Opinion on Establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) and amending Directive 2003/87/EC, Regulations (EU) 2021/1058, (EU) 2021/1056, (EU) 2021/1057, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) 2021/1060, (EU) 2021/523, (EU) 2021/695, (EU) 2021/697 and (EU) 2021/241

6.9.2023

Mr Johan Van Overtveldt,

Chair

Committee on Budgets

Mr Cristian-Silviu Buşoi

Chair

Committee on the on Industry, Research and Energy

IPOL-COM-AGRI D(2023) 30955

Subject: Opinion on Establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) and amending Directive 2003/87/EC, Regulations (EU) 2021/1058, (EU) 2021/1056, (EU) 2021/1057, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) 2021/1060, (EU) 2021/523, (EU) 2021/695, (EU) 2021/697 and (EU) 2021/241 (COM 2023/0335 – 2023/0199(COD))

Dear Chairs,

At their meeting of 28 June 2023, AGRI Coordinators decided to issue an opinion in the form of a letter to your respective Committees, the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, as lead committees on the following Commission proposal:

European Commission Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) and amending Directive 2003/87/EC, Regulations (EU) 2021/1058, (EU) 2021/1056, (EU) 2021/1057, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) 2021/1060, (EU) 2021/523, (EU) 2021/695, (EU) 2021/697 and (EU) 2021/241 (2023/0199 (COD)).

The AGRI Committee acknowledges the European Commission proposal on STEP of 20 June 2023, which aims to support European leadership on critical and emerging strategic technologies.

The AGRI Committee welcomes the proposal’s objective to enhance European competitiveness and resilience in strategic sectors while reducing dependencies on the EU economy.

Furthermore, the AGRI Committee recognises the urgent need to provide immediate and targeted support for the development and manufacturing of critical technologies, as well as safeguarding and strengthening value chains. This is particularly important for ensuring a competitive and productive agriculture sector and for fostering dynamic rural development, among other matters.

With regard to the availability of resources for funding programmes and actions, the AGRI Committee asks that the responsible Committees call on the European Commission to identify additional Union funding, rather than reallocating it from other existing programmes to contribute to STEP objectives.

Therefore, the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform should identify resources within the existing Union budget to finance programmes, initiatives, and funds in relevant sectors with new money.

As AGRI committee Chair, I would like to ask the BUDG and ITRE committees, the responsible committees, to take due account of the suggestions mentioned in this opinion in the form of a letter, pursuant to Rule 56, in their report on the STEP proposal.

Yours sincerely,

Norbert Lins