Council agrees its position on Horizon Europe 2028-2034

The Council has agreed on a partial negotiating position for the Horizon Europe regulation and its specific programme, which together form the EU’s tenth framework programme for research and innovation. As a core part of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), Horizon Europe is intended to strengthen scientific excellence, improve Europe’s economic competitiveness, and help address major global and societal challenges. In addition to the Commission’s proposal for a significantly larger budget, the Council supports close links with the future European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) to ensure more coherent investment support.

The position is considered partial because it does not yet cover financial and broader horizontal issues, which are still being negotiated in the context of the 2028–2034 MFF. It also excludes elements related to future legislative proposals on the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), which will complete the wider Horizon Europe package. The provisional agreement concerns the two main legislative acts of the package: the regulation establishing Horizon Europe and its rules for participation and dissemination, and the Council decision establishing the specific programme that will implement it.

Overall, the Council’s position seeks to balance the main components of the programme. It gives Member States a stronger role in setting strategic priorities, clarifies how Horizon Europe should interact with the ECF, and strengthens provisions on European Partnerships, research security, and innovation support, including for dual-use and limited defence-related applications. It also reinforces horizontal priorities such as gender equality, simplification for participants, and broader cooperation across the Union.

The Council also proposes a more coherent four-pillar structure. It refines governance and support under Excellent Science, Competitiveness and Society, Innovation, and the European Research Area, while giving the Council and Member States a more prominent role in shaping priorities across the programme.

Further changes include clearer participation rules, simpler cost and reporting arrangements, and a stronger framework for identifying and managing research security risks. The position also maintains support for widening participation, helping lower-performing Member States and transition countries strengthen their research and innovation systems.

This partial negotiating position now serves as the Council’s mandate for talks with the European Parliament. Final decisions on the programme’s budget for 2028–2034 will depend on the overall MFF agreement.

MEP Christian Ehler, rapporteur of the ITRE-Committee on the Horizon Europe-regulation, shared a frist reaction on the PGA online. He welcomes the Council’s approval of the Partial General Approach and sees common ground with Parliament on preserving the independence of the ERC and the EIC President. However, he raises two major concerns: the removal of references to the freedom of scientific research, and the planned transfer of Pillar 2 programming to the ECF governance structure, which he believes could weaken research and innovation priorities.

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