Horizon Europe regulation progresses

The EU bodies have agreed on the three-pillar structure proposed by the Commission, supported by a transversal part aimed at addressing the under-representation of lower R&I performing member states. The institutions also agreed on five missions and eight partnership areas, which will be finalised by the Commission in the Strategic Planning.

SEA Europe’s secretary general, Christophe Tytgat, said: “SEA Europe welcomes this partial agreement on Horizon Europe and particularly the fact that the cluster “climate change, energy and mobility” will be kept together.

“SEA Europe has lobbied very hard for this result since we believe that it will be the only way for the maritime technology sector to fully implement the Strategic Research Agenda of the Waterborne Technology Platform on greening of waterborne transport.”

Progress

Horizon Europe is the next seven-year European Research and Innovation Funding Programme and is part of the EU’s proposal for a new EU budget for the period 2021 till 2027 (known as the Multi-Annual Financial Framework).

The partial agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU is a key step in the inter-institutional decision-making process since it forms the basis for further shaping the content and the budget of Horizon Europe. The budget and the terms for non-EU countries to participate in Horizon Europe will not be finalised until Member States have reached a unanimous agreement on the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework.

By Rebecca Jeffrey