The Academy seeks to engage with the EU policy process and inform decisions that affect UK medical research and the ability to collaborate across Member States.
Before and since the UK referendum on leaving the European Union, we have been in constant contact with policy makers about how to safeguard biomedical research after Britain leaves the EU. Working with influential partners, we have produced an extensive array of statements, consultation responses and research, and we have held regular meetings with Ministers and senior officials. For information on our Brexit activities, please visit our dedicated page on Research and the European Union.
We also work with policymakers to ensure that the UK’s position on EU policy issues facilitates future medical research, for instance the use of patient data in research,.
We have worked alongside the Federation for European Academies of Medicine (FEAM) for many years. We helped FEAM to secure funding to recruit more staff and carry out a strategic review, in turn leveraging investment from other European medical academies. We worked together to ensure FEAM’s policy work on the EU Clinical Trials Directive in 2010 was informed by the UK position, and alerted decision makers to the potential negative impact of the EU Data Protection Regulation in 2015. We also working closely with FEAM and other European National Academies to support the Scientific Advice Mechanism for Europe and the contribution of the Academy networks through SAPEA.
Some of our recent work has included:
- The Academy submitted written evidence to the Science and Technology Select Committee's Brexit, Science and Innovation: Preparations for a "no-deal" inquiry.
- The President wrote to all Fellows to outline the Academy's activities to ensure science and research is prioritised and protected as the UK leaves the EU.
- The Presidents of the UK National Academies wrote to the Home Sectretary on 16 November outlining the importance of internationalmobility for research and innovation.
- The Academy President welcomed a statement from the Federation of European Academies of Medicine on the importance of the UK to European research and the need to safeguard this relationship post Brexit.
- In October 2018, the Academy published a statement on the implications of leaving the EU without a deal. The President stressed these risks in an interview with BBC Radio 4's PM on Monday 1 October.
- The President responded to the Migration Advisory Committee report on EEA migrantion.
- We have published a number of reports on different aspects of the relationship between UK and EU research, including the role of EU funding in UK research and innovation and the benefits of UK-EU collaboration in medical research.
- Influencing the development of EU legislation, including the Data Protection Regulation, Clinical Trials Regulation and, Medical Devices Regulation.
- Supporting FEAM to contribute to SAPEA which brings together the European Academy networks to contribute to the Science Advisory Mechanism.
