European Commission - Directorate General for Energy
European Commission - Directorate General for Energy
04/29/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/29/2026 08:10
European Commission transfers secretariat of the multilateral dialogue to the International Science Council
Today, the European Commission's Deputy Director-General for Research & Innovation, Maria Cristina Russo, and the President of the International Science Council (ISC), Sir Peter Gluckman, formally agreed on the transfer of the Secretariat of the Multilateral Dialogue on principles and values for international cooperation in research & innovation (R&I) to the ISC.
To this end, the Commission has signed a 3-year grant agreement for an amount of €1.2 million with the International Science Council.
Ms Russo noted that the ISC is uniquely placed to host the Secretariat, as it has been actively involved in this initiative from the very beginning. She pointed to the Council's independence, reputation, knowledge, global membership, and administrative capacity as key strengths in supporting the Dialogue.
Sir Peter Gluckman welcomed the transfer, highlighting that the Multilateral Dialogue will benefit from the ISC's extensive global network. He also noted that the Council brings together more than 250 international scientific unions and associations, as well as national and regional scientific organisations, such as academies and research councils, across the natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities.
This transfer will strengthen the Multilateral Dialogue as a platform for countries to exchange perspectives and work towards shared principles for international cooperation in research and innovation. From the second half of 2026, the International Science Council will lead the Multilateral Dialogue into its second phase, expanding participation worldwide with the support of the European Commission and key partners.
Background
The Multilateral Dialogue was launched by the European Commission and the then French presidency of the Council of the EU in 2022 with the aim of identifying principles and values which should underpin international cooperation in R&I. This launch followed the Marseille Declaration presented by the Frenchpresidency in March and Council conclusions in June 2022.
The first phase of the Multilateral Dialogue (2022-2024), which included EU Member States, countries associated with Horizon Europe, and countries with whom the EU has signed a science and technology agreement, as well as stakeholder organisations, concluded with the Brussels Statement, endorsed by an international ministerial conference in Brussels in February 2024.
This first phase consisted of two high-level meetings, eight thematic workshops co-organised with partners, and a Ministerial conference. To date, representatives from 57 countries, including the 27 EU Member States, 15 countries associated or negotiating association to Horizon Europe, 15 international cooperation partner countries, as well as representatives of the International Science Council, OECD, UNESCO, and 16 stakeholder organisations representing the European academic and scientific communities have participated in the Multilateral Dialogue.
The second phase will be launched during the second half of 2026.
The International Science Council (ISC) is an international non-governmental organisation with a mission to promote science as a global public good. It was created in 2018 through the merger of the International Council for Science (1931) and the International Social Science Council (1952).
The ISC's membership brings together 250 diverse organisations from all fields of science and all regions of the world. The ISC works at the global level to catalyse and convene scientific expertise, advice and influence on issues of major concern to both science and society. It does so by convening expertise, building partnerships, and supporting international initiatives that need coordination across disciplines and borders. The ISC's Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science plays a leading role in promoting scientific freedom and the responsible conduct of science.
More information
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