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OPINION (COM(2023)0335 – C90209/2023 – 2023/0199(COD))

On the 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

ECON-AD-752779

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs · Rapporteur: Eva Maria Poptcheva

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The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs proposes amendments to the proposed regulation establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). It raises the additional funding to EUR 13 billion and increases the amounts for the Innovation Fund, InvestEU, Horizon Europe and the European Defence Fund. It sets rules for a Sovereignty Seal for projects meeting minimum quality requirements, and for a Sovereignty Portal giving information on EU funding. It also creates a STEP Committee to support project promoters and award the Seal. It amends the InvestEU, Horizon Europe, European Defence Fund and Recovery and Resilience Facility regulations to reflect the higher amounts and to require support for small and medium-sized enterprises, non-bankable and cross-border projects.

Committee position. The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal, raising the STEP funding, setting conditions for the Sovereignty Seal, creating a STEP Committee and a Sovereignty Portal, and amending the InvestEU, Horizon Europe, European Defence Fund and Recovery and Resilience Facility regulations.

Key points

  1. The Committee calls on the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy to take its amendments into account.
  2. The additional funding for STEP is raised to EUR 13 billion, with EUR 5 billion for the Innovation Fund, EUR 4.2 billion for the InvestEU EU guarantee, EUR 1.3 billion for Horizon Europe and EUR 2.5 billion for the European Defence Fund.
  3. A Sovereignty Seal is awarded to actions meeting minimum quality requirements, valid for the project's implementation, with a commitment not to relocate outside the Union and review if not started after five years.
  4. Member States must treat actions with a Sovereignty Seal as a priority when revising recovery and resilience plans and when deciding on Modernisation Fund projects, and may grant national support to such projects.
  5. A STEP Committee of Commission experts is set up to advise project promoters, award and promote the Sovereignty Seal, and liaise with other structures.
  6. The Sovereignty Portal must display all EU funding programmes under direct, shared or indirect management, include a self-assessment tool and open calls, and be launched no later than 6 months after entry into force.
  7. The Commission must monitor and report annually to Parliament and the Council on the Platform's progress, expenditure and performance, including cross-border and per-Member-State projects.
  8. The evaluation report must assess whether EU funding prevents Single Market fragmentation and outline steps to introduce a European Sovereignty Fund, and may be accompanied by amendments or a new legislative proposal.
  9. Under InvestEU, implementing partners must award at least 30% of the STEP policy window to SMEs, and the EIB Group must ensure at least 40% of its EU guarantee supports non-bankable projects and at least 35% cross-border projects.
  10. The EU guarantee for the EU compartment is set at EUR 36 652 310 073, with EUR 21 827 310 073 for the objectives in Article 3(2), and up to EUR 10 500 000 000 for the STEP objectives.
  11. Horizon Europe's financial envelope is set at EUR 87 423 000 000 for the specific programme and EUR 10 453 000 000 for the EIT, and the European Defence Fund at EUR 10 453 000 000.
  12. Member States may include in their recovery and resilience plans a cash contribution for the InvestEU Member State compartment of up to 10% of the plan's total financial amount.

Who is affected

  • EU industry and project promoters in deep and digital technologies, clean technologies and biotechnologies, who can seek funding and a Sovereignty Seal.
  • Small and medium-sized enterprises, which must receive at least 30% of the InvestEU STEP policy window and not be excluded from ERDF funding.
  • Member States, which must prioritise Sovereignty Seal projects in recovery plans and Modernisation Fund decisions and may contribute to InvestEU.
  • The European Investment Bank Group and other implementing partners, which must meet targets for non-bankable and cross-border projects.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 13 billion additional funding for STEP.
  • EUR 5 billion for the Innovation Fund.
  • EUR 4.2 billion for the InvestEU EU guarantee, raising the total to EUR 10.5 billion.
  • EUR 1.3 billion for Horizon Europe and EUR 2.5 billion for the European Defence Fund.
  • Sovereignty Seal review if a project has not started after five years.
  • Sovereignty Portal to be launched not later than 6 months after entry into force.
  • At least 30% of the InvestEU STEP policy window for SMEs.
  • At least 40% of the EIB Group's EU guarantee for non-bankable projects and at least 35% for cross-border projects.