We are the League

Abstract

Unlike the joyous celebrations that accompany Independence Day in the USA, the Chinese New Year or Australia Day, Europe Day is unlikely to be marked by exuberant street parades, sumptuous picnics or spectacular fireworks displays. In fact, few Europeans will even be aware that 9 May celebrates the anniversary of Robert Schumann's proposal for a unified Europe. Within the EU's member states, national celebrations such as Bastille Day still attract far more solemnity, military bombast and public gaiety, for it is undeniable that the European project is miserably unloved by the vast majority of its citizens. As scientists we are accustomed to the concept that our colleagues in other countries—even on other continents—are esteemed and valued partners in the quest for knowledge. Nevertheless, most of us tend to regard the inducements to collaboration offered by Brussels with something between scorn and bitter indignation. We simply do not like being marshalled into doing the things that we love doing anyway; and we rightly value a principled argument more highly than a concerted action. The risible reputation of EU science funding among most …