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DRAFT OPINION (COM(2025)0555 – C100165/2025 – 2025/0555(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the European Competitiveness Fund ('ECF’), including the specific programme for defence research and innovation activities, repealing Regulations (EU) 2021/522, (EU) 2021/694, (EU) 2021/697, (EU) 2021/783, and amending Regulations (EU) 2021/696, (EU) 2023/588, (EU) [EDIP]

ECON-PA-784470

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs · Rapporteur: Danuše Nerudová

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The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs proposes amendments to the proposed regulation establishing the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), including a defence research and innovation programme. The amendments add an SME window, define start-ups, first-time and less experienced applicants, and require measures to spread funding across regions and avoid excessive concentration. They set up a Competitiveness Coordination Tool with Parliament involvement, and restructure the governance boards, including a new Investment Committee and Advisory Board. They raise the ECF InvestEU budgetary guarantee to EUR 120 000 000 000 and the minimum Union support to EUR 69 000 000 000, and allow a 15% departure from the amounts per objective. They add a Project Advisory and a Beneficiary Service Desk, and require 30% of the budget of the SME, skills and collaboration window to support start-ups, first-time and less experienced applicants.

Committee position. The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs proposes amendments to the Commission proposal, including an SME window, definitions of start-ups and less experienced applicants, a Competitiveness Coordination Tool, revised governance, higher ECF InvestEU amounts, and new advisory and service structures.

Key points

  1. The ECF work programme must be aligned with projects and priorities selected under the Competitiveness Coordination Tool, and Parliament must be closely involved in the Tool.
  2. The ECF should reduce economic, social and territorial disparities and address innovation and digital divides through technical assistance, monitoring of geographical distribution and incentives in calls.
  3. New categories of first-time and less experienced applicants are created and should receive targeted support, given geographical concentration of funding under Horizon Europe.
  4. Work programmes may be adopted in a multi-annual format and must set out technical implementation details, eligibility and award criteria, and budget allocations.
  5. An SME window is added, and the specific objective of supporting SMEs, small mid-caps and start-ups is inserted, including better access to finance and reduced reporting burden.
  6. Definitions are added for investment guidelines, start-ups, less experienced applicants and first-time applicants.
  7. The Commission must ensure supportive measures for first-time and less experienced applicants, monitor geographical distribution, and may set minimum indicative thresholds for funding to start-ups and first-time applicants.
  8. A Competitiveness Coordination Tool is established to align Union funding, national reforms and investment, with Parliament observers, regular information and written justification if the Commission diverges from Parliament's positions.
  9. A fully independent Investment Committee with six configurations and six remunerated external experts each is established, and an Advisory Board on the ECF InvestEU Instrument is set up with Member State, implementing partner and non-voting expert members.
  10. The maximum budgetary guarantee under the EU Compartment of the ECF InvestEU Instrument is set at EUR 120 000 000 000, provisioned at 50%, and the minimum Union support through the ECF InvestEU Instrument at EUR 69 000 000 000.
  11. The Commission may depart from the amounts per objective by up to 15% and must inform Parliament and the Council; 75% of the EU Compartment guarantee shall be granted to the EIB Group.
  12. A Project Advisory and a Beneficiary Service Desk are created, and 30% of the budget of the SME, skills and collaboration window should support start-ups, first-time and less experienced applicants.

Who is affected

  • SMEs, small mid-cap companies and start-ups in the Union, which gain an SME window, a specific objective and targeted support.
  • First-time and less experienced applicants, which receive particular attention, supportive measures and minimum indicative thresholds.
  • Less developed, transition, insular and outermost regions, which are targeted for broad participation and reduced concentration of funding.
  • The European Parliament, which gains observer status in the Competitiveness Coordination Tool and must be informed and consulted.
  • The EIB Group, which shall receive 75% of the budgetary guarantee under the EU Compartment of the ECF InvestEU Instrument.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 11 000 000 000 for activities contributing to the general objectives, implemented through cross-cutting activities such as the ECF InvestEU Instrument.
  • EUR 58 000 000 000 for the specific objectives on SMEs, as contribution from other policy windows via the ECF InvestEU Instrument.
  • Up to 15% departure from the amounts per objective referred to in points (a-1) to (d) of Article 3(2).
  • EUR 120 000 000 000 maximum budgetary guarantee under the EU Compartment of the ECF InvestEU Instrument, provisioned at 50%.
  • EUR 69 000 000 000 minimum Union support from ECF delivered through the ECF InvestEU Instrument.
  • 75% of the budgetary guarantee under the EU Compartment of the ECF InvestEU Instrument shall be granted to the EIB Group.
  • 30% of the budget allocated to the SME, skills and collaboration window should support start-ups, first-time and less experienced applicants.