Institut Pasteur welcomes European Commissioner Ms Zaharieva and French Minister Mr Baptiste for a strategic visit

By Emilia DIDIER, Head of EU Public Affairs

On 17 June 2026, Institut Pasteur had the honor of simultaneously welcoming European Commissioner for Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva and French Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space Philippe Baptiste. This joint visit — encompassing bilateral meetings and a tour of key research facilities — underscored Institut Pasteur's pivotal role in European biomedical research at a decisive moment for EU science policy. 

During their bilateral meeting, Director General Yasmine Belkaid and Commissioner Zaharieva exchanged views on the central priorities for the future Horizon Europe programme (2028–2034). Four key issues structured the discussion: 

• the urgent need for an ambitious, reinforced R&I budget — Europe must match its scientific ambitions with adequate resources; 

• the Commissioner's commitment to streamlining administrative procedures to make European funding genuinely accessible to researchers; 

• the strategic imperative of safeguarding scientific excellence and data sovereignty in the current geopolitical climate, alongside robust mechanisms to prevent a "brain drain"; 

• the centrality of international collaboration — including with LMICs — and public-private synergies for addressing complex global health threats, with Horizon Europe as their primary enabler. 

These discussions take on added significance in light of recent legislative developments. On 26 June, the EU Council adopted its partial general approach on Horizon Europe — a key milestone that notably supports collaborative research and a bottom-up approach through large-scale, researcher-driven initiatives, counterbalancing the fragmentation of European research and fostering new collaboration patterns between centres of excellence across Europe. With negotiations at EU level expected to intensify in autumn 2026, and the programme targeted for adoption by late 2027 ahead of its 2028 launch, the coming months will be decisive. 

Institut Pasteur reaffirms its determination to contribute its independent scientific voice to shaping a science-led, excellence-driven FP10 — one that balances fundamental research with innovation and secures Europe's leadership in health security and scientific discovery.