15 Sep 2026
Expert report finds progress in open science in ERA uneven and fragmented
The European Commission published a new independent expert report on 15 September 2026 which highlights that, despite notable advancement, the implementation of open access across the European Research Area remains uneven and fragmented. While progress has been made, persistent barriers continue to hinder widespread open access, and further action is needed.
Over the past decade, European Union soft-law measures, national strategies, funder mandates, and, where applicable, national legislation have advanced open access. However, these efforts have not yet produced a coherent framework across the European Research Area, leaving researchers, institutions, and funders to navigate differing policies.
The report provides a snapshot of the current open access landscape, offering policy recommendations to improve access to scientific publications and research data. It draws on an analysis of all 27 EU Member States and eight non-EU countries. The report acknowledges real progress in open access adoption but highlights that this progress has been uneven, with fragmentation persisting across the European Research Area. Member States continue to differ substantially in areas such as policy instruments, legal enforceability, embargo periods, copyright mechanisms, repository requirements, funding models, and monitoring systems. This lack of harmonisation creates complexity, particularly for cross-border research collaborations. The report concludes that only by addressing fragmentation, misaligned incentives, and rising costs while improving collaboration and monitoring can the European Research Area fully realise the potential of open access.
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