The fifth EU freedom: Why and how to develop the “freedom of knowledge”

This science policy article promotes the Fifth Freedom goal for science in Europe by explaining its meaning and rationale. Surprisingly, scientists are rarely aware of this progressive idea, and despite having been officially adopted for decades by EU institutions such as the EU's Commission, Council, and Parliament, it remains unfulfilled. This Fifth Freedom, or 'freedom of knowledge' refers to goals of a better mobility of scientists, their methods, instruments, results, and even scientific funding, freed from outdated and discriminating national bureaucracies and practices. In 2024, former Italian PM Enrico Letta has argued that such a freedom could help European science to better compete in the world, and to boost European economies. I argue that while the Fifth Freedom goal promises economic advantages, we should also see its importance for scientific progress, the freedom of research, and the democratic ideals of the European project. In addition, the Fifth Freedom is a right of EU scientists that should trump nationalistic tendencies in job applications, scientific collaborations and research funding. To demonstrate that the Fifth Freedom is still a long way from being a reality, specific examples of outdated and discriminating national rules and practices concerning job applications, funding, and the organization of science within the EU are given (supplementary materials to the article). For each type of problem, specific policy proposals for advancing the Fifth Freedom goal are suggested, too. These proposals are directed at academic administrations, funding agencies, and political actors at the regional, national, and European levels.