At the end of the Competitiveness Council on Friday 29 November, the relevant ministers reached an agreement to define the synergies between the Horizon Europe framework programme and other EU programmes.
This is an important step, says a source close to the issue, because, thanks to this agreement, “Horizon Europe's position as a central strategic funding programme is strengthened” in the very diverse landscape of European programmes.
Thus, the Member States have endorsed, in the framework of Appendix IV, about 15 synergies between Horizon Europe and other European programmes, especially in relation to agricultural policy and cohesion policy (To view all funds: http://bit.ly/2YcBe3l ).
Only the Euratom programme remains in brackets, due to being blocked in the Council (see EUROPE 12380/2). All Member States supported the agreement on Appendix IV, except Hungary, which wants to seal the deal on the multiannual financial framework and cohesion policy first and foremost, in order to approve an agreement on Horizon Europe, we are told.
The Member States and the European Parliament should now meet again to continue the interinstitutional negotiations and complete the political agreement from late March 2019 (see EUROPE 12218/15).
European Institute of Innovation and Technology. On the same day, ministers adopted a partial general approach regarding the draft regulation on the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) for 2021-2027.
The main changes to the existing regulation concern the financial sustainability and openness of knowledge and innovation communities (KICs; partnerships between universities, research institutes and businesses in the field of innovation), as well as the strengthening of the monitoring and evaluation of KICs and the role of Member States in the governance of the EIT. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)