Sittings · Document

Draft report (06417/2026 – 2025/0398(NLE)) 2026-04-14

On the adoption of the Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, on the multiannual technical guidelines for this programme, on the multiannual financial guidelines for managing the assets of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, and repealing Decisions 2003/77/EC and 2008/376/EC

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

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Amendment 1

Elena Donazzan

Proposal for a decision

Recital 3

Text proposed by Council

Amendment

(3) To that effect, and in line with the objectives of the Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (‘the Research Programme’) adopted under Council Decision 2008/376/EC3 , the funding should duly consider the evolving policy needs and Union’s priorities as identified in the Competitiveness Compass4 , the Clean Industrial Deal5 , the European Steel and Metals Action Plan6 and the European Green Deal7 .

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3 Council Decision 2008/376/EC of 29 April 2008 on the adoption of the Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel and on the multiannual technical guidelines for this programme (OJ L 130, 20.5.2008, p. 7, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2008/376/oj).

4 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘A Competitiveness Compass for the EU’, COM(2025) 30 final.

5 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘The Clean Industrial Deal: A joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation’, COM(2025) 85 final.

6 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘A European Steel and Metals Action Plan’, COM(2025) 125 final.

7 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘The European Green Deal’, COM(2019) 640 final.

Or. en

Amendment 2

Elena Donazzan

Proposal for a decision

Recital 5

Text proposed by Council

Amendment

(5) Committing the totality of the available assets in eight years is necessary to improve attractiveness and impact of the Research Programme, to leverage and accelerate private research and innovation investment, to boost competitiveness and to accelerate industrial transformation of the steel and coal sectors towards green transition and decarbonisation in a challenging geopolitical and economic context.

(5) Committing the totality of the available assets in eight years is necessary to improve attractiveness and impact of the Research Programme, to leverage and accelerate private research and innovation investment, to boost competitiveness and to accelerate industrial sustainable transition of the steel and coal sectors and decarbonisation in a challenging geopolitical and economic context, trough a technological neutral approach.

Or. en

Amendment 3

Elena Donazzan

Proposal for a decision

Recital 8

Text proposed by Council

Amendment

(8) The Research Programme should finance actions on the basis of open calls. The actions should primarily take the form of research projects covering the whole range from low to high Technology Readiness Levels, allowing for greater participation of industry, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and public and academic entities.

Or. en

Amendment 4

Elena Donazzan

Proposal for a decision

Article 3 – paragraph 6 a (new)

Text proposed by Council

Amendment

6 a. The Research Programme shall be guided by the principle of technological neutrality, ensuring that no specific technologies are prescribed or favoured, while enabling a broad range of innovative solutions for decarbonisation and industrial transformation, based on their performance, scalability and cost-effectiveness.

Or. en

Amendment 5

Elena Donazzan

Proposal for a decision

Article 4 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by Council

Amendment

1. Research projects shall aim to accelerate the transition towards a climate-neutral Union economy by 2050, with the objective of supporting the phasing out of fossil fuels, especially coal, and supporting the social, economic and ecological revitalisation of coal regions, developing alternative activities on former mine sites and avoiding or addressing the environmental damage from coal mines in the process of closure, formerly operating coal mines and the regions in which coal mines are located.

1. Research projects shall aim to accelerate the gradual transition towards a sustainable Union economy, with the objective of supporting the gradual phasing out of fossil fuels, especially coal, and supporting the social, economic and ecological revitalisation of coal regions, developing alternative activities on former mine sites and avoiding or addressing the environmental damage from coal mines in the process of closure, formerly operating coal mines and the regions in which coal mines are located.

Or. en

Amendment 6

Elena Donazzan

Proposal for a decision

Article 4 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by Council

Amendment

2. Special attention shall be given to strengthening Union leadership in managing the transition, including repurposing, of formerly operating coal mines and coal-related infrastructure through technological and non-technological solutions, while supporting technology and non-technology transfer. Research activities with those objectives shall present tangible climate and environmental benefits in line with the objective of climate neutrality by 2050.

Or. en

Amendment 7

Elena Donazzan

Proposal for a decision

Article 4 – paragraph 5 a (new)

Text proposed by Council

Amendment

5 a. Research projects shall place particular emphasis on the regeneration and repurposing of closed coal mines, with the aim of transforming them into suitable infrastructure for new energy sources.

Or. en

Amendment 8

Elena Donazzan

Proposal for a decision

Article 5 – paragraph 4

Text proposed by Council

Amendment

4. Research projects shall pay particular attention on the continuous development of skills adapted to the evolution of the sector towards new net-zero-carbon processes, as well as the improvement of working conditions, promotion of high health and safety standards and sustainable livelihoods.

4. Research projects shall pay particular attention on the continuous development of skills adapted to the evolution of the sector towards sustainable processes, as well as the improvement of working conditions, promotion of high health and safety standards and sustainable livelihoods.

Or. en

Amendment 9

Elena Donazzan

Proposal for a decision

Article 5 – paragraph 5 a (new)

Text proposed by Council

Amendment

5 a. Research projects shall pay particular attention to the entire steel value chain, with particular reference to finished products, as well as processed and semi-finished products.

Or. en