Associated countries seek bigger role in Horizon Europe agenda setting

The next iteration of Horizon Europe should allow the EU’s international partners to get more involved in decisions on work programme content, including in sensitive areas, science diplomats said at an event organised on April 23 by the Centre for European Policy Studies think-tank.

The European Commission has been signing a flurry of association deals, expanding the reach of Horizon Europe from Ukraine to New Zealand. However, while associated countries make an ever-greater contribution to the programme’s budget, they don’t have a say in drafting the work programmes, which set out the detail of calls for proposals.

In addition, EU countries alone can decide whether to exclude associated countries from sensitive projects. The Commission has already excluded Switzerland and the UK from such projects, particularly in quantum and space technologies, but diplomats want those situations to be handled more transparently in the next Horizon Europe. 

Speaking at the event, science diplomats from associated countries said that they should be involved in Horizon Europe decisions.

Paul Creary, head of research, space and education at the UK Mission to the EU said that the current procedures “create uncertainty” and are too “bureaucratic.” Creary said the EU should come up with clearer rules for engagement in sensitive calls that require additional security measures. “We should have clear mechanisms and clarity about what [associated countries] can take part in,” he said.

Japan would also like to participate in more sensitive projects. Natsuko Deguchi, science counsellor at Japan’s Mission to the EU, said Japan is eyeing participation in quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and space. “At present, certain topics remain subject to participation restrictions so it is important to advance the necessary procedures properly,” Deguchi said. 

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India is expected to start formal talks on Horizon Europe association soon, but the government is already signalling a desire to have more flexibility on sensitive projects. “What we would really like to see is associate countries have more of a say in shaping the priorities, and definitely in so-called sensitive areas,” said Asim Anwar, first secretary at the Embassy of India in Brussels.

Beth Thompson, executive director for policy and partnerships at Wellcome, the UK-based research charity, said the EU should allow associated countries to have more of a say in how funding opportunities for research on global challenges are being designed. She said Horizon Europe could enable associated countries to “move from a symbolic participation to really deep and meaningful engagement.”

Christian Ehler, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Horizon Europe, has already submitted amendments to the Commission’s proposal that would force it to publicly justify any exclusions.