Fact Check: "The European Union announced the Choose Europe for Science initiative in May 2023, devoting 500 million euros in grant funding to attract American scientists and scholars to Europe."
What We Know
The claim states that the European Union (EU) announced the "Choose Europe for Science" initiative in May 2023, allocating 500 million euros to attract American scientists and scholars. However, the initiative was officially launched on May 5, 2025, as part of a broader strategy to enhance Europe's appeal to researchers globally, particularly in light of funding cuts in the United States (AP News, Reuters). The funding package of 500 million euros is intended for the years 2025-2027, not 2023 (DW, European Commission).
Analysis
The timeline of the initiative is crucial to understanding the accuracy of the claim. The assertion that the announcement occurred in May 2023 is incorrect; it was made in May 2025. The funding is aimed at attracting scientists from all over the world, including Americans, but the focus is not exclusively on American scholars (Reuters, AP News).
Furthermore, the initiative is part of a larger EU strategy to bolster its research environment and counteract the negative impacts of funding cuts in the U.S. (DW). This context is important as it highlights the EU's proactive approach to maintaining its competitive edge in global research.
The sources used to verify this claim are credible news outlets and official EU communications, which provide reliable information about the initiative's launch date and funding details. The AP News and Reuters articles are particularly trustworthy as they report on significant political and economic developments with a history of accuracy.
Conclusion
The claim that the European Union announced the "Choose Europe for Science" initiative in May 2023 is False. The initiative was actually launched in May 2025, with a funding commitment of 500 million euros for the years 2025-2027, aimed at attracting scientists globally, including those from the U.S. The misrepresentation of the date and the context of the initiative undermines the accuracy of the claim.
Sources
- than born became states including american
- Europe pledges half a billion euros to lure scientists as ...
- Europe launches a drive to attract scientists and ...
- Choose Europe for Science: EU comes together to attract top research ...
- Choose Europe for Science: European Commission continues rollout of new ...
- Choose Europe: advance your research career in the EU - European Commission
- EU pledges €500 million for science amid US funding cuts
- Researchers warn U.S. is on the 'precipice' of brain drain as Trump ...