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News 12 November 2020

European Parliament and Council of the EU reach an agreement on Horizon Europe budget


After month-long negotiations, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament have reached an agreement on the terms of the next EU Budget, covering the years 2021-2027. The agreement complements the financial package of €1 824.3 billion negotiated by EU leaders in July. The latter unites the two main funding systems, namely a Multiannual Financial Framework of €1 074.3 billion and the Next Generation EU recovery fund - €750 billion. The EU Budget agreed on by the Council of the EU in July included a € 13.5 billion Horizon Europe (HEU) budget cut. As a result, € 80,9 were allocated to the R&I framework programme, compared to the European Commission’s original proposal of € 94.4 billion.  

EERA has reacted vigorously and strongly advocated for additional budget to be allocated to the Horizon Europe programme. On behalf of its Executive Committee members, and with cosignatories from other associations working in the field of sustainable energy, EERA has addressed the European Institutions with a letter sent on the 10th of September 2020 on the importance of funding research in the EU.

The European Parliament, which had initially asked for €120 billion to be allocated to Horizon Europe, has also been fighting in order to reverse HEU budget cuts decided by the Council of the EU. Indeed, it is due to the European Parliament’s refusal to endorse the agreement taken by EU leaders and the EU Commission on the 29th of September, which confirmed the cuts to Horizon Europe, that trilogue negotiations resumed.

In a last push, EERA sent a second advocacy letter on November 9th to the negotiating teams of the European Parliament, as well as to all EU Parliament Party Leaders.

On Tuesday, November 10th, the Council of the EU and the EU Parliament have reached an agreement on additional reinforcements for specific EU programmes, including research. Among these, Horizon Europe, EU4Health, Erasmus+ and others will receive €15 billion through additional means (€12.5 billion) and reallocations (€2.5 billion) in the course of the next financial period.

EERA welcomes the development, a much-needed step towards making Europe the leader in energy research and innovation.

The deal will now be submitted to Member States for endorsement, together with the other elements of the next Multiannual Financial Framework and Recovery Package.