Once perceived as remote, the Arctic and Antarctica are now recognised as global drivers of change, actively reshaping Europe’s climate, biodiversity, economy, security, culture, and the daily lives of its citizens.
As the European Union enters a decisive phase in shaping its next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 and Framework Programme 10 (FP10), we, members of the European research community, call for the establishment of a targeted, long-term funding instrument dedicated to Polar Research for 2028- 2034.
Prepared by the European Polar Board, a collaborative network uniting 31 organizations from 22 countries across Europe to foster collaboration and act as the point of contact for the European polar research community worldwide, this call speaks with one voice: Europe must sustain and strengthen its leadership in polar science.
The Arctic and Antarctica are global driving forces of change, shaping Europe’s climate, including extreme events, biodiversity, economy, security, culture, and the daily lives of its citizens. For decades, EU-funded polar research has generated world-leading vital knowledge that informs EU strategies, including the Green Deal, its Arctic Strategy, climate resilience, and global sustainability goals.
The European polar research community stands ready to provide the answers Europe needs. Thanks to the EU's targeted funding for polar research, the European polar research community has been able to prioritise key research topics through EU projects such as EU-PolarNet and establish the European Polar Coordination Office. Continued, dedicated funding will allow Europe to build on these priorities and generate essential knowledge on the pressing natural and societal challenges tied to polar ecosystems. This investment will reinforce Europe's leadership and strategically put the EU in a leading position for the 5th International Polar Year (2032–2033), enhancing its capacity to address polar changes both within Europe and globally. No other national initiative worldwide can unite the best minds across countries like the EU's sustained funding for polar research. Without a targeted Polar Research fund under FP10, European polar science will lose momentum just as the stakes reach their highest.
This call aligns with the existing messages to protect research excellence at the heart of Europe’s future and FP10. Examples include the the Warsaw Declaration on the strategic role of the future EU R&I framework programme, the Joint Statement of non-EU Countries to the European Commission on the future of FP10, the open letter to the Presidents of EU institutions, the messages from Science Europe, European Marine Board and the May 5 speech of President von der Leyen at the ‘Choose Europe for Science' event at La Sorbonne. Now is the time for Europe to reaffirm its commitment: by securing a visible and long-term funding stream for Polar Research, we will empower Europe to remain at the forefront of global science and policy leadership for a sustainable, secure, and resilient future for all.
Signed by EPB Representatives and Secretariat,
Jakob Abermann, Assoc.-Prof., Graz University and Austrian Polar Research Institute, Austria
Carlo Barbante, Professor, EPB Executive Committee Member, Italian National Program for Antarctic Research and University of Venice
Nicole Biebow, Dr., Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Germany
Daan Blok, PhD, EPB Executive Committee Member, coordinator Netherlands Polar Programme
Sandro Carniel, Dr, Research Director, Institute of Polar Science, Italian National Research Council
Bruno Delille, Dr, F.R.S.-FNRS & University of Liège, Belgium
Evgen Dykyi, Director, the State Institution National Antarctic Scientific Center, Ukraine
Jane Francis, Prof., Director, British Antarctic Survey, UK
Piotr Głowacki, Prof. Dr., Chair, Committee on Polar Research, Polish Academy of Sciences
Maria Grigoratou, PhD, Executive Secretary of the European Polar Board
Katarina Gårdfeldt, Prof alumni, Director Swedish Polar Research Secretariat
Markku Heikkilä, Head of Science Communications, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Finland
Eva Horovcakova, Senior Communications Officer, European Polar Board
Marie-Noelle Houssais, Dr., National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), France
Alun Hubbard, Prof, UArctic Chair in Cryospheric Sciences & Director (interim), Thule Institute, University of Oulu
Philippe Huybrechts, Prof. Dr., Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
Johanna Ikävalko, Director, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Finland
Jacek A. Jania, Prof. Dr., University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland and Committee on Polar Research, Polish Academy of Sciences
Pavel Kapler, Dr., Czech Antarctic Research Programme Manager, Masaryk University, Czech Republic
Carlo Krieger, PhD, president, Luxembourg polar programme, polar lu, Luxembourg
Maarja Kruusmaa, Chair of Estonian Polar Research Committee, Estonian Academy of Science
Keith Larson, PhD, Director of the Arctic Centre at Umeå University
Kirsi Latola, PhD, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Finland, UArctic Vice President, Polar Network
Kati Lindström, PhD, Vice Chair of the Estonian Polar Research Committee, Estonian Academy of Science
Dragomir Mateev, EPB Executive Committee Member, Bulgarian Antarctic Institute
Egill Þór Níelsson, Senior Adviser, The Icelandic Centre for Research - Rannis
Daniel Nyvlt, Assoc. Prof., Head of the Czech Antarctic Research Programme, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
Kylie Owen, PhD, Officer for the European Polar Coordination Office, European Polar Board
Giuliana Panieri, Professor, Director of the Institute of Polar Science, Italian National Research Council
Christo Pimpirev, Professor, Director of Bulgarian Antarctic Institute
Antonio Quesada, Professor. Executive director of the Spanish Polar Committee
Peter Schweitzer, Prof., Dr., University of Vienna, Austria, representing FWF
Peter Sköld, Prof., Chair of the European Polar Board, Umeå University, Sweden
Jordi Sorribas Cervantes, Director, Marine Technology Unit (UTM) from Spanish Research Council (CSIC)
Maaike Vancauwenberghe, Director Research department BELSPO, Belgium
Gonçalo Vieira, Professor, Coordinator of the Portuguese Polar Programme
Verónica Willmott, Dr., International Cooperation Unit, Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany
Jon B. Ørbæk, Special Adviser, Polar, climate and ocean research, Research Council of Norway
Burcu Özsoy, Prof., Director, TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute, Türkiye.
We invite the European research community and relevant actors to support and sign this open call here.