Council approves reform of Coal and Steel Research Fund

The Council of the European Union has formally approved a reform of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, paving the way for stronger support for innovation in Europe’s steel industry and a fair green transition in coal regions. Adopted on Monday, 29 June, the revised programme will run until 2034 and provide up to €120 million per year, amounting to roughly €800 million in total investment.

The new legal framework aligns co-funding rates with Horizon Europe, allowing industry participants to receive up to 70% EU funding, while for SMEs, startups, and academic institutions this funding will be up to 100%.

According to the Council, the updated framework is designed to make access to financial support easier and more efficient. It will also help prepare the fund for closer links with other EU research, innovation, and investment programmes in the future.

The reform is based on two Council decisions. One concerns the use of the former European Coal and Steel Community’s financial assets to support research in the coal and steel sectors. The other sets out the long-term financial and technical rules for managing the fund. Both decisions are expected to be published shortly in the Official Journal of the European Union, marking the final step before the new framework can be fully implemented.

Research fund for coal and steel: Council gives its final approval - Consilium