MEPs adopted by a strong majority the report by Dan Nica (S&D, Romania) on the Horizon Europe framework programme (548 votes in favour, 70 against, 49 abstentions) and the report by Christian Ehler (EPP, Germany) on the specific implementation of the Horizon Europe programme (569 votes in favour, 74 against, 20 abstentions).
"This is a historic vote for Europe", Mr Ehler welcomed, recalling that "an increase in the budget to €120 billion is the minimum for Horizon Europe to assure that European industry remains competitive to the United States and China".
"We addressed the scientific and technological divide while maintaining excellence as a core principle of the programme. We made sure that at least 35% of the total budget under this programme would be allocated to support EU’s climate objectives", added the rapporteur, Mr Nica.
As a reminder, MEPs significantly increased the budget of the framework programme from €86.6 billion to €120 billion (constant 2018 prices) with a different breakdown between the pillars (see EUROPE 12142).
Many of the changes introduced by Members of Parliament have been implemented. These include: Pillar I ‘Open Science and Excellence’, where MEPs have strengthened the focus on small and medium-sized research infrastructures and made the Marie Curie programme more flexible to adapt to family changes.
In Pillar II ‘Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness’, they added research in the field of paediatric cancer and the maintenance of the Steering Board for Health to coordinate European and national research programmes.
They have strengthened the focus on creative industries and cultural heritage and, in doing so, have introduced the creation of a ‘Cloud’ dedicated to European cultural heritage, or support for quantum research. They have strengthened the fight against counterfeiting by strengthening coordination, in particular with Europol, and clarified the way the European Innovation Council operates.
Provisions to allow the United Kingdom to participate in the project after Brexit have been introduced, as well as an accelerated procedure ('fast track', 6 months instead of 8 months) in 15% of appeals to universities and industries. Support for coal mining regions in transition has been added.
MEPs support the Commission's proposals on missions and partnerships (see EUROPE 12018), which will be defined by the European Commission. This would be one of the main stumbling blocks with the Council of the European Union, which wants these missions to be listed directly in the annex to the regulation, where the European Parliament would like it to be in strategic planning.
The Council adopted its position only on the framework programme (see EUROPE 12151). Interinstitutional negotiations are expected to start on 8 January next, we are told. MEPs hope that the Council will reach a political agreement on the regulation on Horizon Europe's implementation programme at the next Competitiveness Council on 19 February 2019. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)