By Grufon Team
01/24/2026 - 6 minutes read
How UAP Entered the European Research Area Institutionally
(2025–2026)
For decades, research into Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) remained on the margins of academic and institutional science in Europe. Despite documented observations by professionals in aviation, defence, and space science, the subject was often met with caution or tacit exclusion. The primary obstacle was not a lack of data, but scientific stigma.
The period 2025–2026 marks, for the first time, a turning point at the European institutional level.
May 2025:
The First Official Intervention
In May 2025, within the framework of the public consultation on the European Strategy for Research and Technology Infrastructures, a documented submission was presented by a European research body, clearly highlighting that stigma functions as a structural barrier to emerging scientific fields, such as UAP research.
For the first time in a relevant European document:
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stigma was recognised as a factor that limits funding,
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discourages researchers from participation, and
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fragments critical data across political, academic, and defence “silos”.
This intervention did not call for special treatment, but for equal scientific evaluation, based on methodology and evidence rather than thematic prejudice.
September 2025:
The Issue Enters the ERA Act
In September 2025, during the drafting process of the European Research Area Act (ERA Act), the issue of stigma re-emerged at a legislative level.
Scientific freedom, researcher mobility, and innovation were directly linked to the need:
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to protect researchers from informal forms of exclusion,
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to ensure access to research infrastructures and data, and
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to prevent the “self-censorship” generated by fear of professional repercussions.
The document also recorded broad European support from scientists, academics, and research organisations across multiple countries, including Greece.
January 2026:
From Principles to Measures
In January 2026, the most mature and decisive document was submitted, presenting concrete proposals for anti-stigma measures that could be incorporated into the ERA Act.
For the first time, the following were proposed:
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legal guarantees ensuring that the evaluation of research proposals is based exclusively on scientific criteria,
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an obligation to provide justification for the rejection of “non-conventional” research topics,
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protection of public scientific communication, and
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application of the principle “as open as possible, as closed as necessary” in data management.
UAP research was recognised not as an exception, but as an illustrative case of a broader structural problem affecting all high-risk, innovative scientific fields.
24 Participating Organizations & Universities
Full list:
CIPO ● Gesellschaft zur Erforschung des UFO-Phänomens e.V. ● Institute of International Relations ● CISU ● SCEAU ● MUFON | UAP Coalition Netherlands ● Durham Law School ● Society for UAP Studies ● GRUFON ● UFO-Norway ● UFO Meldpunt Nederland | UAP Cyprus Centre ● Tým Záře ● STELLAR/CTEC ● UFO-Sweden ● Stockholm university ● SUAPS ● MUFON-Italy ● MUFON-Norway ● Università di Firenze ● UAP Check ● Faculty, Dept. of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara
Signing Scientists
Professor Michael Bohlander
Durham Law School, Chair in Global Law and SETI Policy
UK
Professor Marco Ciardi
Università di Firenze + CISU
Italy
Dr. Michael C. Cifone
Society for UAP Studies
USA/Germany
Dr. Francisco Mourão Corrêa
CTEC
Portugal
Dr. Stavros Hatzopoulos
Faculty, Dept. of Neurosciences, Univesity of Ferrara
Italy
Dr. Christian Peters
SUAPS
Germany
Dr. Nikola Schmidt
Institute of International Relations, Charles University
Czechia
Dr. Massimo Teodorani
Ph.D. - Astrophysicist, Society for UAP Studies
Italy
Dr. Beatriz Villarroel
Stockholm University
Sweden
Dr. Robert Leskovar
Bion Institute
Slovenia
Prof. Dr. Michael Schetsche
Universität Freiburg
Germany
Professor David Delgado Shorter
University of California
United States
Dr. Gerrit J. Gerwig
Utrecht University
The Netherlands
Douwe Bosga MA
Parapsychology Institute
The Netherlands
Professor Anders Ware
Lund University
Sweden
Why This Matters for Greece
Greece’s participation in this process is not merely symbolic. It demonstrates that the country is not passively observing developments, but is actively contributing to the shaping of a European framework that defends scientific freedom, open research, and equality.
For GRUFON, this development confirms a consistent position.
Research into UAP is not a matter of belief or impression, but a right to scientific inquiry, on the same level as any other complex phenomenon.
The period 2025–2026 is not simply a series of documents. It marks the first time that the European Union has addressed scientific stigma institutionally as an issue of research policy.
And that, in itself, constitutes a historic turning point.
Links:
UAP Coalition Netherlands
Αγγλική Έκδοση Download
Ελληνική Μετάφραση Download
ERA Act 10 September 2025
Αγγλική Έκδοση Download
Feedback reference F3714975 >
Links:
UAP Coalition Netherlands
English Version Download
Greek Translation Download
ERA Act 10 September 2025
English Version Download
Greek Translation Download
Feedback reference F3714975 >
