The European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the European Lung Foundation (ELF) recommend that all UK members and citizens vote to remain in the European Union (EU) in the upcoming referendum on 23 June, 2016. Science and research are by their nature international, collaborative and cross-border. All UK citizens in favour of the advancement of medical science and progress for patients, should vote to remain in the European Union.
ERS and ELF consider the integration of the UK into the European medical community essential for the future of respiratory medicine, both in the UK itself and in the rest of Europe. Both organisations have witnessed first-hand the valuable opportunities the EU has provided for scientists, clinicians and patients – whether via basic research funding, exchange of best practice or collaborative research projects.shutterstock Flag 2
Mobility of medical professionals and researchers, enabled by the UK’s membership of the EU, has promoted a high scientific quality throughout Europe. Ultimately, it is patients and society that benefit immensely from this unprecedented multinational collaboration.
We would like to fully support our sister scientific, medical and patient organisations in the UK, who overwhelmingly support UK membership in the EU and have made submissions to the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee.
As the Select Committee report put it: “The EU’s fertile environment for research collaboration, harmonised regulations, access to EU research facilities and the availability of substantial funding for research combine to make EU membership a highly prized feature of the research ecosystem.[1] “
The EU bolsters medical research through the principles of excellence in science and co-operation across borders. ERS and ELF believe this unique European partnership is worth keeping, particularly for those who wish to further respiratory medicine, research and healthcare.