Four decisive texts for the next seven years in the fields of research and innovation (R&I) were approved, on Tuesday 27 April, by a large majority in the European Parliament.
Two of them set out the rules for participation, dissemination and the specific programme for implementing Horizon Europe: the new EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (see EUROPE 12621/10). They were supported by 677 votes in favour, 5 against, 17 abstentions and 661 votes in favour, 5 against, 33 abstentions.
The other two texts set out the priorities of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) for 2021-2027 (see EUROPE 12647/5) and received 663 votes in favour, 17 against, 19 abstentions and 673 votes in favour, 6 against and 20 abstentions.
In the debates preceding the vote on Monday, speakers warmly welcomed the compromises and texts negotiated and the budget obtained (€95.5 billion, in current prices).
However, many pointed to a number of pitfalls which they believe will continue to undermine European R&I capabilities.
Targets still low. The rapporteur on the Horizon Europe specific implementation programme, Christian Ehler (EPP, Germany), first regretted that the texts do not “even” give the EU the means to reach its target of an overall investment of at least 3% of its GDP in research and development (see EUROPE 12571/9).
This is all the more regrettable given that the United States spends more than 3% of its GDP, China 5%, Japan more than 3%, Israel 5% and Korea 4.6%, Mr Ehler stressed.
“Even the OECD average exceeds the average research expenditure in the EU”, he insisted, joined on this point by several other MEPs.
Negligible decision-making weight. MEP Marc Botenga (The Left, Belgium) - speaking on behalf of Marisa Matias (The Left, Portugal), rapporteur on the draft revision of the EIT regulation - denounced the influence of the private sector on the orientation of certain budgets (see EUROPE 12696/5, 12494/16).
Citing the example of a veto against the Commission when it wanted to invest more in epidemiological research, he regretted that companies could thus decide alone on “the use of taxpayers’ money”.
Geographical disparities. Finally, several MEPs (notably from Poland, Bulgaria and Lithuania) called for these programmes to be implemented in a way that does not widen existing inequalities in the EU.
“Bridging the gap between Eastern and Western Europe in terms of research and innovation will undoubtedly be the touchstone for the success of Horizon Europe”, said Ivo Hristov (S&D, Bulgaria).
In particular, he called for “fair incomes, the possibility of deploying researchers throughout the EU” and, more broadly, for more “decentralisation”. Greater solidarity in R&I will also be “necessary” to overcome the pandemic, he said. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)