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DRAFT OPINION (COM(2025)0543 – C100164/2025 – 2025/0543(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Horizon Europe, the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, for the period 2028-2034 laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, and repealing Regulation (EU) 2021/695

CONT-PA-784221

Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Olivier Chastel

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The Committee on Budgetary Control's draft opinion proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal for the Horizon Europe research and innovation framework programme for 2028-2034. The amendments add safeguards on transparency, conflict-of-interest management, protection of the Union's financial interests, and reporting to Parliament. They require the Commission to prevent double funding, ensure traceability of funds, and set clear payment conditions for simplified financing. They also add rules on pre-commercial procurement guidance, performance indicators, procedural time limits, and support for SMEs and spin-offs.

Committee position. The Committee on Budgetary Control proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal, adding safeguards on transparency, conflict-of-interest management, protection of the Union's financial interests, prevention of double funding, and reporting to Parliament.

Key points

  1. Amendment 1 replaces the wording on equality between men and women in Recital 4 with 'gender equality'.
  2. Amendment 2 adds 'public accountability' to the funding implementation requirement in Recital 5.
  3. Amendment 3 adds achieving the Sustainable Development Goals to the global challenges the Union should tackle.
  4. Amendment 5 requires the Joint Research Centre to publish annual aggregated information on preventing and managing conflicts of interest.
  5. Amendment 6 requires independent external evaluations of the Programme's impact on research and innovation objectives.
  6. Amendment 7 requires full access to auditable data and investigatory and audit rights for OLAF, EPPO and the European Court of Auditors in international cooperation.
  7. Amendments 9 to 13 add safeguards for simplified financing, including documented risk assessments, prevention of overcompensation and double funding, and traceability of operations and recipients.
  8. Amendment 14 requires the Commission to provide guidance on pre-commercial procurement, including conflicts of interest and intellectual property rights.
  9. Amendment 16 requires performance indicators, simpler audit systems, mandatory training for beneficiaries, and procedural time limits for evaluation, grant preparation and signature.
  10. Amendments 22 to 25 require the Commission to prevent double funding through unique identifiers, cross-checks and data exchange.
  11. Amendment 29 allows actual cost reimbursement for operations exceeding EUR 20 000 000 where objectives cannot be achieved otherwise.
  12. Amendments 39 to 41 require the Commission to report annually to Parliament on derogations and geographical distribution of funds, and to ensure transparency, integrity and due diligence.

Who is affected

  • Beneficiaries and applicants, who must provide information on beneficial ownership and undergo mandatory training.
  • The Commission, which must report annually to Parliament on derogations and geographical distribution of funds.
  • The Joint Research Centre, which must publish annual information on conflict-of-interest prevention.
  • Contracting authorities using pre-commercial procurement, which will receive Commission guidance.
  • SMEs and spin-offs, which should benefit from clearer rules and reduced administrative delays.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 20 000 000 — threshold above which actual cost reimbursement may be used.