On the occasion of the revision of the EU Directive 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, the three Academies would like to highlight certain points requiring consideration during discussion on the draft Directive to ensure that European research functions properly and thus retains its potential to make vital contributions to human health and wellbeing. The aim of the Directive – to establish a high standard of protection for animals used in experiments in the EU – receives the scientists' full and unequivocal support.