BUDGET IN DANGER : OUR LETTER TO THE MINISTERS
In edition no. 104 of Echo we told you about the Finance Committee meeting which took place on Wednesday 16 June and the tense atmosphere that reigned during this meeting.
Echoing the alarming news from most of our countries (budget cuts, restrictions, reforms), CERN’s global budget is indeed under pressure. This is extremely serious. How can we carry out our mission if our Member States do not give us the means? Basic research cannot progress with budget cuts. The Management tried to make this understood at the meeting, however, most delegations could not or would not see reason.
Refusing to sit idly by, the Staff Association decided to act immediately.
It sent a letter to all ministers in the twenty Member States concerned by CERN and its financing. A copy was also sent to all Finance Committee and Council delegates.
We thus hope to help convince all our Member States that it is essential that they continue to invest in basic research, a breeding ground for new ideas and at the root of all progress for society. A few countries have already replied and expressed their continued support for the Organization.
Your comments on the arguments developed in our letter, as well as any other thoughts that we could use in future contact with the delegates are welcome. It is now your turn to think of ways to defend CERN and, beyond this, basic research in Europe.
Echoing the alarming news from most of our countries (budget cuts, restrictions, reforms), CERN’s global budget is indeed under pressure. This is extremely serious. How can we carry out our mission if our Member States do not give us the means? Basic research cannot progress with budget cuts. The Management tried to make this understood at the meeting, however, most delegations could not or would not see reason.
Refusing to sit idly by, the Staff Association decided to act immediately.
It sent a letter to all ministers in the twenty Member States concerned by CERN and its financing. A copy was also sent to all Finance Committee and Council delegates.
We thus hope to help convince all our Member States that it is essential that they continue to invest in basic research, a breeding ground for new ideas and at the root of all progress for society. A few countries have already replied and expressed their continued support for the Organization.
Your comments on the arguments developed in our letter, as well as any other thoughts that we could use in future contact with the delegates are welcome. It is now your turn to think of ways to defend CERN and, beyond this, basic research in Europe.
