This often makes it difficult to get enough power to address issues at an international level. Given that the scale of science is becoming increasingly important in many fields this can be a significant handicap. He cites the plethora of national surveys on political and social attitudes as an example of states' isolationism. There's a considerable amount of work being done in this field at a national level but little of this data can be compared internationally at a time when European integration is moving more swiftly up the political and economic agenda. This is a loss.
Similar problems exist in the study of rare diseases and genomics, another important growth field.
Overcoming hurdles like these, however, often raises the thorny question of money. Participating ESF Member Organisations will jointly define a research programme, specify the proposal and peer review the outputs, but funding decisions will reside with national bodies. The ESF won't dictate what is researched, we will facilitate collaboration. Ideas for subjects that need to be addressed at a European level will come from the scientists themselves, from the bottom up. In fundamental, curiosity-driven science, this is essential.