EU research funding after 2013: MEPs and Council agree legal package
An informal deal on a package of laws to establish the EU's next research and innovation programme, "Horizon 2020" (2014-2020) was reached by negotiators for Parliament and the Irish Presidency of the Council on Tuesday, It still needs to be confirmed by member states and MEPs.
"We now have a deal on Horizon 2020, a world-class research and innovation programme to drive economic recovery and job creation. Parliament's negotiating team ensured that SMEs will be fully included in the innovation process", said Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy Committee chair Amalia Sartori (EPP, IT)..
The package agreed today consists of five legal files:
- Establishment of Horizon 2020, rapporteur: Teresa Riera Madurell (S&D, ES),
- Specific Programme Implementing Horizon 2020, rapporteur: Maria Da Graça Carvalho (EPP, PT),
- Rules for participation, rapporteur: Christian Ehler (EPP, DE),
- European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT) , rapporteur: Philippe Lamberts (Greens/EFA, BE), and
- Strategic Innovation Agenda of the EIT, rapporteur: Marisa Matias (GUE/NGL, PT).
The Horizon 2020 programme will bring together all EU research and innovation activities and also all the funding currently provided through Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development, the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and the European Institute for Innovation and Technology.
Next steps
The package still needs to be politically endorsed by the COREPER (Committee of Permanent Representives of EU member states in Brussels). Its budget (the Commission has proposed €80 billion) will depend on the outcome of current talks on the EU's long-run budget.