Recently, within the EASA Executive, a major consideration has been given to lobbying activities at the level of the European Commission in relation to the Funding Programmes. The main objective is that of making a bridge between the society and policy makers. Of course, this complex and long-lasting lobbying activity is not an easy one. We have to be proactive and join forces with other similar groups considering that unity is strength. Consequently EASA has decided to become a member and join forces with two major lobbying associations: the European Association of Social Sciences and Humanities (EASSH) and Initiative for Science in Europe (ISE).
Presently, we are working on a position paper that will be addressed to DG Research and DG Employment in the autumn 2018. This is a further step of EASA lobbying activities a result of the 2017 seminar in Bern that focused on precarity in the academia.
A list of major topics to be addressed in the future European call for proposals (2021-2027) has been established as follows: Anthropocene (topic already addressed by EASHH), Migration, Refugees, Activism, Food Security, Health, Heritage, Security and Terrorism, Education, Gender, Digital World etc. and presented at the General Assembly of EASSH.
Invitation to register as experts
As many of you already know, the new name of the European funding programme is Horizon Europe and will be launched on 1st January 2021. In order to have more chances, considering that our community of anthropologists had a great success of research projects that were funded, mainly within the ERC programme, we encourage EASA members to register as experts in order to evaluate research projects. This would give us the opportunity to be more present at the European level and within the so called “decisional committees”.
Georgeta Stoica
Lobbying officer
stoicageorgiana(at)yahoo.com