The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution approving the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1290/2013 and (EU) No 1291/2013.
‘Horizon Europe’
The regulation lays down the structure and objective of the framework programme, sets out the budget for the period 2021-2027 and the forms of Union funding and the rules for the granting of such funding. It provides that 35% of the expenditure on actions financed under the programme must contribute to the climate objectives.
The objective of the new programme is to:
- deliver scientific, technological, economic and societal impact from EU investment in research and innovation, in order to strengthen the Union's scientific and technological bases and to foster the development of the Union's competitiveness in all Member States, including that of its industry;
- deliver on the EU’s strategic priorities and tackle global challenges, in particular by pursuing the objectives of sustainable development in accordance with the principles of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement on climate change;
- strengthen the European Research Area (ERA), encourage excellence-based participation in the programme from all Member States, including countries with low R&I performance, and facilitate collaborative links in European R&I.
The programme introduces:
- a cluster approach to address societal issues in the following areas: (i) ‘Health’; (ii) ‘Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society’; (iii) ‘Civil Security for Society’; (iv) ‘Digital, Industry and Space’; (v) ‘Climate, Energy and Mobility’; (vi) ‘Food, Bio-Economy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment’; (vii) the non-nuclear direct actions of the Joint Research Centre (JRC);
- a streamlined approach to European partnerships;
- a mission-oriented approach to research;
- the creation of a European Innovation Council (EIC), focusing primarily on radical and disruptive innovation, which will encourage innovation primarily in SMEs, including start-ups;
- greater openness to new partners while maintaining excellence as the main selection criterion;
- simplified rules, greater legal certainty and reduced administrative burden for beneficiaries and programme managers.
Declarations
Parliament also approved a statement on association agreements recalling that the conditions for the association of a third country to the Horizon Europe framework programme are often provided for in these association agreements. In order to give its approval, the European Parliament will have to be immediately and fully informed at all stages of the procedure. Furthermore, in order to ensure proper parliamentary scrutiny, these agreements must cover all relevant aspects of the Union's relationship with a given third country concerning Horizon Europe.
In addition, Parliament took note of a joint political statement on the re-use of funds decommitted in Horizon Europe as well as a series of statements by the Council and the Commission.
In a statement on ethics/stem cell research, the Commission clarifies that the Framework Programme Decision explicitly excludes three areas of research from any EU funding: (i) research activity aiming at human cloning for reproductive purposes; (ii) research activity intended to modify the genetic heritage of human beings which could make such changes heritable; (iii) research activity intended to create human embryos solely for the purpose of research or for the purpose of stem cell procurement.