14/03/2019 (Agence Europe) – Hopes were high that a provisional political agreement would be reached on the Horizon Europe framework programme during a new inter-institutional negotiating session (trilogue) on the morning of Thursday 14 March. But finally, after several hours of negotiations, the negotiators of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU came to the conclusion that a political effort still needed to be made to put the finishing touches on the legislative dossier. The negotiations focused mainly on the issue of widening criteria of excellence versus enlargement for access to Framework-Programme funding, on funding (including grants for SMEs) within the framework of the European Innovation Council and on the strategic planning process for the implementation of the Framework-Programme (see EUROPE 12211/25). The next - and probably last - trilogue has been scheduled for Tuesday, 19 March. (PH)