2 minute read / June 26, 2026
The Council has reached an agreement on its partial negotiating position on the regulation and the specific programme of the Horizon Europe, the tenth EU framework programme for research and innovation. Horizon Europe is a key element of the next multiannual financial framework (MFF), the EU’s seven-year spending plan.
It is designed to drive scientific excellence, boost economic competitiveness, and tackle global societal challenges. Besides the proposed substantial budget increase by the Commission, the agreed Council position for Horizon Europe foresees a tight link with the EU’s competitiveness instrument in the next MFF, the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), to facilitate a seamless investment support journey.
The Council position is “partial” because it excludes financial and horizontal issues, which are currently being discussed as part of the overall negotiations on the next MFF covering the period 2028 to 2034, as well as the elements linked to upcoming legislative initiatives regarding European Institute of innovation and technology (EIT) that would conclude the Horizon Europe (2028-2034) package.
The Council position introduces improvements in different elements of the four pillars of Horizon Europe, notably strengthening the Council and member states’ strategic role.
Within Pillar I (Excellent Science), adjustments are made to the governance of the European Research Council and a focus on early-career researchers is added; Pillar II (Competitiveness and Society) provides further details on the ‘society’ component and maintains the balance between bottom-up research and policy priorities. A clear process is foreseen for the member states involvement in the priority setting of the entire pillar, most notably the European partnerships; Pillar III (Innovation) expands the European Innovation Council’s role, allowing for support of deep-tech innovation—including limited support to defence applications. Finally on Pillar IV (European Research Area) the agreement grants the Council a more prominent role in co-defining infrastructure support areas and further develops the framework for widening measures.
