MEPs ask for European research to be boosted in next long-term budget
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For the next 2021-2027 EU budget, MEPs propose that funding to research should be increased in the Horizon Europe programme to €120 billion.
Following Parliament’s adoption of its position on the EU’s long-term budget (2021-2027 multiannual financial framework – MFF), MEPs are this week setting out their position on the scope and the priorities for investing in areas which are crucial for future growth.
Financing Horizon Europe research programme
The proposal for the 2021-2027 Horizon Europe rules no participation and dissemination was approved by 548 votes to 70 against, and 49 abstentions. The proposal for the specific programme implementing Horizon Europe was approved by 569 votes to 74 against, and 20 abstentions
Parliament asked for an additional €36.5 billion (compared to the European Commission’s proposal) to be added to the programme budget, bringing the total to €120 billion in 2018 prices (€135.25 billion in current prices).
The Parliament wants to prioritise programmes that include women, SMEs or participants from lower-performing EU countries when deciding on two equally strong applications.
For more details on the Horizon Europe programme, read the full press release here.
Financing green objectives through the LIFE programme
The proposal for the 2021-2027 LIFE programme to finance environmental and climate objectives was approved by 580 votes to 41 against, and 45 abstentions. MEPs propose to double funding for the LIFE programme compared to the last 7-year period. The total financial envelope foreseen is €6.44 billion in 2018 prices (€7.27 billion euros in current prices compared to the Commission’s proposal of €5.45 billion).
The EU programme for the environment and climate action will contribute to mainstreaming climate action and to reaching an overall target of at least 25% of the EU’s budget expenditure supporting climate objectives over the 2021-2027 period.
Defence, space, digital and CEF programmes to be put to the vote later this week
MEPs will debate and vote on the scope and priorities for the EU Defence Fund, the EU Space Programme, Digital Europe and trans-European networks under the Connecting Europe Facility.
The European Defence Fund (EDF)
Debate: Tuesday evening
Vote: Wednesday 17.00 – 18.00
The Connecting Europe Facility
Debate: Tuesday evening
Vote: Wednesday 17.00 – 18.00
The EU Space Programme
Debate: Wednesday evening
Vote: Thursday 12.00 – 14.00
The Digital Europe programme
Debate: Wednesday evening
Vote: Thursday 12.00 – 14.00
This press release will be updated online after other votes.
Next steps
The European Parliament is now ready to start negotiations with EU member states. MEPs want to swiftly agree on as much as possible of the MFF-related files, in order to avoid any serious setbacks in launching the new programmes due to late adoption, as experienced in the past.
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