Budget discussions are on for the EU’s next R&I funding programme, due to begin in 2028, and the European Parliament wants more than twice as much as was agreed last time

MEPs’ ambition is to up funding for the European Innovation Council, and for health and climate research. But this is once again at odds with budget cuts proposed by EU governments

Parliament votes to prevent money being taken away from Horizon Europe’s Pillar II to fund the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform

Research commissioner-to-be outlines her priorities as MEPs grill her on the key research, innovation and education issues ahead of the plenary vote on her appointment later this month

In inflationary times, the Council’s ‘prudent approach’ to accounting will see Horizon Europe get €166M less than the Commission has called for

A small top-up for Horizon Europe allays fears the budget would be cut, but there’s growing unease about the EU’s research programme becoming too focused on innovation

The money forms part of a proposed €10B package of investment in strategic technologies. But the Commission fails to deliver on much-requested increases for other parts of Horizon Europe

Proposal is more than this year, but sky-high inflation devalues the increase. The European Parliament is pinning its hopes on extracting more in the mid-term EU budget review, but rocketing interest payments leave little room for manoeuvre

Research stakeholders are concerned applying this principle across the board will create an administrative burden and could impede climate change research. Parliament’s budget committee wants a more proportionate approach