Ref.

SM- 18/11/2016
Sorin MOIS
Member of the European Parliament

Mr. Jean- Claude Juncker

President of the European Commission
European Commission
Rue de la Loi 200
BERL 13/057
B- 1049
Brussels

Brussels, 18/11/2016

Dear President Juncker,

Ref: Remuneration of Romanian and new Member State Researchers in Horizon 2020
I am writing to you with regard to an issue that is now long overdue and which has become
a painful matter in Romanian public opinion, risking undermining trust in the EU and in EU
institutions in a completely unnecessary way. My letter complements the recent public letter
on the same topic addressed to you by my EPP colleague Daniel Buda, so this is not a
partisan or electoral issue, as it will become amply clear as you read this message.
Essentially, the story is the following: the European Commission services have
reinterpreted and narrowed, by means of a technical document (Annotated Model Grant
Agreement), the meaning of the legal basis (Regulation 1290/2013 of the European
Parliament and the Council) defining the rules for payment for work performed under
Horizon 2020. The narrowing took place by introducing the concept of basic salary as the
main instrument for the payment of researchers under Horizon 2020, whereas the basic
legal act does not contain such a restriction, but rather speaks of remuneration arising from
national law or from the employment contract. All technicalities apart, the bottom line is
that Romanian researchers can only be paid meagre hourly amounts under Horizon 2020,
when the whole approach, also driven by necessity, of the Romanian system is to
incentivise researchers, research institutes and universities to become involved in projects.
The low basic salary is both what the country can afford, and an encouragement for being
pro-active, rather than a satisfying end in itself. It is also worth noting that during the
previous Framework Programme 7, this problem did not exist, and researchers could be
paid competitive salaries.

European Parliament
Bt. Altiero Spinelli 10 G 257
60, Rue Wiertz B- 1047 Brussels
Tel: +32(0)2 28 45705 - Fax +32(0)2 28 49705 - email: sorin.moisa@europarl.europa.eu

Now, against this backdrop, Im in some disbelief that after one year of exchanges between
the Romanian and other new Member State authorities and the services of Commissioner
Moedas, a solution has still not been found, despite repeated promises, both in official
correspondence and public statements.
In the meantime, the issue has become hot in Romanian public opinion, as this policy
encourages brain drain, with Romanian researchers incentivised to join research teams in
Western universities and research institutes.
Above all, the economic rationale of this decision is absurd: in an open and globalised
world, which we hope to keep that way, top researchers should expect to be rewarded in
ways that are comparable with what colleagues elsewhere earn. For Romania,
complementing local basic revenue with project-derived revenue, including from Horizon
2020, is a means to keep its technical elite at home, benefitting its economy, universities
and other research institutions. Europe should be part of that effort, rather than hindering it!
In a context of growing euro-scepticism, populism and nationalism throughout the Western
world, do you think it is wise, for such a small bureaucratic issue, which was not even an
issue in the past, to increase the anxiety of Romanians, still one of the most Europhile
European nations, that Europe may not be that good for them after all? Should we not try to
reverse that feeling of marginalisation and secondary status, and remove rather than nurture
the energy of conspiracy pathologies?
To me it is striking and painful that Europe is not doing its best to pro-actively NOT
alienate, but rather keep close, a section of the Romanian elite, its intellectuals and
researchers, who are obviously influential leaders and opinion makers, a core group that
shapes public opinion and attitudes. It is to these groups that Europe is de facto telling:
youre worth very little as long as you stay and work in Romania. Does this feel like the
right message from a great, political European Commission in the midst of a crisis of
confidence in Europe and its institutions?
For the sake of both Romania and Europe, please reverse this gratuitous course of action of
your services and ask them to come up with a common sense solution before the end of the
year at the latest.

Yours sincerely,
Sorin MOIS