Following a public debate, the Council reached a partial general approach on "Horizon 2020", the proposed framework programme for funding research and innovation for the years 2014-2020.
The ministerial agreement on the main lines of the programme paves the way for future work in order to secure the timely approval of the Council and the European Parliament. "Horizon 2020" will replace the EU's 7th research framework programme (FP7), which runs until the end of 2013.
The Council also took note of a Presidency report on the progress made concerning the other three parts of the package: the specific programme implementing Horizon 2020, the rules of participation in research projects and the Euratom programme on nuclear research activities.
During the debate, delegations further developed essential elements of the general framework for Horizon 2020, including:
- the simplification of procedures that will apply to fund projects, the possibility of widening participation by reinforcing the attractiveness of researchers' careers across the Union, compliance with ethical principles and relevant legislation;
- increased participation of SMEs in research projects covering the whole chain from the idea to the market;
- public/private partnerships and coherence with other EU and national policy and financial instruments.
The agreement within the Council takes into account the results of the previous ministerial debates on Horizon 2020 that took place on 6 December 2011 and 2 and 21 February 2012.
It is proposed to allocate EUR 80 billion for the 2014-2020 period, thus making Horizon 2020 the world's largest research programme.