After more than eight hours of negotiations, the EU Competitiveness Council reached a partial general approach on the Horizon Europe Framework Programme on Friday 30 November, despite the wide divergences between Member States that had been expressed during the debates.
Heinz Fassmann, the Austrian Science Minister, who chaired the debates, welcomed the agreement reached on “the world's largest framework programme”, which the Commission wishes to provide with a budget of almost 100 billion euros, under its draft multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2021-2027.
Pending the outcome of the budgetary discussions, Member States have set a “crucial milestone” in the implementation of the Framework Programme, according to Research Commissioner Carlos Moedas, who paid tribute to the work of the Austrian Presidency.
Eight thematic areas and a limitation on partnerships
The discussions (see EUROPE 12150) focused on four points of disagreement, first and foremost the structure of the budget of the second pillar of the programme (with 52.7 billion euros in the Commission's draft).
This is composed of eight thematic areas, according to the agreement reached in the Council.
France, which wanted an area dedicated to the aerospace sector, did not succeed. Still, a small victory: a separate program committee will deal with aerospace innovations, according to the partial general orientation.
The Member States have also undertaken to ensure that the financial weight of the space sector remains at least equal to that of the current framework programme, notwithstanding the ongoing budgetary discussions.
Mobility will benefit from a dedicated area, as Slovenia in particular wanted.
As announced, the issue of the share of public-private partnerships in Framework Programme investments has been resolved by the adoption of a compromise proposal by Germany. The share of partnerships will thus be limited to 50%. This percentage could be renegotiated following the successful conclusion of the negotiations on the new MFF.
This issue was marked by a fairly clear East-West divide, with Eastern countries fearing that partnerships would mainly benefit large Western European companies.
Launching the EIC
An agreement in principle on the launch of the European Innovation Council (EIC), the third topic the Presidency wanted to address, was reached on Friday.
The financing of this new body will be carried out both through grants and through blended financing. The Council has paved the way for limiting the share of subsidies, contrary to France's wishes.
In addition, the EIC will have a 'fast track' procedure for projects that are close to being implemented.
This accelerator will not be dedicated to projects pre-selected by national authorities, as feared by some Member States. It will be intended for projects whose “excellence” has been certified by the EIC. The accelerator will be the subject of a “pilot phase”, as proposed by France.
Questions still outstanding
The fourth political point raised by the Presidency, relating to the strengthening of 'Marie Curie' actions to stem the brain drain, has not been resolved. A group of Member States made up of Eastern European countries, but also Spain and Italy, wanted to strengthen these actions, particularly for intra-European movements, through Horizon Europe.
The Netherlands, Greece or Denmark opposed freedom of movement and opposed any European solidarity to organise the return of scientists to their countries of origin.
Another unanswered question: the target of the EIC's investments. A group of Member States led by Spain wanted to make SMEs the sole beneficiaries of investments, while the Commission's project includes larger companies (up to 500 employees).
These issues will have to be decided under the Romanian Presidency.
The elections in perspective
Asked about the chances of an inter-institutional agreement being reached on the whole package before the European elections, Commissioner Moedas explained that he wanted to do everything possible to speed up the negotiations, welcoming the fact that MEPs had already adopted their position the previous week (see EUROPE 12142).
“Many things do not depend on us”, he warned, referring in particular to the negotiations on the next MFF.
Mr Moedas hopes that negotiations between Member States on the specific implementation programmes for Horizon Europe will start in January. (Original version in French by Mathieu Solal)