13/03/2019 (Agence Europe) – The European Parliament and the Council will meet one last time, on the morning of Thursday 14 March, to discuss the Horizon Europe framework programme and to seal a provisional political agreement. On Wednesday 13 March, the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU obtained a renewed mandate from ambassadors on the Committee of Permanent Representatives I to continue and finalise the negotiations. The final main points of discussion will focus on the question of excellence criteria versus widening for access to Framework Programme funding, as well as funding (and in particular grants for SMEs) within the framework of the European Innovation Council, and finally the strategic planning process for the implementation of the Framework Programme (see EUROPE 12211/25). (PH)