The ministers of Member States responsible for research, who met on Friday, 10 June in a ‘Competitiveness’ session of the Council of the European Union, have adopted conclusions on the new European missions launched under the Horizon Europe framework programme (see EUROPE 12968/15).
The Ministers have therefore provided guidance on the framework for implementing these missions, on their governance, and on how monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are developing. The European Commission is required to complete this evaluation by 31 December 2023.
The French Minister for Higher Education and Research, Sylvie Retailleau, who chaired the EU Council, said that the issue of governance was essential for the success of these missions. She emphasised that the governance of the missions portfolio should be based on an effective articulation of public policies and funding at European, national and local levels.
For EU Research Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, the adoption of these conclusions is an important step towards the success of the European missions.
“Close cooperation and commitment from Member States is needed” the Commissioner stressed, encouraging Member States to put in place governance structures so that both public and private actors are encouraged to participate in the missions.
The EU Council’s conclusions emphasise the involvement of citizens and under-represented groups and their integration into the missions from the very start of the initiatives. This civic engagement is “a central element for the success of the missions”, insisted Mrs Retailleau.
The European Commission is also invited to make use of the knowledge it developed during these missions so that each Member State can then benefit from it.
Link to the conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/221 (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)