Negotiations on Framework Programme 10 (FP10) continue to pick up speed in the European Parliament and Council of the EU, with both institutions providing their own vision for the next iteration of Horizon Europe, and its interaction with the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF). Meanwhile, the European Commission is yet to present the steering mechanism and competitiveness coordination tool (CCT) which should define how both instruments work together in practice.

According to recent draft compromise texts on Horizon Europe prepared by the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU dated 15 April seen by Science | Business, EU governments are keen to ensure their close involvement in the strategic priority-setting processes of Framework Programme 10.  Amongst provisions, they notably proposed for EU Member States to advise the European Commission on the general orientation and priorities for research and innovation (R&I) funding at least once a year through a Horizon Europe Strategic Committee. In addition, this structure would also serve to tighten coordination with the European Competitiveness Fund. While the European Commission’s initial proposal also included such a procedure involving the Member States, it had given it a less clearly defined role.

Looking to further strengthen their role, Member States also proposed a “no-opinion clause”, which means a work programme could not be adopted without an opinion from the programme committee first. The compromise texts also call for EU countries to play a significant role in selecting and implementing European partnerships. However, the Council’s proposal could still undergo major changes before adoption, with Member States aiming to reach a general approach at the Research Minister’s meeting taking place at the end of the month.

In parallel, the division of Widening countries into a Widening and a Transition depending on their score on the European Innovation Scoreboard, and the restriction of capacity building measures to Widening countries that have increased their public R&D investments in the last year by 2030 are still being discussed by Member States’ Finance and Foreign Affairs representatives, and do not appear in these draft compromise texts.

These developments come against the backdrop of the publication of Christian Ehler’s draft report on FP10, European Parliament’s rapporteur draft report, proposing instead the creation of expert councils involving independent experts drafting calls and managing project portfolios. This structure would be substituted by the Horizon Europe Strategic Committee proposed by Member States, which also appears to be much more similar to the current organisation of the programme. However, with close to 1500 amendments tabled by members of the ITRE Committee, the Parliament’s position is also likely to look quite different after the committee vote and subsequent plenary vote, scheduled for the fall. Once both institutions reach a position, interinstitutional negotiations will follow, giving way to the final adoption of the programme.

Against this backdrop, EERA will continue monitoring future developments and will remain actively engaged in ensuing discussions on the interaction between FP10 and the ECF, which will be central to boost Europe’s low-carbon energy research and innovation, as well as the deployment and uptake of clean and competitive technologies.