CERN Council Reviews Strategy Recommendations Naming FCC-ee as Preferred Future Collider

Artistic representation of the tunnel for the Future Circular Collider (image: PIXELRISE)

(IN BRIEF) CERN has received and acknowledged the recommendations for the update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics, marking a significant milestone in defining the future direction of high-energy physics in Europe. Developed through a broad, community-driven process, the recommendations identify the electron–positron Future Circular Collider (FCC-ee) as the preferred next flagship project at CERN, with alternative options outlined if required. The CERN Council will assess the proposals in the coming months, with a final decision planned for May 2026, while a separate decision on possible FCC construction is expected later in the decade.

(PRESS RELEASE) GENEVA, 12-Dec-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — CERN has taken a major step forward in shaping the long-term future of particle physics in Europe, as its Council reviewed the recommendations for the update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics (ESPP) during its 225th session on 12 December 2025. The recommendations outline a shared vision for the field’s next phase and will be examined by the Council over the coming months, with a final decision scheduled for a dedicated Council session in Budapest in May 2026.

The current ESPP update process, launched in March 2024, is intended to define a clear and ambitious roadmap for advancing fundamental physics through the next flagship project at CERN. The strategy aims to reinforce Europe’s leadership in particle physics while strengthening international collaboration and driving technological innovation with broader societal impact.

The update follows a bottom-up approach, drawing extensively on input from the European particle physics community, CERN’s Member and Associate Member States, and international partners. This input has been evaluated and consolidated by the European Strategy Group (ESG), a body appointed by the CERN Council to oversee the process. For the 2026 update, the Council requested that the ESG identify a preferred option for the next collider at CERN, alongside prioritised alternatives should the preferred plan prove unfeasible or insufficiently competitive.

The ESG developed its recommendations during an intensive meeting held in Ascona, Switzerland, from 1 to 5 December 2025. At the December Council session, the Council formally acknowledged the work of the ESG and confirmed that it will now undertake a detailed assessment of the recommendations ahead of the May 2026 decision.

Among the key conclusions, the ESG recommends the electron–positron Future Circular Collider (FCC-ee) as the preferred option for CERN’s next flagship collider. The FCC-ee is envisioned as a powerful platform for an extensive physics programme focused on addressing open questions in particle physics, particularly those related to the Higgs boson and the foundations of the Standard Model, while also creating opportunities to explore physics beyond current theoretical frameworks. The project is also expected to stimulate the development of advanced technologies with significant long-term benefits beyond fundamental research.

As an alternative, the ESG proposes a descoped version of the FCC-ee, to be pursued should constraints arise that limit the feasibility or competitiveness of the full project. Beyond collider options, the recommendations encompass a broad range of research priorities and strategic objectives for high-energy physics in Europe and internationally.

Karl Jakobs, Chair of the Strategy Secretariat, highlighted the strong engagement shown throughout the process, noting that the wide-ranging input led to constructive discussions and clear support for hosting the FCC-ee at CERN as the next flagship project. CERN Council President Professor Costas Fountas described the recommendations as an important milestone, emphasizing the opportunity to define a long-term vision that maintains CERN’s leading role while expanding collaboration with global partners.

CERN Director-General Fabiola Gianotti described the ESG recommendations as a pivotal moment for the field, underlining their potential to inspire future generations of scientists and ensure continued leadership in discovery and technological innovation. The recently completed FCC Feasibility Study will serve as the foundation for further technical and strategic work. A separate Council decision on the potential construction of the FCC is currently expected around 2028.

The full set of recommendations is available at this link.

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SOURCE: CERN