Council finalises its position on the Horizon Europe package (2021-2027)
The Council yesterday (1 October) finalised its position on the proposed regulation establishing Horizon Europe, the EU framework programme for research and innovation for the years 2021 to 2027 (Horizon Europe regulation) and on the proposed decision on the specific programme implementing Horizon Europe (specific programme decision).
Next Generation EU
The main outstanding issue of the Horizon Europe regulation agreed upon today concerns the internal break-down of Horizon Europe’s budget, including funds to be made available under the EU recovery instrument entitled the Next Generation EU (NGEU).
The Council has also agreed on provisions regulating international cooperation and the association of third countries to Horizon Europe as well as provisions ensuring synergies with other EU funding programmes.
As regards the specific programme decision, the main amendments to the Commission proposal agreed upon today are mostly of a budgetary nature and reflect those introduced in the Horizon Europe regulation.
Next steps
Today’s agreement on the two legislative acts paves the way for finalising negotiations with the European Parliament in view of the swift adoption of the package by the end of the year.
Background
The Horizon Europe regulation, proposed by the Commission in June 2018, establishes the EU framework programme for research and innovation for the years 2021–2027. It lays down the objectives, the budget, the forms of EU funding and the rules for providing such funding in the field of research and innovation.
The decision on the specific programme implementing Horizon Europe, also proposed by the Commission in June 2018 as part of the Horizon Europe package, sets out the operational objectives and types of activities envisaged for implementing Horizon Europe.
On 4 June 2020, the Commission presented amended proposals for both legal acts to allow additional funding from the EU recovery instrument entitled Next Generation EU (NGEU) to flow to Horizon Europe.
On 21 July 2020, the heads of state or government agreed on the recovery plan for Europe, which combines the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the years 2021-2027 and the funds to be made available through the NGEU.
