The European ministers meeting in the ‘Competitiveness’ Council confirmed, on Thursday 23 May, by consensus, in addition to other texts (see other articles), the conclusions on the ex-post evaluation of the previous EU Research Framework Programme implemented from 2014 to 2020, Horizon 2020. This work follows the publication by the European Commission on 29 January of an assessment report (see EUROPE 13338/6).
The EU Council, said Belgian Minister Willy Borsus, who chaired the meeting, confirmed the essential message of the Commission’s assessment: “An adequate and stable budget until the end of the implementation of the framework programme is imperative”.
He pointed out that the evaluation also highlighted the major impact of the programme on the scientific, social and economic dimension of the European Union and its Member States. In his view, the EU Council has gone further, calling in particular for a more balanced approach between basic research and the stages of applying research results, feedback to political authorities and support for private investment in research and innovation (R&I).
Generally speaking, Minister Borsus said that the text met expectations, but that there were areas for improvement, such as synergies and complementary funding, whether public or private, the participation of women in projects and the extension of participation throughout the EU.
The minister also highlighted the need to improve the long-term evaluation of framework programmes, in particular by defining realistic objectives, indicators and relevant data to optimise monitoring.
The European Commissioner for Research, Iliana Ivanova, also indicated that an adequate and stable budget for R&I was crucial. She recalled that the Commission had estimated the funding shortfall to finance all the quality proposals received at €159 billion, but also called on the Member States to support it.
Slovenia is said to have preferred a more explicit indication of this funding gap.
Commissioner Ivanova also took note of the call for action and indicated that several measures had been implemented, including the gender equality plan and pilot projects to broaden the base of participation in R&I.
The Commission will continue to take action to deploy results and synergies, she said, calling on the Member States to support this approach by intervening in favour of talent awarded by a European Seal of Excellence, in particular by using cohesion funds.
She also called on Member States to maintain and make available research infrastructures.
The Hungarian delegation regretted that certain research entities were ineligible to act as partners, a decision that had been taken to protect the EU budget.
Link to the latest draft conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/c35 (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)