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REPORT (COM(2023)0359 – C90213/2023 – 2023/0207(COD))

On the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision (EU) 2017/1324 as regards the continuation of the Union’s participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe

A-9-2023-0378

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy · Rapporteur: Paolo Borchia

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Parliament's amended version of the Commission proposal to continue the Union's participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe. It extends PRIMA until 2031, sets a Union contribution of up to EUR 325 000 000, and requires Participating States to match it. It aligns PRIMA with Horizon Europe rules, requires Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco to accept new terms by exchange of letters, and sets monitoring, evaluation and audit rules.

Committee position. The committee proposes to adopt Parliament's position at first reading with amendments to the Commission proposal. The amendments extend PRIMA until 2031, set financial conditions, strengthen Parliament's access to information, and adjust evaluation benchmarks.

Key points

  1. The Union continues to participate in PRIMA, an institutionalised European partnership, jointly undertaken by Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey.
  2. Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco continue as Participating States for activities funded under Horizon 2020, but need an exchange of letters to join activities funded under Horizon Europe.
  3. Other Member States and third countries associated to Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe may join PRIMA by signing a letter of commitment; other third countries may join if PRIMA-IS approves and an international agreement is concluded.
  4. PRIMA supports research and innovation for sustainable agro-food systems and integrated water provision and management in the Mediterranean, contributing to Horizon Europe objectives.
  5. The Union financial contribution equals the Participating States' contributions and is up to EUR 325 000 000: up to EUR 220 000 000 from Horizon 2020 and up to EUR 105 000 000 from Horizon Europe.
  6. The Horizon Europe contribution comes from Pillar II 'Global challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness', cluster (vi) 'Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment'.
  7. Participating States must contribute at least EUR 325 000 000 from 7 August 2017 until 31 December 2031, and only contributions made after 31 December 2024 count towards matching the Union contribution.
  8. PRIMA-IS adopts annual work programmes by 31 March each year; final calls for proposals must be launched by 31 December 2027, or by 31 December 2028 in duly justified cases.
  9. The Commission must conduct an interim evaluation by 31 December 2025 and a final evaluation by 31 December 2031, assessing success and absorption rates of Southern Mediterranean Participating States.
  10. The European Public Prosecutor's Office is empowered to investigate and prosecute criminal offences affecting the Union's financial interests, and contracts must allow audits by the Commission, PRIMA-IS, the Court of Auditors, EPPO and OLAF.
  11. PRIMA-IS must provide the Commission access to all information on indirect actions it funds, and the Commission must make this accessible to the European Parliament for actions with beneficiaries in their territories.
  12. PRIMA-IS must adopt rules on confidentiality, conflicts of interest and a code of conduct for members of its bodies.

Who is affected

  • Participating States: must contribute at least EUR 325 000 000 and match the Union contribution.
  • Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco: must conclude exchange of letters to join Horizon Europe-funded activities.
  • PRIMA-IS: responsible for implementing PRIMA, adopting annual work programmes and reporting.
  • Entities in non-Participating third countries: may be eligible for funding in specific call topics.
  • European Parliament: gains access to information on indirect actions funded by PRIMA-IS.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 325 000 000: maximum Union financial contribution to PRIMA.
  • EUR 220 000 000: maximum Union contribution from Horizon 2020.
  • EUR 105 000 000: maximum Union contribution from Horizon Europe.
  • EUR 325 000 000: minimum contribution from Participating States from 7 August 2017 until 31 December 2031.
  • 31 December 2024: only contributions made after this date count towards matching the Union contribution.
  • 31 December 2027: deadline for launching final calls for proposals, extendable to 31 December 2028 in duly justified cases.
  • 31 December 2025: deadline for the Commission's interim evaluation of PRIMA.
  • 31 December 2031: deadline for the Commission's final evaluation of PRIMA.

Legal basis: Article 185 and the second paragraph of Article 188 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.