The European Commission has appointed Martin Kahanec, Professor at the Department of Public Policy at the Central European University in Vienna as a new member of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, which is part of the Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM) of the Commission. Professor Kahanec will serve an initial three-year term, which may be extended once for an additional two years. In this role, he joins up to six other leading scholars from diverse fields—including natural and social sciences, engineering and the humanities—to deliver timely, evidence-based guidance directly to the College of European Commissioners. Their remit covers policy areas identified as priorities by both the European Parliament and the Council.
Renowned for his work in labour and population economics, migration studies, EU mobility and ethnicity, Professor Kahanec has led influential research projects and advised institutions such as the World Bank, European Commission, European Parliament, European Labour Authority and the European Court of Auditors. His appointment underscores the Commission’s commitment to grounding major policy decisions in rigorous scientific analysis.
Since its establishment in 2019, the SAM’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors has strengthened the science-for-policy interface across the EU, ensuring that initiatives in fields from climate action to digital innovation are supported by transparent and robust evidence. The addition of Professor Kahanec brings valuable social science perspective to this interdisciplinary team, helping to address Europe’s most pressing challenges with comprehensive, fact-based insights.
Published 22 May 2025, slord
