The European Parliament’s Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) held its first meeting on 24 October 2024 and elected its leadership team, the STOA Bureau, reappointing MEP Christian Ehler (EPP, Germany) as Chair.
The leadership team, elected for a two-and-a-half-year term, also includes two Vice-Chairs and is complemented by the EP Vice-President overseeing STOA. Together, they form the STOA Bureau.
“Foresight and science advice for policy is more important than ever, because we are regulating several transitions at the same time, remaking our markets and societies,” said Christian Ehler upon his re-election by acclamation. “Having a STOA Panel, where we can take a forward-looking approach and learn together based on scientific advice, is crucial in such a time.”
“Furthermore, as we have shown in the last term, STOA is the best place for a depoliticised debate on the state of Academic Freedom in Europe. The STOA Panel helps the Parliament to protect this fundamental value of the Union”, he added.
Lina Gálvez Muñoz (S&D, Spain) and Ivars Ijabs (Renew, Latvia) were also elected by acclamation as the first and second Vice-Chairs, respectively.
Victor Negrescu (S&D, Romania), EP Vice-President responsible for STOA, emphasised the panel’s pivotal role in providing members of the European Parliament with independent, expert assessments of scientific and technological developments:
“We have together a lot of work in front of us in trying to highlight the key role that this structure has for policy-making, but also for enabling us to better understand the changes that are currently happening in the world and, in the same time, be able to adapt and regulate accordingly. Europe has been and can continue to be a leader in science and technology and I believe this panel will allow us to highlight this aspect”, stated Negrescu.
Next Steps
As members of the STOA Bureau, the four Panel chairs work closely with the other 23 STOA Panel members to further its mission of providing independent expert assessment of scientific and technological developments. They evaluate the impact of these developments and help identify the best policy options.
Their efforts focus on issues with significant implications for individual and societal progress, ensuring that science and technology contribute to the wellbeing and benefit of society. Their next meeting is set for 28 November 2024.
Background
STOA facilitates interdisciplinary research and provides science advice on technology assessment and scientific foresight. It requests studies, organises workshops, and hosts the European Science-Media Hub (ESMH) for networking between the EP, the scientific community, and the media.
In 2022, STOA launched the European Parliament Forum for Academic Freedom to support academic rights across the EU, fostering discussions through studies and conferences.