REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (recast)

18.6.2020 - (COM(2019)0331 – C9‑0042/2019 – 2019/0151(COD)) - ***I

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Rapporteur: Marisa Matias
(Recast – Rule 110 of the Rules of Procedure)

Amendments

• 001-162 (PDF - 259 KB)
• 001-162 (DOC - 91 KB)
• 163-163 (PDF - 273 KB)
• 163-163 (DOC - 103 KB)

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (recast)

(COM(2019)0331 – C9‑0042/2019 – 2019/0151(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure – recast)

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2019)0331),

– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 173(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C9‑0042/2019),

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs on the proposed legal basis,

– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to the reasoned opinion submitted, within the framework of Protocol No 2 on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, by the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, asserting that the draft legislative act does not comply with the principle of subsidiarity,

– having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 28 November 2001 on a more structured use of the recasting technique for legal acts[1],

– having regard to the letter of 10 January 2020 sent by the Committee on Legal Affairs to the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy in accordance with Rule 110(3) of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to Rules 110, 59 and 40 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Culture and Education,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (A9-0120/2020),

A. whereas, according to the Consultative Working Party of the legal services of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, the Commission proposal does not include any substantive amendments other than those identified as such in the proposal and whereas, as regards the codification of the unchanged provisions of the earlier acts together with those amendments, the proposal contains a straightforward codification of the existing texts, without any change in their substance;

1. Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out, taking into account the recommendations of the Consultative Working Party of the legal services of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission;

2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

 

Amendment  1

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 2

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(2) Member States are primarily responsible for sustaining a strong European industrial, competitive and innovative base. However, the nature and scale of the innovation challenge in the Union also require action to be taken at Union level.	(2) Member States are primarily responsible for sustaining a strong European industrial, competitive and innovative base. However, the nature and scale of the innovation challenge also require action to be taken at Union level.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  2

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 4

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(4) The EIT, primarily through its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (‘KICs’), should aim at strengthening innovation ecosystems that tackle global challenges. It should primarily have the objective of contributing to the development of the Union’s and the Member States’ innovation capacity at the highest standards. In order to achieve this objective, the EIT should facilitate and enhance networking and cooperation and create synergies between different innovation communities in Europe.	(4) The EIT, primarily through its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (‘KICs’), has the mission of contributing to sustainable Union economic development and competitiveness by reinforcing the innovation capacity of the Member States and the Union. It also aims to deliver on the Union strategic priorities and contribute to the realisation of EU objectives and policies, including the European Green Deal, the European Recovery Plan, the European data, digital, SME and Industrial strategies and achieving Europe's strategic autonomy. Furthermore, it should contribute to tackling global challenges, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by following the principles of the Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement, and achieve a transition to a net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) economy by 2050 at the latest. This transition will only be possible through a boost in research and innovation, which underscores the need to reinforce favourable conditions and investments in enhancing Europe’s knowledge base and research and innovation capacity, in particular in green climate-friendly technologies and innovations.

Amendment  3

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 4 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(4a) The EIT should facilitate and enhance networking and cooperation and create synergies between different innovation communities in Europe, ensuring a wide geographical coverage with the aim of bridging regional disparities and preventing innovation divide, while keeping excellence its prior criterion.

Amendment  4

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 5

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(5) The strategic priority fields and financial needs for the EIT for a period of seven years , covering the respective Multiannual Financial Framework (‘MFF’), should be laid down in a Strategic Innovation Agenda ( ‘SIA’). The SIA should ensure alignment with the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation and foster synergies with other relevant Union programmes of the MFF as well as with other Union initiatives, policies and instruments, in particular with those supporting education and regional development. Given the importance of the SIA for the Union innovation policy and the resulting political significance of its socio-economic impact for the Union, the SIA should be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of a Commission proposal based on a contribution provided by the EIT.	(5) The strategic priority fields and financial needs for the EIT for a period of seven years, including short-term actions aimed at tackling the COVID-19 crisis and recovery should be laid down in a Strategic Innovation Agenda (‘SIA’). The SIA should ensure alignment with Horizon Europe - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon Europe), namely strategic R&I plans, and foster synergies with other relevant Union programmes as well as with other Union initiatives, policies and instruments. Given the importance of the SIA for the Union innovation policy and the resulting political significance of its socio-economic impact, the SIA should be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of a Commission proposal based on a contribution provided by the EIT. Those contributions should also be made available to the European Parliament.

Amendment  5

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 5 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(5a) The crisis resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a massive and disruptive impact on Member States' health and economic systems, causing societal disruptions. Those impacts will require the collaboration of all Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and the EIT should contribute to the innovation efforts that are needed to provide a coherent response to the crisis. Moreover, the EIT and its KICs should reinforce its actions in order to support and increase the resilience of microenterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups as well as students, researchers, entrepreneurs and employees.

Amendment  6

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 5 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(5b) The economic shock linked to the COVID-19 crisis has a major impact on universities, researchers, companies and other EIT stakeholders. It is important to identify and tackle related challenges, in particular access to finance, in order to safeguard the knowledge triangle and rebuild the trust and confidence among all stakeholders. In the medium-term, all KICs should adapt to the impact of the shock and re-orient their focus and activities, therefore they need to be agile and flexible in order to seek new opportunities.

Amendment  7

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 5 c (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(5c) Ongoing research into tackling the effects of the COVID-19 crisis should be accelerated. The EIT should boost the impact of that research and help develop products and innovative services arising from that research, ensuring that they reach as many people as possible.

Amendment  8

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 5 d (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(5d) The EIT Governing Board and the KICs should adopt flexibility measures and actions necessary to provide the appropriate support to their ecosystem based on the knowledge triangle, creating, where necessary, ad hoc support measures for their partners and beneficiaries and even beyond their communities. They should provide their partners, beneficiaries and students with tools and instruments to adapt to more decentralised and remote working methods, less travel, more uncertainty and continued social distancing.

Amendment  9

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 6

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(6) In line with the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation, the activities of the EIT should address strategic long-term challenges for innovation in Europe, particularly in trans- and/or inter-disciplinary areas including those already identified at European level. In so doing, the EIT should promote periodic dialogue with civil society.	(6) In line with Horizon Europe, the activities of the EIT should address strategic long-term challenges for innovation in Europe, particularly in trans- and/or inter-disciplinary areas including the development of innovative non-technological solutions as a necessary complement to technology focused innovation activities. In so doing, the EIT should promote periodic dialogue with civil society and with research and innovation centres, SMEs, higher education and industry.

Amendment  10

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 7

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(7) The EIT should give priority to the transfer of its higher education, research and innovation activities to the business context and their commercial application, as well as to supporting the creation of start-ups, spin-offs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).	(7) The EIT should give priority to the transfer of its higher education, research and innovation activities and entrepreneurial activities to a business context and to their commercial application. In doing so, it should support the innovation and entrepreneurial capacity of higher education, promote excellence in research and boost, as well as foster, the creation of start-ups, spin-offs and SMEs.

Amendment  11

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 7 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(7a) The EIT should seek to engage more closely with SMEs to ensure their active participation in the activities of the KICs. Furthermore, public companies and local authorities, as well as non-profit organisations, should be involved in the KICs, where appropriate.

Amendment  12

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 7 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(7b) Social-enterprises that are very innovative in nature through the goods or services they offer, their organisation or the production methods they employ, the promotion of social entrepreneurship activities should be part of the activities of the EIT and the KICs.

Amendment  13

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 8

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(8) The EIT should primarily operate through excellence-driven and autonomous large-scale European Partnerships of higher education institutions, research organisations, companies and other stakeholders in the form of sustainable and long-term self-supporting strategic networks in the innovation process. Those partnerships should be selected by the Governing Board of the EIT on the basis of a transparent and excellence-based process , in accordance with the criteria of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation for the selection of European Partnerships, and designated as KICs.	(8) The EIT should primarily operate through excellence-driven and autonomous institutionalised European Partnerships of higher education institutions, research organisations, companies and other stakeholders in the form of sustainable and long-term self-supporting strategic networks in the innovation process. Those partnerships should aim to become financially sustainable by mobilising funds from other public and private sources and to attract and engage the widest possible range of new partners. They should be selected by the Governing Board of the EIT on the basis of a transparent and excellence-based process, in accordance with this Regulation and Horizon Europe for the selection of European Partnerships, and designated as KICs.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  14

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 8 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(8a) The selection and launch of new KICs should be based on an open, transparent and competitive process that takes into account the Strategic Planning of Horizon Europe, the mid-term review of the EIT and the KICs, the pace of recovery of the Union in the COVID 19 pandemic aftermath and the budget allocated to the EIT for the respective budgetary period. In the process and running of the KICs, the EIT should take into account the fact that not all KICS have the same financial needs, with some being more capital-intensive than others.

Amendment  15

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 9

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(9) Taking into account the specificity of KICs, it is necessary to provide for special minimum conditions to form a KIC, derogating from the rules for participation and dissemination of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation. Similarly, specific rules on ownership, access rights, exploitation and dissemination may be necessary for KIC added-value activities.	(9) Taking into account the specificity of KICs, it is necessary to provide for special minimum conditions to form a KIC. Those conditions may, on an exceptional basis derogate from the rules for participation and dissemination of Horizon Europe. Similarly, specific rules on ownership, access rights, exploitation and dissemination may be necessary for KIC added-value activities.

Amendment  16

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 10

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(10) The Governing Board should also steer the activities of the EIT and coordinate the reporting, monitoring and evaluation of the activities of the KICs in line with the provisions of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation. Membership of the Governing Board should balance experience from the business and the higher education and/or research worlds as well as from the innovation sector.	(10) The Governing Board should also steer the activities of the EIT and coordinate the reporting, monitoring and evaluation of the activities of the KICs in line with the provisions of Horizon Europe. The EIT Governing Board should be able to make recommendations on how to reduce the administrative burden on KICs. Membership of the Governing Board should balance experience from business, higher education and research as well as from the innovation sector. With excellence as a guiding principle, the EIT Governing Board should also ensure geographical and gender balance in its composition.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  17

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 11

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(11) In order to contribute to the competitiveness and to reinforce the international attractiveness of the European economy and its innovation capacity, the EIT and the KICs should be able to attract partner organisations, researchers and students from all over the world, including by encouraging their mobility, as well as to cooperate with third-country organisations.	(11) In order to contribute to the competitiveness and to reinforce the international attractiveness of the European economy and its innovation and entrepreneurial capacity, the EIT and the KICs should be able to attract partner organisations, researchers and students from all over the world, including from the Union’s outermost regions, including by encouraging their mobility, as well as to cooperate with third-country organisations.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  18

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 12

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(12) Relations between the EIT and the KICs should be based on framework partnership agreements and grant agreements, which will set out the KICs’ rights and obligations, ensure an adequate level of coordination and outline the mechanism for monitoring and evaluating KICs’ activities and outcomes. The framework partnership agreement should ensure continuity of the EIT financial contribution to a KIC beyond the respective MFF. By way of derogation from Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council12 (the ‘Financial Regulation’), the EIT should be able to establish such framework partnership agreement for an initial period of seven years and extend it beyond that period for another period of a maximum of seven years.	(12) Relations between the EIT and the KICs should be based on framework partnership agreements and multiannual grant agreements, which will set out the KICs’ rights and obligations, ensure an adequate level of coordination and outline the mechanism for monitoring and evaluating KICs’ activities and outcomes. The framework partnership agreement should ensure continuity of the EIT financial contribution to a KIC beyond the respective MFF. By way of derogation from Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council12 (the ‘Financial Regulation’), the EIT should be able to establish such framework partnership agreement for an initial period of seven years. Subject to a positive evaluation on the progress of the KIC with regard to the achievement of its objectives and milestones, to be carried out by year 4 of the first period, the EIT should be able to extend that framework partnership agreement for a further period up to a maximum of seven years, on the basis of a further evaluation with a positive outcome. In the event of an extension of the initial seven-year agreement, the KIC shall be subject to another mid-term review based on the same criteria and methodology in order to decide on the further continuation of the KIC.
__________________	__________________
12 Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 (OJ L 193, 30.7.2018, p. 1).	12 Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 (OJ L 193, 30.7.2018, p. 1).

Amendment  19

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 12 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(12a) Subject to the outcome of a final review before the expiry of the fourteenth year of the framework partnership agreement, the EIT Governing Board, in exceptional  circumstances, where duly substantiated, may decide to extend the partnership agreement with a KIC from the first wave of KICs. Such extension should be subject to a positive in-depth evaluation by independent external experts of the KICs' effectiveness, provided that they have achieved a sufficient level of impact and financial sustainability. The extension should be limited as regards time, budget and scope of the activities of the KIC that are not so close to the market and thus cannot yet be financially sustainable, but remain crucial for the fulfilment of its tasks, activities and capabilities in responding to pressing societal challenges.

Amendment  20

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 13

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(13) There is a need to support higher education as an integral, but often missing, component of a comprehensive innovation strategy. The framework partnership agreements or grant agreements between the EIT and KICs should provide that the degrees and diplomas awarded through the KICs should be awarded by participating higher education institutions, which should be encouraged to label them also as EIT degrees and diplomas. In addition, the EIT should strengthen and widen the scope of the EIT-labelled degrees and diplomas in order to increase their recognition outside the EIT Community. Through its activities and work, the EIT should help promote mobility for students, researchers and staff . All those activities should be carried out without prejudice to Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council13 .	(13) There is a need to support higher education as an integral, but often missing, component of a comprehensive innovation strategy. The framework partnership agreements or grant agreements between the EIT and KICs should provide that the degrees and diplomas awarded through the KICs should be awarded by participating higher education institutions, which should be encouraged to label them also as EIT degrees and diplomas. In addition, the EIT should strengthen and widen the scope of the EIT-labelled degrees and diplomas to lifelong learning activities, vocational training, skilling, re-skilling and up-skilling programmes in order to increase their recognition and outside the EIT Community. Through its activities and work, the EIT should help promote mobility for students, researchers and staff, as well as provide opportunities for lifelong learning, mentoring and coaching. All those activities should be carried out without prejudice to Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council13.
__________________	__________________
13 Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications (OJ L 255, 30.9.2005, p. 22). Directive as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1430/2007 (OJ L 320, 6.12.2007, p. 3).	13 Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications (OJ L 255, 30.9.2005, p. 22). Directive as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1430/2007 (OJ L 320, 6.12.2007, p. 3).

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  21

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 14

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(14) Appropriate provisions should be made to guarantee the liability and transparency of the EIT. Appropriate rules regulating its governance and functioning should be laid down in the Statutes of the EIT.	(14) Appropriate provisions should be made to guarantee the liability, transparency and openness of the EIT. Appropriate rules regulating its governance and functioning should be laid down in the Statutes of the EIT.

Amendment  22

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 16

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(16) It is expected that industry, the finance and service sectors will contribute significantly to the budget of the KICs. The KICs should aim at maximising the share of contributions from the private sector and achieving financial sustainability . The KICs and their partner organisations should publicise the fact that their activities are undertaken in the context of the EIT and that they receive a financial contribution from the general budget of the Union.	(16) It is expected that the COVID-19 crisis will have an impact on the financial contributions from industry, the finance and service sectors will contribute significantly to the budget of the KICs. Nevertheless, the KICs should aim at maximising the share of contributions from the private sector and actively work from early on towards achieving financial sustainability. The KICs and their partner organisations should publicise the fact that their activities are undertaken in the context of the EIT and that they receive a financial contribution from the general budget of the Union. Furthermore, transparency of the funding should be increased by providing publicly available information on which projects are funded and on the allocation of the funding.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  23

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 17 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(17a) The EIT should ensure a balanced distribution of the budget for the duration of the period and a smooth transition from the current period to the next MFF period, in particular for the ongoing activities.

Amendment  24

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 19

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(19) The EIT should produce a consolidated annual activity report, outlining the activities conducted and results of the operations in the preceding calendar year . The EIT should also produce a single programming document, outlining its planned initiatives in terms of annual and multiannual programming and allowing the EIT to respond to internal and external developments in the fields of science, technology, higher education, innovation and other relevant areas.	(19) The EIT should produce a consolidated annual activity report, outlining the activities conducted and results of the operations in the preceding calendar year . The EIT should also produce a single programming document, outlining its planned initiatives in terms of annual and multiannual programming and allowing the EIT to respond to internal and external developments in the fields of science, technology, higher education, research and innovation and other relevant areas. That single programming document should address the aspects of the two-year crisis response programme. Those documents should be transmitted to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission for information purposes.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  25

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 20

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(20) It is appropriate that the Commission initiate independent, external evaluations of the operation of the EIT, including the KICs , in particular with a view to preparing the SIA. Those evaluations should examine how the EIT fulfils its mission, cover all activities of the EIT and KICs and should assess their relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, European added value, and coherence. Those evaluations should feed into the Commission programme evaluations provided for in the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation.	(20) It is appropriate that the Commission initiate independent, external evaluations of the operation of the EIT, including the KICs , in particular with a view to preparing the SIA. Those evaluations should examine how the EIT fulfils its mission, cover all activities of the EIT and KICs and should assess their relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, European added value, openness, outreach activities, communication, visibility, dissemination of results, impact and coherence. Those evaluations should feed into the Commission programme evaluations provided for in Horizon Europe.

Amendment  26

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 20 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(20a) EIT KICs are organised around co-location centres and innovation hubs, but they often use different terms to name them (hubs, nodes, offices, etc.). EIT should make best efforts to streamline the terminology related to the structure of each KIC, with the purpose of further simplifying, clarifying and enhancing recognisability of the EIT.

Amendment  27

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 20 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(20b) The EIT, primarily through its KICs and the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme should aim to strengthen innovation ecosystems for the development of an overall Union capacity for innovation that tackles global challenges, by fostering the integration of business, research, higher education and entrepreneurship.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  28

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 20 c (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(20c) The KICs, acting as an innovation facilitator through their co-location centres and innovation hubs, should consider the smart specialisation strategy priorities of Member States and thus enhance their innovation capacity by fully reflecting regional capacities and potential, opportunities, weaknesses, as well as local actors and their activities and markets.

Amendment  29

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 20 d (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(20d) Synergies of the EIT, through its KICs, with Cohesion Policy Funds should be strengthened in order to promote regional and cross-regional cooperation between the knowledge triangle actors and managing authorities, as well as to increase the overall impact and visibility of the EIT.

Amendment  30

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 20 e (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(20e) It is essential to promote strong synergies between the EIT and the European Innovation Council (EIC). KICs should stimulate the creation of innovative companies in close synergy with the EIC, while avoiding duplication, and EIT beneficiaries should be able to apply to the EIC instruments for support additional to the services provided by the EIT KICs; Start-ups with a high growth potential supported by KICs may have more direct access to EIC actions in accordance with the relevant provisions of  Horizon Europe in order to help them scale-up rapidly.

Amendment  31

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 20 f (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(20f) The EIT should foster innovation in its activities and should support the integration of higher education in the innovation ecosystem, in particular by stimulating entrepreneurial education, fostering trans-disciplinary collaboration between industry and higher education and research and by identifying prospective skills for future innovators to address global challenges, which includes advanced digital, sustainability and innovation skills. Support schemes provided by the EIT should benefit EIC beneficiaries, while start-ups emerging from KICs should have fast-track access to EIC actions.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  32

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 20 g (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(20g) With the aim of avoiding silos and the duplication of efforts and strategies, the EIT and EIC should envisage reciprocal and systematic exchanges of information, as well as having a common member in each of their Governing Boards.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  33

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 20 h (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(20h) Within the scope of Horizon Europe and in line with its strategic planning, the EIT should be able to decide to present new KICs in priority fields that contribute to addressing new and emerging global challenges. The first such KIC should relate to Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI), while the second should relate to the Water, Marine and Maritime Sectors and Ecosystems.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  34

 

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 20 i (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(20i) The EIT should be able to decide to present new KICs in priority fields, in line with Horizon Europe and with its strategic planning, that contribute to addressing new and emerging global and societal challenges. The first such KIC should relate to CCSI, to be launched in 2022, with the possibility of postponing the launch until 2023 in the event that the EIT Governing Board considers that further consultation of stakeholders is necessary before launching the call. The second such KIC should be on Water, Marine and Maritime Sectors and Ecosystems to be launched in 2025, after a positive impact assessment to be carried out by 2023.

Amendment  35

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(1) ‘innovation’ means the process, including its outcome, by which new ideas respond to societal or economic needs and demand and generate new products, services or business and organisational models that are successfully introduced into an existing market or that are able to create new markets and that provide value to society;	(1) ‘innovation’ means the process, including its outcome, by which new ideas respond to societal, economic or environmental needs and demand and generate new products, services or business, organisational and social models that are successfully introduced into an existing market or that are able to create new markets and that provide value to society;

Amendment  36

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(2) ‘Knowledge and Innovation Community’ (KIC) means an autonomous large-scale European partnership of higher education institutions, research organisations, companies and other stakeholders in the innovation process in the form of a strategic network, regardless of its precise legal form, based on joint mid- to long-term innovation planning to meet the EIT challenges and contribute to attaining the objectives established under the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation ;	(2) ‘Knowledge and Innovation Community’ or ‘KIC’ means an autonomous institutionalised European partnership as defined in Horizon Europe of higher education institutions, research organisations, companies and other stakeholders in the innovation process in the form of a strategic network, regardless of its precise legal form, based on joint mid- to long-term innovation planning to meet the EIT challenges and contribute to attaining the objectives established under Horizon Europe;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  37

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(2a) 'KIC co-location centre' means a physical space, established in an open and transparent manner, covering a geographical area, where a KIC’s main knowledge triangle partners can easily interact, providing the focal point for the KIC’s activity in that area;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  38

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(2b) 'crisis response programme’ means a two-year plan in which the EIT sets its priorities in response to the needs of each KIC with a view to overcoming the COVID-19 crisis and adapting to the post-crisis period;

Amendment  39

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 c (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(2c) 'EIT innovation hub’ means a local community hub established in a wide range of Member States, particularly in the Member States and regions targeted by the Regional Innovation Scheme, where the KICs can collaborate with local knowledge triangle actors in order to implement innovation goals across the whole Union, ensuring a more balanced geographical presence of the activities of the EIT Community, serving as an entry point for interacting with local players, mobilising and internationalising the local networks, establishing synergies and promoting the active integration of ecosystems at all levels and facilitating KICs’ efforts to foster complementarities and collaboration within the knowledge triangle with an ambition to grow into regional co-location centres;

Amendment  40

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 d (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(2d) 'EIT country liaison officers network' means a network of national representatives nominated by the governments of the Member States and countries associated to the Horizon Europe, part of the National Contact Points for Horizon Europe, tasked with facilitating a more structured dissemination of opportunities, results and achievements emerging from the EIT Community as well as encouraging mutual transfer of knowledge, advice and best practise, in line with the EIT's institute function;

Amendment  41

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(3) ‘partner organisation’ means any legal entity which is a member of a KIC and may include, in particular, higher education institutions, vocational education and training providers, research organisations, public or private companies, financial institutions, regional and local authorities, foundations and non-profit organisations;	(3) ‘partner organisation’ means any legal entity which is a member of a KIC and may include, in particular, higher education institutions, vocational education and training providers, research organisations, public institutions, public or private companies, financial institutions, regional and local authorities, foundations and non-profit organisations;

Amendment  42

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 7

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(7) ‘Strategic Innovation Agenda’ (‘SIA’) means a policy document outlining the priority fields and the long-term strategy of the EIT for future initiatives, its capacity to generate the best innovation added-value, including an overview of planned higher education, research and innovation activities over a period of seven years , covering the respective MFF ;	(7) ‘Strategic Innovation Agenda’ or ‘SIA’ means a policy document outlining the strategy and priorities of the EIT for future initiatives, its capacity to generate the best innovation added-value, including objectives, key actions, planned higher education, research and innovation activities, its mode of operation, expected impacts and resources needed over a period of seven years, covering Horizon Europe and the respective MFF;

Amendment  43

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(8) ‘Regional Innovation Scheme’ (‘RIS’) means an outreach scheme targeted at partnerships between higher education institutions, research organisations, companies and other stakeholders, in order to foster innovation across the Union;	(8) ‘Regional Innovation Scheme’ or ‘RIS’ means an outreach scheme targeted at establishing partnerships between higher education institutions, research organisations, companies and other stakeholders, in low R&I performing countries as defined in point (15a) of Article 2 of Regulation [xxx] establishing Horizon Europe as well as, to the extent that they are not low R&I performing countries, in countries and regions of those countries that are classified as modest or moderate innovators in the European Innovation Scoreboard, with the aim of fostering  innovation across the Union and bridging regional disparities and thereby mitigating the innovation divide;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  44

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 10

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(10) ‘KIC business plan’ means a document describing the objectives and the planned KIC added-value activities;	(10) ‘KIC multiannual business plan’ means a document describing the objectives and the planned KIC added-value activities, milestones, targets and impacts of the KIC which contribute to tackling global challenges, as well as containing an estimation of financial sources and funding, including its strategies aiming to achieve financial sustainability, openness to new partners and a more geographically balanced participation in its activities;

Amendment  45

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 12

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(12) ‘memorandum of co-operation’ means an agreement between the EIT and a KIC aimed at keeping a KIC as an active member of the EIT Community after the end date of the framework partnership agreement, without any financial contribution from the EIT;	deleted

Amendment  46

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 13

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(13) ‘financial sustainability’ means a capacity of a KIC to fund its knowledge triangle activities independently after the end date of the framework partnership agreement.	(13) ‘financial sustainability’ means a capacity of a KIC to generate sufficient revenue to finance most or all its knowledge triangle activities, including a significant share of the costs of maintaining the ecosystem, independently of the contributions from the EIT.

Amendment  47

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The EIT’s mission is to contribute to sustainable Union economic growth and competitiveness by reinforcing the innovation capacity of the Member States and the Union in order to address major challenges faced by the society. It shall do this by promoting synergies and cooperation among, and integrating, higher education, research and innovation of the highest standards, including by fostering entrepreneurship.	1. The EIT's mission is to contribute to sustainable Union economic development and competitiveness by reinforcing the innovation capacity of the Member States and the Union. It is also to deliver on the Union strategic priorities and contribute to the realisation of EU objectives and policies, including the European Green Deal, the European Recovery Plan, the European data, digital, SME and Industrial strategies and achieving Europe's strategic autonomy. Furthermore, it shall contribute to tackling global challenges, including the SDGs by following the principles of the Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement, and achieving a net-zero GHG economy by 2050 at the latest

Amendment  48

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The EIT shall contribute to deliver on the general and specific objectives of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation.	2. For the budget period of 2021-2027, the EIT shall contribute to delivering the general and specific objectives of Horizon Europe.

Amendment  49

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	3. The specific objectives of the EIT shall be to:
	(a)  increase the impact of KICs and their transparency, and boost knowledge triangle integration;
	(b)  increase the openness of the KICs by including a wider range of stakeholders from across the Union;
	(c)  increase the entrepreneurial and innovation capacity of the higher education sector across the Union by guiding and monitoring KICs in promoting a better integration in the innovation ecosystems and an institutional change in higher education institutions (HEIs);
	(d)  increase the regional outreach of the EIT and its KICs, as well as ensure a better dissemination and exploitation of results, in order to address regional disparities in the innovation capacity across the Union and within individual Member States to ensure a balanced geographical coverage;
	(e)  implement a two-year crisis response programme with the necessary flexibility to be able to contribute to protecting the current innovation ecosystems and to help EIT stakeholders prepare for the economic recovery.

Amendment  50

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1. The SIA shall define the priority fields and strategy for the EIT for the seven-year period concerned, taking into account the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation, and shall include an assessment of its socioeconomic impact and its capacity to generate the best innovation added-value. The SIA shall take into account the results of the monitoring and evaluation of the EIT as referred to in Article 19.	1. The SIA shall define the strategy and priorities for the EIT for the seven-year period concerned, including the short-term actions aiming to tackle the COVID-19 crisis and the subsequent recovery, taking into account Horizon Europe, including its strategic planning. The SIA shall also include an assessment of the expected socioeconomic impact and the outreach activities of the EIT and of the EIT’s capacity to generate the best innovation ecosystems and added-value. The SIA shall take into account the results of the monitoring and evaluation of the EIT as referred to in Article 19.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  51

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2. The SIA shall be aligned with the objectives of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation, the strategic multiannual planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation and other requirements of that programme, and foster synergies with other relevant Union programmes of the respective MFF, in particular with those supporting education and regional development. It shall also establish appropriate synergies and complementarities between the EIT activities and other Union initiatives , policies and instruments .	2. The SIA shall be aligned with the objectives of Horizon Europe, the strategic multiannual planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation and other requirements of that programme, and foster synergies with other relevant Union programmes of the respective MFF. It shall also establish appropriate synergies and complementarities between the EIT activities and other Union initiatives, policies and instruments, in particular the European Universities Initiative, the EIC, the Missions and the European Partnerships as referred to in Horizon Europe. The Commission shall offer the EIT all the necessary support in establishing appropriate synergies and complementarities with other Horizon Europe activities, as well as other Union initiatives and programmes, while avoiding duplication.

Amendment  52

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
3. The SIA shall include an estimate of financial needs and sources in view of the future operation, long-term development and funding of the EIT. It shall also contain an indicative financial plan covering the period of the respective MFF .	3. The SIA shall include an estimate of financial needs and sources in view of the future operation, long-term development and funding of the EIT, including the financial aspects related to the European Recovery Plan. It shall also contain an indicative financial plan covering the period of the respective MFF.

Amendment  53

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 4

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
4. The EIT shall submit its contribution to the Commission’s proposal for the SIA.	4. The EIT shall, taking into account the view and input from existing KICs, prepare a draft SIA, submit it to the Commission and make it public.

Amendment  54

Proposal for a regulation

Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(a) a Governing Board composed of high-level members experienced in higher education, research, innovation and business. It shall be responsible for steering the activities of the EIT, for the selection, designation , monitoring and evaluation of the KICs, and for all other strategic decisions;	(a) a Governing Board composed of high-level members with proven excellent experience in higher education, research, innovation and business, including a a member who is alsoa member of the EIC Board. It shall be responsible for steering the activities of the EIT, for the selection, designation, financing, monitoring and evaluation of the KICs, including for taking appropriate corrective measures in the event of underperformance and for all other strategic decisions; The selection of the Governing Board shall take into account criteria concerning gender and geographical balance;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  55

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(b) an Executive Committee composed of selected members and the Chairperson of the Governing Board. It shall assist the Governing Board in the performance of its tasks and prepare the Governing Board meetings in cooperation with the Director ;	(b) an Executive Committee composed of selected members representing all three dimensions of the knowledge triangle and the Chairperson of the Governing Board. It shall assist the Governing Board in the performance of its tasks and prepare the Governing Board meetings in cooperation with the Director;

Amendment  56

Proposal for a regulation

Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(c) a Director, appointed by the Governing Board, who shall be the legal representative of the EIT responsible for its operations and day-to-day management. The Director shall be accountable to the Governing Board and report to it on an ongoing basis on the development of the EIT and all activities falling under his/her responsibility ;	(c) a Director, appointed by the Governing Board, who shall be the legal representative of the EIT and responsible for the implementation of the decisions of the Governing Board and for its operations and day-to-day management. The Director shall be accountable to the Governing Board and report to it on an ongoing basis on the development of the EIT and all activities falling under his/her responsibility, including the implementation of the EIT Budget. The Directive shall report to the European Parliament on a regular basis, at least after each monitoring and evaluation process;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  57

Proposal for a regulation

Article 5 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2. The detailed provisions regarding the EIT bodies are set out in the Statutes of the EIT, annexed to this Regulation.	2. The detailed provisions regarding the EIT bodies and governance are set out in the Statutes of the EIT, annexed to this Regulation.

Amendment  58

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
In order to achieve its objective, the EIT shall in particular :	In order to achieve the objectives set out in Article 3, the EIT shall in particular:

Amendment  59

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(a) identify, in accordance with the SIA, its main priorities and activities;	(a) identify its activities, in accordance with the main priorities set out in the SIA;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  60

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(aa) present a two-year crisis response programme in cooperation with the KICs;

Amendment  61

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(b) raise awareness among potential partner organisations and encourage their participation in its activities;	(b) ensure openness to and raise awareness among potential partner organisations, to encourage their participation in its activities especially among SMEs and emerging centres of excellence in countries and regions eligible for RIS actions;

Amendment  62

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(c) select and designate KICs in the priority fields in accordance with Article 9 and define their rights and obligations by framework partnership agreements and grant agreements , provide them with appropriate support, apply appropriate quality control measures and continuously monitor and periodically evaluate their activities;	(c) select and designate KICs in the priority fields in accordance with Article 9 and define their rights and obligations by framework partnership agreements and grant agreements , provide them with appropriate strategic guidelines and support, apply the adequate quality control, close monitoring as well as set conditions and take appropriate and corrective measures in the event of underperformance based on the outcome of the assessments in accordance with Article 11 and continuously monitor and periodically evaluate their activities and their steps towards achieving financial sustainability;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  63

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ca) Steer the implementation of the RIS by providing means for establishing EIT Innovation Hubs in EIT RIS Member States;

Amendment  64

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point f

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(f) promote the dissemination of best practices for the integration of the knowledge triangle, including among KICs, in order to develop a common innovation and knowledge transfer culture, and encourage participation in outreach activities, including in the RIS;	(f) promote the dissemination of best practices for the integration of the knowledge triangle, including among KICs and across the Union, in order to develop a common innovation and knowledge transfer culture, and encourage participation and openness to new members in outreach activities, including in the RIS;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  65

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(fa) establish an EIT country liaison officers network, as part of the National Contact Points for Horizon Europe in order to encourage the mutual transfer of knowledge, advice and best practice in line with the EIT’s function;

Amendment  66

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point f b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(fb) promote the wide dissemination, communication and exploitation of the results and opportunities emerging from the EIT Community, including through the EIT country liaison officers network, in order to increase the awareness, visibility and knowledge of the EIT across the Union, as well as to encourage participation in EIT Community activities;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  67

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point f c (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(fc) support the KICs in the development of an effective financial sustainability strategy for the mobilisation of funds from other public and private sources;

Amendment  68

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point h

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(h) promote multidisciplinary approaches to innovation, including the integration of technological, social and non-technological solutions, organisational approaches and new business models;	(h) promote multidisciplinary approaches to innovation, across all sectors, namely through the integration of technological, social and non-technological solutions, sustainability and climate neutrality by design, organisational approaches, an entrepreneurial ethos and new business models;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  69

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point i

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i) ensure complementarity and synergy between EIT activities and other Union programmes, where appropriate;	(i) ensure complementarity and synergy between EIT activities and other Union programmes, where appropriate as referred to in Horizon Europe;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  70

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point i a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ia) develop and provide guidance on innovative Intellectual Property Rights models promoting knowledge transfer and dissemination, both within the context of the KICs and more widely across the Union;

Amendment  71

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point i b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ib) provide the necessary support and synergies with KICs to develop innovative solutions;

Amendment  72

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point i c (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ic) ensure that KICs can operate with the necessary flexibility to adapt their operations to the increasing demands arising from the COVID-19 crisis and help with the European Recovery Plan;

Amendment  73

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point j

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(j) organise regular meetings of a Stakeholder Forum to inform about the activities of the EIT, its experiences, best practices and contribution to Union innovation, research and education policies and objectives and to allow stakeholders to express their views;	(j) organise regular meetings, at least annually, of a Stakeholder Forum to share and discuss the activities of the EIT, exchange experiences and best practices and contribution to Union innovation, research and education policies and objectives and to allow stakeholders to express their views;

Amendment  74

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point k

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(k) organise meetings of a Member States’ Representatives Group, at least twice a year, independently from the meetings of the Stakeholder Forum, to ensure appropriate communication and flow of information with the EIT, and be informed of the achievements of, give advice to, and share experiences with, the EIT and the KICs. The Member States’ Representatives Group shall also ensure appropriate synergies and complementarities between EIT and KIC activities with national programmes and initiatives, including the potential national co-financing of KIC activities;	(k) organise meetings of a Member States’ Representatives Group independently from the meetings of the Stakeholder Forum, referred to in point (j), to ensure appropriate communication and flow of information with the EIT, and be informed of the achievements of, give advice to, and share experiences with, the EIT and the KICs;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  75

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point k a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ka) facilitate the establishment of EIT Community shared services facilities, aiming to jointly handle, common for all KICs;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  76

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point k b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(kb) encourage the networking, over time, of the various EIT Innovation Hubs in all Member States in order to facilitate cooperation between the EIT Community and the local innovation ecosystems;

Amendment  77

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point l

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(l) design and coordinate support actions undertaken by the KICs for the development of entrepreneurial and innovation capacity of higher education institutions and their integration in innovation ecosystems.	(l) design and coordinate and monitor the implementation of support actions undertaken by the KICs for the development of the entrepreneurial and innovation capacity of HEIs, professional training institutions, SMEs and start-ups and their integration in innovation ecosystems, throughout the Union and in line with the knowledge triangle approach;

Amendment  78

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point l a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(la) design and launch a higher education initiative, in cooperation with the Commission and based on the input from KICs, to support the development of innovation and entrepreneurial capacity in higher education, which will be implemented by and through the KICs;

Amendment  79

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point l b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(lb) widen the scope and strengthen the recognition and visibility outside the EIT Community of degrees and diplomas which are awarded by participating HEIs and which shall be labelled EIT degrees and diplomas and extend them to lifelong learning mentoring, vocational training, skilling and upskilling programmes while ensuring a gender-balanced approach, and which may be awarded in certified and qualified training institutions;

Amendment  80

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point l c (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(lc) strengthen the visibility and recognition of EIT-funded activities to the wider public and expand the EIT Label in order to improve the visibility and the recognition of EIT on education programmes based partnerships between different HEIs, training institutions, research centres and companies, while enhancing its overall quality by offering ‘learning-by-doing’ curricula and purposeful entrepreneurship as well as international, inter-organisational and cross-sectoral mobility;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  81

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	The Commission shall assist the EIT and its KICs in identifying synergies with other Union programmes.

Amendment  82

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	The Member States’ Representatives Group referred to in point (k) of paragraph 1 shall be composed of one representative from each Member State and one representative from each associated country.

Amendment  83

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 c (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	It shall advise the Governing Board and the Director of the EIT on strategically important issues. It shall also ensure appropriate synergies and complementarities between the activities of the EIT and the KICs and national programmes and initiatives, including the potential national co-financing of KIC activities.

Amendment  84

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(a) innovation activities and investments with European added value , including the support to the creation and development of innovative businesses, fully integrating the higher education and research dimensions to attain a critical mass and stimulating the dissemination and exploitation of results;	(a) innovation activities and investments with Union added value , including facilitating and supporting the creation and development of innovative businesses and start-ups, fully integrating the higher education and research dimensions to attain a critical mass and stimulating the dissemination and exploitation of results;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  85

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point b

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(b) innovation-driven experimentation, prototyping and demonstration in areas of key economic and societal interest and drawing on the results of Union and national research, with the potential to strengthen Union’s competitiveness at international level and find solutions for the major challenges faced by European society;	(b) innovation-driven research, experimentation, prototyping and demonstration in areas of key economic and societal interest and drawing on the results of Union and national research, with the potential to strengthen Union’s competitiveness at international level and find solutions for the major challenges faced by European society, including health and digital challenges;

Amendment  86

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(c) education and training activities in particular at masters and doctoral level, as well as professional training courses, in disciplines with the potential to meet future European socio-economic needs and which expand the Union’s talent base, promote the development of innovation-related skills, the improvement of managerial and entrepreneurial skills and the mobility of researchers and students, and foster knowledge-sharing, mentoring and networking among the recipients of EIT-labelled degrees and training;	(c) education and training activities in particular at masters and doctoral level, as well as professional training courses, in disciplines with the potential to meet future European socio-economic and socio-ecological needs and which expand the Union’s talent base, promote the development of innovation-related skills, the improvement of managerial and entrepreneurial skills and the mobility of researchers and students, and foster knowledge-sharing, mentoring and networking among the recipients of EIT-labelled education and training activities;

Amendment  87

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ca) actions supporting HEIs to better integrate in innovation value chains and ecosystems and bringing them together with other key innovation players from the knowledge triangle and thereby improve their strategic capacity development;

Amendment  88

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point d

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(d) outreach activities and the dissemination of best practices in the innovation sector with a focus on the development of cooperation between higher education, research and business, including the service and financial sectors;	(d) outreach activities and the dissemination of best practices in the field of innovation sector with a focus on the development of cooperation and interdisciplinary learning loops between higher education, research and public and third sector organisations as well as business, including the service and financial sectors;

Amendment  89

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(da) RIS activities, fully integrated in the KICs’ multiannual strategy in order to strengthen the innovation capacity and to develop sustainable innovation ecosystems across the Union with a view to decreasing the innovation performance disparities and divide across the Union and to ensuring a more geographically balanced participation in the EIT Community across the Union;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  90

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point e

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(e) to seek synergies and complementarities between KIC activities and existing European, national and regional programmes, where appropriate.	(e) to seek synergies and complementarities between KIC activities and existing European, national and regional programmes, in particular the EIC, other European Partnerships and Missions, as well as universities, HEIs and Research Centres, where appropriate;

Amendment  91

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ea) the mobilisation of funds from public and private sources and income generated by their own activities, in accordance with Article 17, with the aim of increasing a proportion of their budget;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  92

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point e b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(eb) establishing a repository mapping out the relationship between inventions and patents held by the KICs and the identification of the owners of those inventions.

Amendment  93

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 2 – introductory part

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2. Without prejudice to the framework partnership agreements and grant agreements between the EIT and the KICs, the KICs shall have substantial overall autonomy to define their internal organisation and composition, as well as their precise agenda and working methods. In particular, KICs shall:	2. Without prejudice to the framework partnership agreements and the multi-annual grant agreements between the EIT and the KICs, the KICs shall have substantial overall autonomy to define their internal organisation and composition, as well as their precise agenda and working methods provided that those agenda and working methods result in progress towards achieving the objectives of the EIT and the KICs. In particular, KICs shall:

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  94

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(a) establish internal governance arrangements which reflect the knowledge triangle of higher education, research and innovation;	(a) establish internal transparent governance arrangements which reflect the knowledge triangle of higher education, research and innovation;

Amendment  95

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(b) ensure their openness to new members whenever they add value to the partnership;	(b) ensure their openness to the widest possible range of new members whenever they add value to the partnership, all across the Union, including through clear and transparent entry and exit criteria and open calls;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  96

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(c) function in an open and transparent way, in accordance with their internal rules;	(c) establish internal rules that ensure the functioning of the KICs in an open and transparent way in accordance with codes of good governance to be laid down in those internal rules;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  97

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(da) develop, as part of their multiannual business plan, a two-year strategic plan detailing initiatives envisaged to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 crisis, while paying particular attention to actions aiming to increase the resilience of microenterprises, SMEs and start-ups, but also of the students, researchers and employees;

Amendment  98

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(db) in synergy with other Union innovation strands and other Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and in order to respond to the European recovery plan, publish dedicated calls, promote initiatives using their partnerships, ecosystems and communities, develop individual and cross-KIC projects to support business restructuring, and identify microenterprises, SMEs, start-ups and other stakeholders that need support and for example a better access to finance;

Amendment  99

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point d c (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(dc) propose initiatives aiming to support their ecosystem based on the knowledge triangle, while at the same time being flexible enough to create measures that are fit for purpose for their partners and beneficiaries and beyond their existing communities;

Amendment  100

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point e

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(e) establish and implement strategies for financial sustainability.	(e) establish and implement strategies for achieving financial sustainability;

Amendment  101

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ea) develop outreach activities, in particular with emerging institutions and centres of excellence in Union regions that perform less well than others:

Amendment  102

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
3. The relationship between the EIT and each KIC shall be based on framework partnership agreements and grant agreements .	3. The relationship between the EIT and each KIC shall be based on framework partnership agreements and multi-annual grant agreements and on a well-defined long-term collaboration strategy.

Amendment  103

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	3a. When selecting projects and partners, and when is strictly necessary to separate proposals of equal quality, after an assessment based on the excellence criterion, KICs shall give priority to proposals that meet one or more of the following criteria:
	(a)  inclusion of a higher number of countries or regions which take part in the RIS;
	(b)  inclusion of a higher number of regions or countries that are not yet participating in the KIC community;
	(c)  involvement of regions and countries that commit to contribute with ESI funds;
	(d)  involvement of a higher number of SMEs;
	(e)  ensuring a better gender balance.

Amendment  104

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The rules for participation and dissemination of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation shall apply. By way of derogation from those rules:	The rules for participation and dissemination of Horizon Europe shall apply. By way of derogation from those rules:

Amendment  105

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(b) specific rules on ownership, access rights, exploitation and dissemination may apply for KIC added-value activities.	(b) specific rules on ownership, access rights, exploitation and dissemination may apply for KIC added-value activities, where appropriate.

Amendment  106

Proposal for a regulation

Article 9 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1. A partnership shall be selected and designated by the EIT to become a KIC following a competitive, open and transparent procedure. The criteria of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation for the selection of European partnerships shall apply. The EIT Governing Board may further specify those criteria, by adopting and publishing criteria for the selection of KICs based on the principles of excellence and innovation relevance..	1. A partnership shall be selected and designated by the EIT to become a KIC following a competitive, open and transparent procedure. The applicable conditions and criteria of Horizon Europe for the selection of European partnerships shall apply. The EIT Governing Board shall further specify those criteria, by adopting and publishing criteria for the selection of KICs based on the principles of excellence, balanced geographical spread and innovation relevance in delivering on societal challenges and Union policy priorities.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  107

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 9 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2. The EIT shall launch the selection and designation of KICs according to the priority fields and time schedule defined in the SIA.	2. The EIT shall launch the selection and designation of KICs according to the priority fields and time schedule defined in the SIA and taking into account the priorities as defined in the strategic planning of Horizon Europe.

Amendment  108

Proposal for a regulation

Article 9 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
3. The minimum condition to form a KIC is the participation of at least three independent partner organisations, established in at least three different Member States.	3. The minimum conditions to form a KIC is the participation of at least three independent partner organisations, comprising at least one HEI, one research institution and one private undertaking and established in at least three different Member States.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  109

Proposal for a regulation

Article 9 – paragraph 4

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
4. In addition to the condition set out in paragraph 3, at least two thirds of the partner organisations forming a KIC shall be established in the Member States. At least one higher education institution , one research organisation and one private company shall be part of each KIC.	4. In addition to the condition set out in paragraph 3, at least two thirds of the partner organisations forming a KIC shall be established in the Member States. A balanced geographical coverage, including the participation of RIS and the participation of new partners, shall be taken into account in the selection and designation procedure.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  110

Proposal for a regulation

Article 9 – paragraph 5

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
5. The EIT shall adopt and publish criteria and procedures for financing, monitoring and evaluating the activities of the KICs prior to the launching of the selection procedure for new KICs. The Member States’ Representatives Group referred to in Article 6(k) shall be promptly informed of them.	5. The EIT shall adopt and publish criteria and procedures for financing, monitoring and evaluating the activities of the KICs prior to the launching of the selection procedure for new KICs. The Member States’ Representatives Group referred to in Article 6(2) , the EIT country liaison officers’ network and the European Parliament shall be promptly informed of them.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment 111

Proposal for a regulation

Article 10 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The EIT shall, on the basis of indicators set out, inter alia, in the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation and in the SIA, and in close cooperation with the Commission, organise continuous monitoring and periodic external evaluations of the output, results and impact of each KIC. The results of such monitoring and evaluations shall be reported to the European Parliament and to the Council and shall be made public.	The EIT shall, on the basis of indicators set out, inter alia, in the Horizon Europe and in the SIA, and in close cooperation with the Commission, organise continuous monitoring and periodic external evaluations of the output, results, and impact and steps taken towards achieving the financial sustainability of each KIC. The results of such monitoring and evaluations shall be reported to the European Parliament and to the Council and shall be made public.

Amendment  112

Proposal for a regulation

Article 11 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2. Subject to the outcome of a comprehensive mid-term review before the expiry of the initial period of seven years, he Governing Board may decide to extend the framework partnership agreement with a KIC beyond the initial period for another period of a maximum of seven years or to discontinue the EIT’s financial contribution and not to extend the framework partnership agreement. The Governing Board shall take into account in particular the achieved level of financial sustainability of a KIC, its capacity to ensure openness to new members as well as the limits of the Union financial contribution referred to in Article 20 and relevance with regard to the objectives of the EIT.	2. Subject to the positive outcome of a comprehensive mid-term review by independent external experts, which shall be carried out by the end of the fourth year of the initial seven-year period, the Governing Board may decide to maintain the framework partnership agreement with a KIC until the end of the initial period or to discontinue the EIT’s financial contribution. The Governing Board shall take into account in particular the relevance to Union’s global and societal challenges, the criteria of Horizon Europe for implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the European Partnerships, the achievement of the goals set by the KIC itself, the KIC’s coordination efforts with other relevant research and innovation initiatives, , thelevel of financial sustainability achieved by a KIC, its capacity to ensure openness to new members and its success in attracting new partners, the transparency of its governance, its capacity to develop sustainable innovation ecosystems and its geographical coverage and gender balance as well as the limits of the Union financial contribution referred to in Article 20 and relevance with regard to the objectives of the EIT.
	The Governing Board shall submit those mid-term reviews to the European Parliament and to the Council and shall make them public.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  113

Proposal for a regulation

Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	2a. At the end of the initial seven-year period, the Governing Board may decide to extend the framework partnership agreement for a further seven-year period. That decision shall be based on the criteria set out in paragraph 2 and on the final evaluation of the KIC’s performance to be carried out before the end of the initial seven-year period. The EIT shall consult the European Parliament before extending the initial seven-year period.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  114

Proposal for a regulation

Article 11 – paragraph 2 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	2b. In the event of an extension of the seven-year agreement, the KIC shall be subject to a new mid-term review by the end of the fourth year of the second seven-year period, based on the same criteria and methodology.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  115

Proposal for a regulation

Article 11 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
3. In the event that evaluations of a KIC show inadequate results or lack of European added value , the Governing Board shall take appropriate measures, including the reduction, modification or withdrawal of the EIT’s financial contribution or the termination of the framework partnership agreement.3.	3. In the event that evaluations of a KIC show inadequate results or lack of European added value, the Governing Board shall take appropriate corrective measures, including the reduction, modification or withdrawal of the EIT’s financial contribution or the termination of the framework partnership agreement.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  116

Proposal for a regulation

Article 11 – paragraph 4

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
4. Subject to the outcome of a final review before the expiry of the fourteenth year of the framework partnership agreement, the EIT may conclude a memorandum of cooperation with a KIC.	4. Subject to the outcome of a final review before the expiry of the fourteenth year of the framework partnership agreement, under strict conditions the Governing Board, after a thorough evaluation by independent experts, may decide to extend the framework partnership agreement with a KIC. That extended framework partnership agreement shall be subject to the following:
	(a) a positive in-depth evaluation of the KIC by the external experts and the Governing Board, taking into account the assessment criteria set out in paragraph 2;
	(b) a detailed plan by the KIC setting out the reasons why the framework partnership agreement should be extended;
	(c) a limitation in time, scope and budget encompassing higher education, training and horizontally-structured activities of the KIC that cannot yet be financially sustainable, but remain crucial for the fulfilment of its tasks, activities and capabilities in responding to societal challenges.
	Those activities shall be described in detail. That description shall be submitted by the Governing Board for evaluation.

Amendment  117

Proposal for a regulation

Article 12 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1. Degrees and diplomas relating to the higher education activities referred to in point (c) of Article 7(1) shall be awarded by participating higher education institutions in accordance with national rules and accreditation procedures. The framework partnership agreements and grant agreements between the EIT and the KICs shall provide that these degrees and diplomas may also be labelled EIT degrees and diplomas.	1. Degrees and diplomas relating to the higher education activities referred to in point (c) of Article 7(1) shall be awarded by participating HEIs and certified training institutions in accordance with national rules and accreditation procedures. The framework partnership agreements and grant agreements between the EIT and the KICs shall provide that these degrees and diplomas shall also be labelled EIT degrees and diplomas.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  118

Proposal for a regulation

Article 12 – paragraph 2 – introductory part

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2. The EIT shall encourage participating higher education institutions to:	2. The EIT shall encourage participating HEIs and certified training institutions to:

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  119

Proposal for a regulation

Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ba) promote and publicise the EIT Label in their training and diplomas;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  120

Proposal for a regulation

Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point b b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(bb) become more integrated in innovation chains, developing different strategies with the aim of cooperating effectively with innovation ecosystems and businesses and of promoting an entrepreneurial mind-set;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  121

Proposal for a regulation

Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point b c (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(bc) create programmes focusing on lifelong learning and certification;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  122

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 12 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	2a. Special attention shall be dedicated to gender balance and gender-sensitive approaches, especially in areas such as ICT, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, where women continue to be underrepresented.

Amendment  123

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 16 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1. The EIT and the KICs shall ensure that their activities are conducted with a high level of transparency. In particular, the EIT and the KICs shall set up an accessible, free website providing information about their activities .	1. The EIT and the KICs shall ensure that their activities are conducted with a high level of transparency. In particular, the EIT and the KICs shall set up an accessible, free website providing information about their activities and opportunities they provide, in particular open calls.

Amendment  124

Proposal for a regulation

Article 16 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	1a. The EIT and the KICs shall make available detailed information on all calls for proposals issued by them. That information shall be made available in a timely, searchable and traceable manner in the relevant common online databases of Union-funded research and innovation projects, in accordance with the Regulation [xxx] establishing Horizon Europe.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  125

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 16 – paragraph 1 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	1b. Detailed information on the monitoring and evaluation processes referred to in Articles 11 and 18.

Amendment  126

Proposal for a regulation

Article 17 – paragraph 6

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
6. Contributions from partner organisations to the financing of the KICs shall be determined in accordance with the co-funding rates refered to in paragraph 4 of this Article and reflect the KICs strategy for financial sustainability.	6. Contributions from partner organisations and other public sources from third countries as well as private funding sources to the financing of the KICs shall be determined in accordance with the co-funding rates referred to in paragraph 4 of this Article and reflect the KICs strategy for financial sustainability.

Amendment  127

Proposal for a regulation

Article 17 – paragraph 7

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
7. The EIT shall establish a competitive allocation mechanism for granting an appropriate share of its financial contribution to the KICs. It shall include assessing the KICs’ business plans and performance as measured by continuous monitoring , and in particular their progress in achieving financial sustainability .	7. The EIT shall establish a competitive and performance-based allocation mechanism for granting an appropriate share of its financial contribution to the KICs. It shall include assessing the KICs’ business plans, the KIC’s openness to new members, their dissemination strategies and their geographical spread, as well as the performance of those business plans as measured by continuous monitoring, and in particular their progress in achieving financial sustainability. Particular attention shall be paid to actions put in place to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 crisis and to the development of innovative ideas.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  128

Proposal for a regulation

Article 18 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ba) an estimate of the staffing needs arising from the new tasks;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  129

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 18 – paragraph 1 – point b b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(bb) aspects of the two-year crisis response programme;

Amendment  130

Proposal for a regulation

Article 18 – paragraph 1 – point c

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(c) appropriate indicators for monitoring the KICs and EIT activities using an impact-oriented approach;	(c) appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods, tools and indicators for monitoring EIT and KIC activities using an impact-oriented and performance-based approach;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  131

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 18 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2. The EIT shall adopt a consolidated annual activity report , which shall include comprehensive information on the activities conducted by the EIT and the KICs during the preceding calendar year and on the EIT’s contribution to the objectives of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation, and to the Union innovation, research and education policies and objectives. It shall also assess the results with respect to the objectives, indicators and timetable set, the risks associated with the activities carried out, the use of resources and the general operation of the EIT. The consolidated annual activity report shall include further comprehensive information in accordance with the EIT’s financial rules.	2. The EIT shall adopt a consolidated annual activity report, which shall include comprehensive information on the activities conducted by the EIT and the KICs during the preceding calendar year and on the EIT’s contribution to the objectives of Horizon Europe, and to the Union innovation, research and education policies and objectives. It shall also assess the results with respect to the objectives, indicators and timetable set, the risks associated with the activities carried out, the use of resources, including its contribution to the climate mainstreaming target under Horizon Europe broken down by KIC, and the general operation of the EIT. The consolidated annual activity report shall include further comprehensive information in accordance with the EIT’s financial rules.

Amendment  132

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 18 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Every year the EIT Director shall present the annual activity report to the competent committees of the European Parliament.

Amendment  133

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 19 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2. The Commission shall provide for evaluations of the EIT with the assistance of independent experts selected on the basis of a transparent process in accordance with its financial rules . Those evaluations shall examine how the EIT fulfils its mission, cover all activities of the EIT and the KICs and assess the European added value of the EIT, the impact, effectiveness, sustainability, efficiency and relevance of the activities pursued and their coherence and/or complementarity with relevant national and Union policies , including synergies with other parts of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation . They shall take into account the views of stakeholders, at both European and national level and feed into the Commission programme evaluations provided for in the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation .	2. The Commission shall provide for evaluations of the EIT with the assistance of independent experts selected on the basis of a transparent process in accordance with its financial rules. Those evaluations shall examine how the EIT fulfils its mission, cover all activities of the EIT and the KICs and assess the European added value of the EIT, the impact, effectiveness, sustainability, efficiency and relevance of the activities pursued and their coherence and/or complementarity with relevant national and Union policies , including synergies with other parts of Horizon Europe, in particular the EIC, other partnerships and missions. The evaluation shall also assess aspects relating to the impact of RIS and its openness to the participation of new partners. They shall take into account the views of stakeholders, at both European and national level and feed into the Commission programme evaluations provided for in Horizon Europe.

Amendment  134

 

Proposal for a regulation

Article 19 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 19a
	Mid-term review of the EIT
	The EIT shall be subject to a thorough mid-term review by the Commission, on the basis of the periodic evaluations referred to in Article 19. It shall be conducted with the assistance of independent experts and carried out no later than three years after the start of the next financial period. That mid-term review shall assess, inter alia:
	(a)  the results and impacts of the education initiative and its potential continuation;
	(b)  the effectiveness of the KICs’ financial sustainability strategies;
	(c)  the implementation and impact of the RIS;
	(d)  the feasibility of further increasing the collaboration between the EIT and all implementing bodies under Pillar III of Horizon Europe in order to examine whether the EIT could play a more horizontal role across all pillars and/or establish a one-stop-shop for innovation with a set of different complementary activities.

Amendment  135

Proposal for a regulation

Article 20 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The Union contribution may be provided through a financial contribution from the Union and other Union programmes, without prejudice to the amounts decided in the respective MFF.	The Union contribution shall be provided through a financial contribution of [4 % ] of the overall budget of Horizon Europe and other Union programmes, without prejudice to the amounts decided in the respective MFF. The EIT may receive additional funding from other Union programmes.

Amendment  136

Proposal for a regulation

Article 24 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 24a
	Transitional Provisions
	Agreements concluded by the EIT shall be governed by the rules applicable at the time of the launch of the respective call for proposals.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  137

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 1 – point 1 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The Governing Board shall be composed of 15 members, appointed by the Commission, providing a balance between those with experience in business, higher education and research. The term of office of the members of the Governing Board shall be four years. The Commission may extend that term of office once by a two-year period on the proposal of the Governing Board.	The Governing Board shall be composed of 15 members, including a Member of the EIC, appointed by the Commission providing a balance between those with experience in business, higher education, innovation and research. The term of office of the members of the Governing Board shall be four years. The Commission may extend that term of office once by a two-year period on the proposal of the Governing Board.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  138

 

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 1 – point 1 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Whenever necessary, the Governing Board shall submit to the Commission a shortlist of candidates for the purpose of appointment of a new member or members . The shortlisted candidates shall be selected on the basis of the outcome of a transparent and open procedure initiated by the EIT .	deleted

Amendment  139

 

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 1 – point 1 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	The members of the Governing Board shall be appointed by the Commission in a transparent manner and shall have proven excellent experience in higher education, research, innovation and business. This Appointment shall be made following an open call for expression of interests.

Amendment  140

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 1 – point 1 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The Commission shall have regard to the balance between higher education, research, innovation and business experience as well as to gender and geographical balance and an appreciation of the higher education, research and innovation environment across the Union.	The Commission shall ensure the balance between higher education, research, innovation and business experience as well as the gender and geographical balance and theappreciation of the higher education, research and innovation environment across the Union.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  141

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 1 – point 1 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Whenever necessary, the Governing Board shall submit to the Commission a shortlist of candidates for the purpose of appointment of a new member or members. The shortlisted candidates shall be selected on the basis of the outcome of a transparent and open procedure initiated by the EIT.

Amendment  142

 

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 1 – point 1 – paragraph 4 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	The Commission shall appoint a new member or members in accordance with the procedure laid down in subparagraphs 2 and 3.

Amendment  143

 

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 2 – point 1 – introductory part

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1. The Governing Board , in exercising its responsibility for steering the activities of the EIT, shall take strategic decisions, in particular:	1. The Governing Board, in exercising its responsibility for steering the activities of the EIT, shall take strategic decisions, in particular it shall:

Amendment  144

 

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 2 – point 1 – point a

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(a) adopt the EIT’s contribution to the Commission’s proposal on the EIT's Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA);	(a) adopt the EIT’s contribution to the Commission’s proposal on the EIT's Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA) after taking into account the opinion of the existing KICs;

Amendment  145

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 2 – point 1 – point c

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(c) adopt criteria and procedures for financing, monitoring and evaluating the activities of the KICs, including the maximum allocation of EIT funds to them ;	(c) adopt criteria and procedures for financing, monitoring and evaluating the activities of the KICs, including the maximum allocation of EIT funds to them, taking into account the requirements set out in Article 11, as well as decide on appropriate corrective measures to be taken in the event of underperformance relating to the KICs’ objectives;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  146

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 2 – point 1 – point d

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(d) adopt the selection procedure of the KICs;	(d) adopt the selection procedure of the KICs and promptly inform the Member States’ Representatives Group referred to in Article 6.2, the EIT country liaison officers network, as well as national and regional authorities of that procedure;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  147

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 2 – point 1 – point e

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(e) select and designate a partnership as a KIC or withdraw the designation where appropriate;	(e) select and designate a partnership as a KIC, based on the principles of excellence, balanced geographical representation, a turnover of partners and innovation, in accordance with criteria set out in Article 9 or withdraw the designation where appropriate;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  148

 

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 2 – point 1 – point g

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(g) authorise the Director to extend framework partnership agreements with the KICs beyond the period initially set;	(g) authorise the Director to extend framework partnership agreements with the KICs beyond the period initially set based on a positive outcome of the assessments in accordance with Articles 10 and 11;

Amendment  149

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 2 – point 1 – point j

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(j) take appropriate measures, including the reduction, modification or withdrawal of the EIT’s financial contribution to the KICs or the termination of the framework partnership agreements with them;	(j) take appropriate measures, including the reduction, modification or withdrawal of the EIT’s financial contribution to the KICs, in the event of underperformance, or the termination of the framework partnership agreements with them based on the outcome of the assessments in accordance with Articles 10, 11 and 17;

Amendment  150

 

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 2 – point 1 – point j a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ja) be able to exceptionally request (by two thirds majority) a KIC Supervisory Board Chairpersons or a KIC Chief Executive Officers to step down in case of negligence, underperformance or grave misconduct and issue, if deemed necessary, non-binding recommendations for the KIC concerned with this internal re-organisation;

Amendment  151

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 2 – point 1 – point l

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(l) decide on the design and coordination of support actions undertaken by the KICs for the development of entrepreneurial and innovation capacity of higher education institutions and their integration in innovation ecosystems.	(l) decide on the design and coordination of support actions undertaken by the KICs for the development of entrepreneurial and innovation capacity of higher education institutions and certified training institutions and their integration in innovation ecosystems.

Amendment  152

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 2 – point 1 – point l a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(la) promote the creation of synergies between the EIT and the KICs and the Union Framework Programmes as well as national and regional funding schemes.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  153

 

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 2 – point 2 – introductory part

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2. The Governing Board shall take other procedural and operational decisions necessary for the fulfilment of its tasks and the activities of the EIT, in particular:	2. The Governing Board shall take other procedural and operational decisions necessary for the fulfilment of its tasks and the activities of the EIT, in particular to:

Amendment  154

 

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 2 – point 2 – point c

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(c) adopt a procedure for selecting the Executive Committee ;	(c) adopt an open and transparent procedure for selecting the Executive Committee;

Amendment  155

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 2 – point 3

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
3. The Governing Board shall take decisions in compliance with the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union, laid down in Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/6835 , relating to the EIT staff and the conditions of its employment, in particular:	deleted
(a) adopt the implementing measures for giving effect to the Staff Regulations and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, in accordance with Article 110(2) of the Staff Regulations;
(b) exercise in accordance with point (c) the powers conferred by the Staff Regulations on the Appointing Authority and by the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants on the Authority Empowered to Conclude a Contract of Employment (the ‘appointing authority powers’);
(c) adopt, in accordance with Article 110(2) of the Staff Regulations, a decision based on Article 2(1) of the Staff Regulations and Article 6 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, delegating relevant appointing authority powers to the Director and defining the conditions under which this delegation of powers can be suspended. The Director shall be authorised to sub-delegate those powers;
(d) adopt a decision to temporarily suspend, where exceptional circumstances so require, the delegation of the appointing authority powers to the Director and those sub-delegated by the latter and exercise them itself or delegate them to one of its members or to a staff member other than the Director.
__________________
35 OJ L 56, 4.3, 1968, p. 1.

Amendment  156

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 4 – point 2

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2. The Executive Committee shall consist of four members and the Chairperson of the Governing Board, who shall also chair the Executive Committee. The four members other than the Chairperson shall be chosen by the Governing Board from among the Governing Board's members , providing a balance between those with experience in business, higher education and research. The term of office of the members of the Executive Committee shall be two years, renewable once.	2. The Executive Committee shall consist of three members and the Chairperson of the Governing Board, who shall also chair the Executive Committee. The three members other than the Chairperson shall be chosen by the Governing Board from among the Governing Board's members, providing a balance between those with experience in business, higher education and research. The term of office of the members of the Executive Committee shall be two years, renewable once.

Amendment  157

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 4 – point 10 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	10a. The Governing Board shall take decisions in accordance with the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union, laid down in Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/681a, relating to the EIT staff and the conditions of its employment. In particular it shall:
	(a)  adopt the implementing measures in order to give effect to the Staff Regulations and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, in accordance with Article 110(2) of the Staff Regulations;
	(b)  in accordance with point (c) of this paragraph, exercise the powers conferred by the Staff Regulations on the Appointing Authority and by the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants on the Authority Empowered to Conclude a Contract of Employment (the ‘appointing authority powers’);
	(c)  in accordance with Article 110(2) of the Staff Regulations, adopt a decision based on Article 2(1) of the Staff Regulations and on Article 6 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, delegating relevant appointing authority powers to the Director and establishing the conditions under which that delegation can be suspended with the Director being authorised to sub-delegate those powers;
	(d)  adopt a decision to temporarily suspend, where exceptional circumstances so require, the delegation of the appointing authority powers to the Director and those sub-delegated by the latter and exercise them itself or delegate them to one of its members or to a staff member other than the Director.
	__________________
	1a OJ L 56, 4.3.1968, p. 1.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  158

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 5 – point 3

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
3. The term of office of the Director shall be four years. The Governing Board , acting on a proposal from the Commission that takes into account its evaluation of the Director’s performance and the EIT’s future tasks and challenges, may extend that term of office once for a period of up to two years . A Director whose term of office has been extended may not participate in another selection procedure for the same post.	3. The term of office of the Director shall be four years. The Governing Board , acting on a proposal from the Commission that takes into account its evaluation of the Director’s performance and the EIT’s best interests as well as its future tasks and challenges, may extend that term of office once for a period of up to four years. A Director whose term of office has been extended may not participate in another selection procedure for the same post.

Amendment  159

 

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 5 – point 6 – point e

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(e) prepare and administer the KICs selection process and ensure that the various stages of that process are carried out in a transparent and objective manner , under the supervision of the Governing Board;	(e) prepare and administer the KICs selection process and ensure that the various stages of that process are carried out in a transparent and objective manner, under the supervision of the Governing Board, annexing a detailed report of the selection process to the consolidated annual activity report;

Amendment  160

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 5 – point 6 – point j

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(j) ensure the implementation of effective monitoring and evaluation procedures relating to the performance of the EIT in accordance with Article 19 , under the supervision of the Governing Board;	(j) ensure the implementation of effective monitoring and evaluation procedures relating to the performance of the EIT in accordance with Article 19, as well as implement appropriate corrective measures in the event of underperformance with regard to the EIT’s objectives and target, under the supervision of the Governing Board;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  161

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 5 – point 6 – point n

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(n) ensure effective communication with the Union's institutions , under the supervision of the Governing Board ;	(n) ensure effective communication with the Union's institutions, by means of annual presentations to the European Parliament and the Council under the supervision of the Governing Board;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Amendment  162

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – section 6 – point 1

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1. The staff of the EIT shall consist of personnel employed directly by the EIT . The Staff Regulations, the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants and the rules adopted by agreement between the institutions of the Union for giving effect to them shall apply to the staff of the EIT.	1. The staff of the EIT shall consist of personnel employed directly by the EIT . The Staff Regulations, the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants and the rules adopted by agreement between the institutions of the Union for giving effect to them shall apply to the staff of the EIT. This paragraph shall apply to EIT staff whose contracts expire in 2020.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

 

 

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Established in 2008, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) aims to boost sustainable European economic growth and competitiveness by reinforcing the innovation capacity of the Member States and the Union. In particular, it reinforces the Union's innovation capacity and addresses societal challenges through the integration of the knowledge triangle of higher education, research and innovation.

 

The EIT operates through its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs): large-scale European partnerships which address specific societal challenges by bringing together education, research and business organisations, and provides them with grants, whilst monitoring their activities, supporting cross-KIC collaboration and disseminating results and good practices.

 

The 2008 Regulation set out the EIT's mission and tasks and the framework for its functioning. It was amended in 2013 in order, inter alia, to be aligned with Horizon 2020.

 

On 11 July 2019, the Commission published its new EIT proposals, consisting of a recast proposal on an updated EIT Regulation and a proposal for a decision on new Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA) for the EIT the period 2021-2027.

 

Recasting the EIT Regulation consists of adopting of a new Regulation which incorporates in a single text both the substantive amendments which it makes to the existing Regulation and the unchanged provisions of that Regulation. The Commission considered the update to the Regulation necessary as provisions in the existing EIT Regulation made direct reference to Horizon 2020 which ends at the end of the year. The recast proposal aims therefore to ensure the alignment of the EIT Regulation with Horizon Europe, by notably removing references to Horizon 2020 and implementing decisions which will be taken as part of Horizon Europe.

 

The proposed EIT Regulation focuses on the key principles of the functioning of the EIT and its KICs. It aims to ensure greater legal clarity vis-à-vis Horizon Europe as well as to enshrine the financial sustainability principle for the KICs. For the period 2021-2027, the EIT is integral part of Horizon Europe. The European Commission sets out the draft budget of €3bn for the next MFF as well as its rationale, added value, areas of intervention and broad lines of activity.

 

The Rapporteur is supportive of the EIT, its mission and achievements to date and, overall, welcomes the Commission’s proposal to ensure greater legal clarity vis-à-vis Horizon Europe as well as to enshrine the financial sustainability principle for the KICs. However, the rapporteur has expressed on several occasions serious objections to the Commission’s decision of using the Recast procedure, as it’s an unnecessary and fictitious limitation placed on the co-legislators. Indeed, the rapporteur considers that several substantial aspects of the proposal need to be modified and is therefore proposing amendments covering, among other, the following issues:

 

The rapporteur rejects the Commission proposal to make the regulation “time neutral” and therefore introduces the necessary amendments to modify that. In this regard, the rapporteur proposes several modifications to the text with a view of increasing alignment with Horizon Europe in the areas of simplification of procedures, clarity and limitations to the type of derogations from Horizon Europe rules, increased cooperation with the European Innovation Council, among other.

 

Concerning transparency and openness, the rapporteur makes several proposals to improve these aspects within the EIT and KICs’ procedures and guidelines as well as in the calls for partners and projects. An improvement in these aspects will also lead to a better spread across the Union of innovation capacity and will work hand in hand with the Regional Innovation Scheme.

 

While considering that the high autonomy awarded to the KICs is an essential element to their success, the rapporteur considers that this autonomy must go hand in hand with increased monitoring and evaluation of their business plans and outcomes than in the existing legislation. This would also allow to better applying the principle of financial sustainability taking into account the specificities of each KIC. To this aim, the rapporteur proposes several amendments.

 

With regards to the Higher education and training aspects of the proposal, the rapporteur believes that the EIT label should be further promoted by ensuring all higher education degrees and masters participating should get the EIT label and that a more work needs to be done to ensure that training and life long learning modules can also use the label.

 

The European water, marine and maritime sectors are world-leading in terms of science and technology development, as such, there is an excellent level of science, technology and business capacity to innovate through close collaboration with partners across the knowledge triangle with an ample capacity to scale up innovations. The rapporteur therefore considers that an EIT KIC on Blue New Deal would address a major socio-economic and relevant societal challenge “creating sustainable, circular and blue economies that are based on healthy water and maritime ecosystems” as defined in Horizon Europe framework programme.

 

Finally, with regard to resources, the rapporteur reiterates the Parliament’s position asking for 4% of the Horizon Europe budget to be allocated to the EIT and introduces several amendments to ensure that adequate employment conditions are ensured at the EIT with a view to maintaining a high standard of expertise and delivering on the additional responsibilities entrusted upon the EIT.

 

ANNEX: LETTER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS

D(2020)737

 

 

Mr Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI

Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

ASP 11E108

Brussels

 

 

Subject: Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (recast)

(COM(2019)0331 – C9‑0042/2019 – 2019/0151(COD))

 

Dear Chair,

 

The Committee on Legal Affairs has examined the proposal referred to above pursuant to Rule 110 on Recasting of Parliament's Rules of Procedure.

Paragraph 3 of that Rule reads as follows:

 

“If the committee responsible for legal affairs considers that the proposal does not entail any substantive changes other than those identified as such in the proposal, it shall inform the committee responsible for the subject matter thereof.

 

In such a case, over and above the conditions laid down in Rules 169 and 170, amendments shall be admissible within the committee responsible for the subject-matter only if they concern those parts of the proposal which contain changes.

 

However, amendments to parts of the proposal which remain unchanged may, by way of exception and on a case-by-case basis, be accepted by the Chair of the committee responsible for the subject matter if he or she considers that this is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments. Such reasons must be stated in a written justification to the amendments.”

 

Following the opinion of the Consultative Working Party of the Legal Services of the Parliament, the Council and the Commission, which has examined the recast proposal, and in keeping with the recommendations of the rapporteur, the Committee on Legal Affairs considers that the proposal in question does not include any substantive changes other than those identified as such and that, as regards the codification of the unchanged provisions of the earlier acts with those changes, the proposal contains a straightforward codification of the existing texts, without any change in their substance.

The Committee notes, however, that the examination of the proposal resulted in the Consultative Working Party's establishing, by common accord, as follows:

1. The following should have been marked with the grey-shaded type generally used for identifying substantive changes:

- the deletion of the entire text of recital 6 of Regulation (EC) No 294/2008;

- in Article 6(g), the adding of the final words 'by promoting the KIC’s as excellent innovation partners';

- in Article 11(3), the adding of the words 'framework partnership' before of the final word 'agreement';

- in Article 17(5), the replacement of the words 'through the general budget of the European Union' with the words 'under another Union programme';

- in point 2(i) of Section 2 of Annex I, the replacement of the words 'language policy' with 'working languages';

- in point 1 of Section 6 of Annex I, the deletion of the words 'the Director'.

2. In Article 11(2), the adding of the word 'Union' should have been identified with adaptation arrows.

3. In Article 22, the existing wording of paragraph 4 of Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 294/2008, entirely marked with a 'substantive deletion' sign, should have read as follows: 'Upon a recommendation from the Council, the European Parliament shall, before 15 May of the year N + 2, give a discharge for the year N to the Director in respect of the implementation of the EIT budget'.

In conclusion, at its meeting of 9 January 2020, the Committee on Legal Affairs, with 21 votes in favour, none against and 1 abstention[2], recommends that the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, as the committee responsible, can proceed to examine the above proposal in accordance with Rule 110.

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

Lucy NETHSINGHA

 

Encl.: Opinion of the Consultative Working Party.

 

ANNEX: OPINION OF THE CONSULTATIVE WORKING PARTY OF THE LEGAL SERVICES OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMISSION

CONSULTATIVE WORKING PARTY OF THE LEGAL SERVICES

Brussels, 7 November 2019

OPINION

 FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

  THE COUNCIL

  THE COMMISSION

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (recast)

COM(2019)0331 of 11.3.2020 – 2019/0151(COD)

Having regard to the Inter-institutional Agreement of 28 November 2001 on a more structured use of the recasting technique for legal acts, and in particular to point 9 thereof,  the Consultative Working Party consisting of the respective legal services of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission met on 18 and 26 September 2019 for the purpose of examining the aforementioned proposal submitted by the Commission.

At those meetings[3], an examination of the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council recasting Regulation (EC) No 294/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2008 establishing the European Institute of Innovation and Technology resulted in the Consultative Working Party's establishing, by common accord, as follows.

1. The following should have been marked with the grey-shaded type generally used for identifying substantive changes:

- the deletion of the entire text of recital 6 of Regulation (EC) No 294/2008;

- in Article 6(g), the adding of the final words 'by promoting the KIC’s as excellent innovation partners';

- in Article 11(3), the adding of the words 'framework partnership' before of the final word 'agreement';

- in Article 17(5), the replacement of the words 'through the general budget of the European Union' with the words 'under another Union programme';

- in point 2(i) of Section 2 of Annex I, the replacement of the words 'language policy' with 'working languages';

- in point 1 of Section 6 of Annex I, the deletion of the words 'the Director'.

2. In Article 11(2), the adding of the word 'Union' should have been identified with adaptation arrows.

3. In Article 22, the existing wording of paragraph 4 of Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 294/2008, entirely marked with a 'substantive deletion' sign, should have read as follows: 'Upon a recommendation from the Council, the European Parliament shall, before 15 May of the year N + 2, give a discharge for the year N to the Director in respect of the implementation of the EIT budget'.

In consequence, examination of the proposal has enabled the Consultative Working Party to conclude, without dissent, that the proposal does not comprise any substantive amendments other than those identified as such. The Working Party also concluded, as regards the codification of the unchanged provisions of the earlier act with those substantive amendments, that the proposal contains a straightforward codification of the existing legal text, without any change in its substance.

F. DREXLER T. BLANCHET L. ROMERO REQUENA

Jurisconsult Jurisconsult Director General

 

 

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION (9.6.2020)

for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (recast)

(COM(2019)0331 – C9‑0042/2019 – 2019/0151(COD))

Rapporteur for opinion: Christian Ehler

(*) Associated committee – Rule 57 of the Rules of Procedure

 

 

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

Established in 2008, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) aims to boost sustainable European economic growth and competitiveness by reinforcing the innovation capacity of the Member States and the Union. In particular, it reinforces the Union's innovation capacity and addresses societal challenges through the integration of the knowledge triangle of higher education, research and innovation.

 

The EIT operates through its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs): large-scale European partnerships which address specific societal challenges by bringing together education, research and business organisations, and provides them with grants, whilst monitoring their activities, supporting cross-KIC collaboration and disseminating results and good practices.

 

The 2008 Regulation set out the EIT's mission and tasks and the framework for its functioning. It was amended in 2013 in order, inter alia, to be aligned with Horizon 2020.

 

On 11 July 2019, the Commission published its new EIT proposals, consisting of a recast proposal on an updated EIT Regulation and a proposal for a decision on new Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA) for the EIT the period 2021-2027.

 

Recasting the EIT Regulation consists of adopting of a new Regulation which incorporates in a single text both the substantive amendments which it makes to the existing Regulation and the unchanged provisions of that Regulation. The Commission considered the update to the Regulation  necessary as provisions in the existing EIT Regulation made direct reference to Horizon 2020 which ends at the end of the year. The recast proposal aims therefore to ensure the alignment of the EIT Regulation with Horizon Europe, by notably removing references to Horizon 2020 and implementing decisions which will be taken as part of Horizon Europe.

 

The proposed  EIT Regulation focuses on the key principles of the functioning of the EIT and its KICs. It aims to ensure greater legal clarity vis-à-vis Horizon Europe as well as to enshrine the financial sustainability principle for the KICs. For the period 2021-2027, the EIT is integral part of Horizon Europe. The European Commission sets out the draft HEU budget of €3bn for the next MFF as well as its rationale, added value, areas of intervention and broad lines of activity.

 

The Rapporteur considers that this legislative package reinforces the EIT's mission whilst aligning its objectives with Horizon Europe by:

 

• Increasing the regional impact of KICs through improved openness to potential partners and stakeholders, and better articulated KIC regional strategies; including links to the relevant Smart Specialisation Strategies,

 

• Boosting the innovation capacity of higher education to integrate a wider number of higher education institutions into innovation value chains and ecosystems,

 

• Launching new KICs in priority fields to be selected according to their relevance to the policy priorities of Horizon Europe. The first new KIC is planned for launch in 2022,

 

• and would be in the field of Cultural and Creative Sectors (CCS), in line with the Cluster ‘Inclusive and Creative Societies’ of Horizon Europe as adopted in the partial agreement reached in April 2019.

Overall, the Rapporteur welcomes the effort that the Commission has put into this proposal. Nevertheless, the Rapporteur considers it to be lacking in crucial detail and in legal clarity, and that a recast may not have been the best avenue to follow. In that regard, the Rapporteur suggests a series of amendments, focusing particularly on providing greater legal clarity and certainty to the Regulation.

The main points of the draft opinion are:

• Securing the funding of the EIT with a budget of 4% of the overall budget of Horizon Europe, as adopted by the European Parliament,

 

• Ensuring the establishment of a Cultural and Creative Sectors (CCS) KIC as a main priority of the EIT for the period 2021-2027 by ensuring in particular sufficient funding for its establishment without jeopardising the financial sustainability of the existing KIC. The Rapporteur would like to stress in particular that all the efforts and resources should be dedicated to the set up of the CCSKIC, before considering the launch of a second new KIC after 2025,

 

• Clarifying the overall proposal in particular as regards the general and specific objectives and synergies with other programmes.

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Culture and Education calls on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, as the committee responsible, to take into account the following amendments:

 

 

Amendment  1

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 5

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(5) The strategic priority fields and financial needs for the EIT for a period of seven years, covering the respective Multiannual Financial Framework (‘MFF’), should be laid down in a Strategic Innovation Agenda (‘SIA’). The SIA should ensure alignment with the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation and foster synergies with other relevant Union programmes of the MFF as well as with other Union initiatives, policies and instruments, in particular with those supporting education and regional development. Given the importance of the SIA for the Union innovation policy and the resulting political significance of its socio-economic impact for the Union, the SIA should be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of a Commission proposal based on a contribution provided by the EIT.	(5) The strategic priority fields and financial needs for the EIT for a period of seven years, covering the respective Multiannual Financial Framework (‘MFF’), should be laid down in a Strategic Innovation Agenda (‘SIA’). The SIA should ensure alignment with Horizon Europe - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (‘Horizon Europe’) and foster synergies with other relevant Union programmes of the MFF as well as with other Union initiatives, policies and instruments, in particular with those supporting education and regional development. Given the importance of the SIA for the Union innovation policy and the resulting political significance of its socio-economic impact for the Union, the SIA should be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of a Commission proposal based on a contribution provided by the EIT.
	(This amendment applies throughout the text. Adopting it will necessitate corresponding changes throughout.)

Amendment  2

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 11 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(11a) In order to contribute to addressing new and emerging global challenges, the EIT should launch new KICs in priority fields selected based on criteria assessing, among other aspects, their relevance to Horizon Europe policy priorities, and their added value and potential to be addressed through the EIT model. The launch of new KICs should take into account the Strategic Planning of Horizon Europe and the budget allocated to the EIT for the respective MFF.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text.

Amendment  3

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 11 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(11b) The EIT should foster multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral cooperation as one of the key domains where innovation takes place. It should strive to foster cooperation between the economic, technological, societal and scientific spheres, including the arts and humanities. The EIT should contribute to the emergence of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) communities by strengthening the links between the KICs.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text.

Amendment  4

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 11 c (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(11c) Cultural and Creative Sectors (‘CCS’) are a sector with a high growth potential, many grass-roots initiatives and strong citizen appeal. They are strongly embedded in their local and regional ecosystems. However, CCS are still a very fragmented sector and the innovators and business creators lack the needed entrepreneurial and innovation skills. A KIC should thus help address such challenges, thanks to its approach of fostering the integration of the knowledge triangle, long-term perspective and place-based approach and with its holistic and integrated approach. CCS also have the strongest complementarity with the eight existing KICs, as well as with the potential priority areas for other European Partnerships to be launched in the framework of Horizon Europe. A first KIC on CCS should therefore be launched in 2022. By covering nearly all sectors of Union citizens’ lives, society and economy, such a KIC will be highly relevant in terms of economic and societal impact, unlocking strategic opportunities for economic, technological and social innovation.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text.

Amendment  5

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 11 d (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(11d) An EIT KIC on CCS should empower networking opportunities, collaboration, co-creation and know-how transfer between education, research and business, within the cultural and creative sectors and with other sectors of the society and the economy. It should catalyse bottom-up and top-down initiatives at regional, national and Union levels. It should also develop the necessary framework conditions for the creation and scale-up of new ventures in innovative ecosystems. It should provide researchers and students in many disciplines (including arts, humanities, business, social sciences and applied hard sciences) and entrepreneurs of the CCS and other sectors with the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver innovative solutions and to turn them into new business opportunities.

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text.

Amendment  6

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(1) ‘innovation’ means the process, including its outcome, by which new ideas respond to societal or economic needs and demand and generate new products, services or business and organisational models that are successfully introduced into an existing market or that are able to create new markets and that provide value to society;	(1) ‘innovation’ means the process, including its outcome, by which new ideas respond to societal or economic needs and demand and generate new products, services, processes, experiences or business and organisational models that are successfully introduced into an existing market or that are able to create new markets and that deliver value to industries and society;

Justification

This amendment is needed to ensure the internal logic and coherence of the text.

Amendment  7

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(2a) ‘co-location centre’ means a geographical area where the main knowledge triangle partners of KICs are based and can easily interact, providing the focal point for the KICs’ activity in that area;

Justification

This amendment is needed to ensure the internal logic and coherence of the text.

Amendment  8

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(3) ‘partner organisation’ means any legal entity which is a member of a KIC and may include, in particular, higher education institutions, vocational education and training providers, research organisations, public or private companies, financial institutions, regional and local authorities, foundations and non-profit organisations;	(3) ‘partner organisation’ means any legal entity which is a member of a KIC and may include, in particular, higher education institutions, vocational education and training providers, research organisations, public institutions, public and private companies, social enterprises, financial institutions, regional and local authorities, foundations and non-profit organisations from across the Union;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text.

Amendment  9

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 7

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(7) ‘Strategic Innovation Agenda’ (‘SIA’) means a policy document outlining the priority fields and the long-term strategy of the EIT for future initiatives, its capacity to generate the best innovation added-value, including an overview of planned higher education, research and innovation activities over a period of seven years , covering the respective MFF ;	(7) ‘Strategic Innovation Agenda’ (‘SIA’) means an act setting out the long-term strategy and priorities of the EIT and defining its objectives, key actions, its capacity to generate the best innovation added-value, expected results and resources needed over a period of seven years, covering the respective MFF;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text.

Amendment  10

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(8) ‘Regional Innovation Scheme’ (‘RIS’) means an outreach scheme targeted at partnerships between higher education institutions, research organisations, companies and other stakeholders, in order to foster innovation across the Union;	(8) ‘Regional Innovation Scheme’ (‘RIS’) means a scheme fostering the integration of the knowledge triangle and the innovation capacity of moderate and modest innovator countries, in particular by attracting and integrating new partners into the KICs;

Justification

This amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text, in particular for being more precise on the definition of RIS.

Amendment  11

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 10

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(10) ‘KIC business plan’ means a document describing the objectives and the planned KIC added-value activities;	(10) ‘KIC business plan’ means a document, annexed to the grant agreement, that describes the objectives, the ways to achieve them and the expected results of the KIC for the relevant period and the planned KIC added-value activities, and the related financial needs and resources;