and lifelong learning, as regards statistics on the participation of adults in lifelong learning and repealing Commission Regulation (EU) No 823/2010 Text with EEA relevance
• Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications
• Directive 2013/55/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 amending Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications and Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 on administrative cooperation through the Internal Market Information System ( ‘the IMI Regulation’ )
• Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Social Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1081/2006
• Regulation (EU) 2015/779 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 amending Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013, as regards an additional initial prefinancing amount paid to operational programmes supported by the Youth Employment Initiative

Labour law / Health and Safety

• Directive 2003/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 November 2003 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time
• Directive 2000/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 2000 amending Council Directive 93/104/EC concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time to cover sectors and activities excluded from that Directive
• Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the coordination of social security systems
• Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems
• Council Directive 79/7/EEC of 19 December 1978 on the progressive implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in matters of social security
• Council Directive 91/533/EEC of 14 October 1991 on an employer's obligation to inform employees of the conditions applicable to the contract or employment relationship
• Council Directive 1999/70/EC of 28 June 1999 concerning the framework agreement on fixed-term work concluded by ETUC, UNICE and CEEP
• Council Directive 97/81/EC of 15 December 1997 concerning the Framework Agreement on part-time work concluded by UNICE, CEEP and the ETUC
• Council Directive 2010/18/EU of 8 March 2010 implementing the revised Framework Agreement on parental leave concluded by BUSINESSEUROPE, UEAPME, CEEP and ETUC and repealing Directive 96/34/EC
• Directive 2008/94/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2008 on the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer
• Council Directive 2001/23/EC of 12 March 2001 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the safeguarding of employees' rights in the event of transfers of undertakings, businesses or parts of undertakings or businesses
• Council Directive 98/59/EC of 20 July 1998 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to collective redundancies
• Directive 2008/104/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on temporary agency work
• Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation
• Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work
• Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on personal protective equipment and repealing Council Directive 89/686/EEC
• Directive 2009/104/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work
• Directive 1999/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1999 on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres
• Council Directive 92/58/EEC of 24 June 1992 on the minimum requirements for the provision of safety and/or health signs at work
• Council Directive 98/24/EC of 7 April 1998 on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work
• Commission Directive 2000/39/EC of 8 June 2000 establishing a first list of indicative
• occupational exposure limit values in implementation of Council Directive 98/24/EC on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work
• Commission Directive 2006/15/EC of 7 February 2006 establishing a second list of indicative occupational exposure limit values in implementation of Council Directive 98/24/EC and amending Directives
• Commission Directive 2009/161/EU of 17 December 2009 establishing a third list of indicative occupational exposure limit values in implementation of Council Directive 98/24/EC and amending Commission Directive 2000/39/EC
• Directive 2009/148/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work
• Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work
• Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom of 5 December 2013 laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation, and repealing Directives 89/618/Euratom, 90/641/Euratom, 96/29/Euratom, 97/43/Euratom and 2003/122/Euratom
• Directive 2013/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields)
• Directive 2006/25/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to risks arising from physical agents (artificial optical radiation)
• Directive 2003/10/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 February 2003 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (noise)
• Directive 2002/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (vibration)
• Directive 2000/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000 on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work
• Council Directive 94/33/EC of 22 June 1994 on the protection of young people at work
• Council Directive 92/85/EEC of 19 October 1992 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding
• Council Directive of 25 June 1991 supplementing the measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of workers with a fixed-duration employment relationship or a temporary employment relationship

Investment

• Regulation (EU) 2015/760 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on European long-term investment funds
• Regulation (EU) 2015/1017 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2015 on the European Fund for Strategic Investments, the European Investment Advisory Hub and the European Investment Project Portal and amending Regulations (EU) No 1291/2013 and (EU) No 1316/2013 — the European Fund for Strategic Investments
• Regulation (EU) No 670/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2012 amending Decision No 1639/2006/EC establishing a Competitiveness and Innovation framework Programme (2007-2013) and Regulation (EC) No 680/2007 laying down general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of the trans-European transport and energy networks

Freedom of movement

• Directive 96/71/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1996 concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services
• Directive 2014/67/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the enforcement of Directive 96/71/EC concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services and amending Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 on administrative cooperation through the Internal Market Information System ( ‘the IMI Regulation’ )
• Regulation (EU) No 492/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011 on freedom of movement for workers within the Union
• Directive (EU) 2016/801 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au pairing
• Regulation (EU) 2016/589 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 April 2016 on a European network of employment services (EURES), workers' access to mobility services and the further integration of labour markets, and amending Regulations (EU) No 492/2011 and (EU) No 1296/2013
• Commission Regulation (EC) No 635/2006 of 25 April 2006 repealing Regulation (EEC) No 1251/70 on the right of workers to remain in the territory of a Member State after having been employed in that State
• Directive 2014/54/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on measures facilitating the exercise of rights conferred on workers in the context of freedom of movement for workers

Animal research

• Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes Text with EEA relevance

Chemicals[7]

• Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC
• Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (Text with EEA relevance)
• Regulation (EU) No 649/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 concerning the export and import of hazardous chemicals Text with EEA relevance
• Directive 2004/10/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 on the harmonisation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the application of the principles of good laboratory practice and the verification of their applications for tests on chemical substances (codified version) (Text with EEA relevance)
• Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2012 concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products Text with EEA relevance
• Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC
• Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides (Text with EEA relevance)
• Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 2008 on the inland transport of dangerous goods (Text with EEA relevance)
• Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment Text with EEA relevance
• Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on persistent organic pollutants and amending Directive 79/117/EEC

Intellectual property rights

• Regulation (EU) No 1257/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2012 implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of the creation of unitary patent protection
• Council Regulation (EU) No 1260/2012 of 17 December 2012 implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of the creation of unitary patent protection with regard to the applicable translation arrangements
• Regulation (EU) No 542/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 amending Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 as regards the rules to be applied with respect to the Unified Patent Court and the Benelux Court of Justice
• Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society
• Directive 2006/116/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the term of protection of copyright and certain related rights (codified version)
• Directive 2011/77/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2011 amending Directive 2006/116/EC on the term of protection of copyright and certain related rights
• Directive 2006/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on rental right and lending right and on certain rights related to copyright in the field of intellectual property (codified version)
• Directive 2012/28/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on certain permitted uses of orphan works Text with EEA relevance
• Directive 96/9/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 1996 on the legal protection of databases
• Directive (EU) 2016/943 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure (Text with EEA relevance)
• Directive 2004/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the council of 29 April 2004 on the enforcement of intellectual property rights (Text with EEA relevance)
• Directive (EU) 2015/2436 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2015 to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks (Text with EEA relevance)
• Regulation (EU) 2015/2424 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2015 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 on the Community trade mark and Commission Regulation (EC) No 2868/95 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94 on the Community trade mark, and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 2869/95 on the fees payable to the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (Text with EEA relevance)
• Directive 2014/26/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on collective management of copyright and related rights and multi-territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online use in the internal market Text with EEA relevance
• Regulation (EU) No 608/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 concerning customs enforcement of intellectual property rights and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1383/2003
• Regulation (EU) No 386/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 April 2012 on entrusting the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) with tasks related to the enforcement of intellectual property rights, including the assembling of public and private-sector representatives as a European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights Text with EEA relevance
• Directive 98/71/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 1998 on the legal protection of designs