The German MEP will lead Parliament’s negotiations on the next EU research Framework Programme and the ECF
German MEP Christian Ehler. Photo credits: Fred Marvaux / European Union
Germany’s Christian Ehler has been appointed lead rapporteur to steer the next EU research Framework Programme, FP10, through the European Parliament.
The European People’s Party (EPP) MEP will also serve as co-rapporteur for the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), reflecting the “tight connection” between the two programmes promised by the European Commission.
The Parliament’s committee for industry, research and energy will lead on both legislative files, and on the Connecting Europe Facility.
According an EPP spokesperson, Ehler’s appointments were decided on October 23, although it is not yet clear if they have been formally registered with the Parliament’s secretariat. Ehler himself was not available for comment at the time of publication.
First elected to the Parliament in 2004, Ehler is considered one of its key figures the Parliament’s handling of the EU’s Framework Programmes. He previously served as a rapporteur for both Horizon 2020 (2014–20) and Horizon Europe (2021–27), and he chairs the Parliament’s Panel for the Future of Science and Technology.
Ehler will act as lead rapporteur for FP10, while sharing the role for the ECF proposal with an as-yet unnamed MEP from the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group.
This is not the first time the German MEP has worked with an S&D colleague, having shared the Horizon Europe file with Romania’s Dan Nica.
As lead negotiator, Ehler will engage with fellow MEPs, member states, research stakeholders and Commission officials to bring the legislation to completion, a process that could take several months. For particularly contentious issues, MEPs are expected to hold hearings with experts before drafting a report that will go through amendments and debates ahead of a plenary vote.
Related articles:
- Work on FP10 outline must start immediately, says Ehler
- Commission puts forward €175B budget for FP10
- ‘Self-standing’ FP10 will be ‘tightly connected’ to European Competitiveness Fund, Von der Leyen says
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