Sittings · Document
On the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision (EU) 2017/1324 as regards the continuation of the Union’s participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy · Rapporteur: Paolo Borchia
DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision (EU) 2017/1324 as regards the continuation of the Union’s participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe
(COM(2023)0359 – C90213/2023 – 2023/0207(COD))
(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2023)0359),
– having regard to Article 294(2), Article 185 and the second paragraph of Article 188 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C90213/2023),
– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
– having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of ... ,
– having regard to Rule 59 of its Rules of Procedure,
– having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (A90000/2023),
1. Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;
2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;
3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.
Amendment 1
Proposal for a decision
Recital -1 (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| (-1) The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe constitutes a positive choice for developing countries that are of strategic relevance for the interests of the Union and, in line with the Commission’s communication of 1 December 2021 on The Global Gateway, are in urgent need for design projects that are sustainable and of high quality, and are implemented with high levels of transparency and standards in order to deliver lasting social and economic benefits for local communities. |
Or. en
Amendment 2
Proposal for a decision
Recital -1 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| (-1 a) In its communication of 7 June 2016 on establishing a new Partnership Framework with third countries under the European Agenda on Migration, the Commission emphasised the need for all policies, including research and innovation, to address the root causes of migration through a new cooperation model involving private investors, as well as the need to focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and sustainable infrastructure. |
Or. en
Amendment 3
Proposal for a decision
Recital -1 b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| (-1 b) Possible overlaps between PRIMA and other research and innovation projects carried out under Horizon Europe, or other Union instruments, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), should be avoided. |
Or. en
Amendment 4
Proposal for a decision
Recital 15
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| (15) The extension of PRIMA requires monitoring and evaluation of this partnership in accordance with Horizon Europe related provisions. The Commission should conduct an interim evaluation of PRIMA by 31 December 2025 at the latest, and, a final evaluation by 31 December 2031 at the latest, that should feed into the overall interim and final evaluations of Horizon Europe. The evaluations should assess the quality and efficiency of PRIMA and the progress made towards achieving its objectives. The Commission should publish and disseminate the results and conclusions of those evaluations. In accordance with Article 10(2), point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, PRIMA should have a clear life-cycle approach, be limited in time and include the conditions for phasing-out the funding under Horizon Europe. | (15) The extension of PRIMA requires monitoring and evaluation of this partnership in accordance with Horizon Europe related provisions. The Commission should conduct an interim evaluation of PRIMA by 31 December 2025 at the latest, and, a final evaluation by 31 December 2031 at the latest, that should feed into the overall interim and final evaluations of Horizon Europe. The evaluations should assess the quality and efficiency of PRIMA and the progress made towards achieving its objectives throughout its life-cycle, including its implementation under both Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. The Commission should publish and disseminate the results and conclusions of those evaluations. In accordance with Article 10(2), point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, PRIMA should have a clear life-cycle approach, be limited in time and include the conditions for phasing-out the funding under Horizon Europe. |
Or. en
Amendment 5
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point c
Decision 2017/1324
Article 4 - paragraph 3
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| (c) paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: | deleted |
| ‘The Commission shall assess on an ongoing basis the fulfilment of commitments undertaken by the Participating States and may take appropriate measures, including those in Article 9.’; |
Or. en
Amendment 6
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12
Decision 2017/1324
Article 11a – paragraph 1
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| 1. The PRIMA- IS shall provide the Commission access to all information related to the indirect actions it funds. Such information shall include contributions and results of beneficiaries participating in indirect actions, or any other information deemed necessary for developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating Union or where applicable Participating States’ policies or programmes. | 1. The PRIMA- IS shall provide the Commission access to all information related to the indirect actions it funds. Such information shall include contributions and results of beneficiaries participating in indirect actions, or any other information deemed necessary for developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating Union or where applicable Participating States’ policies or programmes. Such information shall also be accessible to the European Parliament and authorities of the Participating States where it refers to indirect actions which include beneficiaries established in their respective territories. Such access rights are limited to non-commercial and non-competitive use and shall comply with applicable confidentiality rules. |
Or. en
Amendment 7
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 14
Decision 2017/1324
Article 14 – paragraph 3
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| 3. The Commission shall conduct an interim evaluation and a final evaluation of PRIMA in the framework of the Horizon Europe evaluations, in accordance with Article 52 of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, with the assistance of external independent experts selected on the basis of an open and transparent process. | 3. By 31 December 2025 the Commission shall conduct an interim evaluation and by 31 December 2031 it shall conduct a final evaluation of PRIMA in the framework of the Horizon Europe evaluations, and corresponding evaluations according to the evaluation standards of Horizon 2020 for those actions carried out under the framework of Horizon 2020 in accordance with Article 52 of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, with the assistance of external independent experts selected on the basis of an open and transparent process. |
Or. en
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
The Euro-Mediterranean initiative PRIMA (Partnership on Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area) is jointly promoted by the European Commission and 19 countries of the Euro-Mediterranean area, 11 of which are EU Member States.
PRIMA has a remarkable geo-strategic significance for the European Union as a whole. While the programme is implemented exclusively in the Mediterranean neighbourhood, and may appear therefore as a merely regional tool, at the same time it does serve geopolitical priorities that are of collective interest and urgency for all Member States.
By addressing challenges such as water scarcity and food insecurity in the Southern neighbourhood, it intends to act as a tool of science-diplomacy and focus on the root causes of the migration emergency, whose impact is increasingly escalating beyond the borders of the Southern Member States.
The Rapporteur agrees therefore with the Commission’s proposal to keep open the possibility of membership also for Member States that are not yet involved in the programme.
Complementarity must also be ensured between PRIMA and other existing cooperation instruments and initiatives of the EU (such as the new Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument that entered into force in 2021 replacing the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument), in order to avoid overlaps and duplications while implementing the programme’s actions.
The draft report presented by the Rapporteur intends to implement only a limited number of changes to the Commission’s proposal.
According to the interim evaluation report, the PRIMA programme has successfully proved its added value to European cooperation policies. Between 2018 and 2022, PRIMA has funded 202 projects (including water supply, farming and agro-food), worth 285.7 million in total.
Therefore, the Rapporteur believes that changes should be limited to only what is strictly necessary in order to enable as swiftly as possible the continuation of the programme.
In light of such considerations, the Rapporteur also agrees with the Commission’s approach not to expand the scope of the instrument.
The proposed changes concern mainly the following areas.
First, the Rapporteur considers it necessary to amend the evaluation benchmarks described in article 14. According to the Commission’s proposal, the Commission shall conduct an interim evaluation and a final evaluation of PRIMA in the framework of the Horizon Europe evaluations, in accordance with Article 52 of Regulation (EU) 2021/695. However, actions carried out under the framework of Horizon 2020 should be assessed according to the evaluation standards of Horizon 2020.
Secondly, access to information should be strengthened for the European Parliament. While Parliamentary oversight is already ensured by the flowing of the monitoring outcomes and the periodic reviews into the monitoring of European partnerships, as part of the Horizon Europe evaluations pursuant to Article 52 of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, the Rapporteur believes that the PRIMA-IS should provide the European Parliament also access to all information related to the indirect actions it funds. Such information should include contributions and results of beneficiaries participating in indirect actions, or any other information deemed necessary for developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating Union or where applicable Participating States’ policies or programmes.
A further point of intervention concerns the powers of the Commission described in article 4, paragraph 3, where the Rapporteur deems the new proposed article to be unclear with respect to the nature, scope and extent of the mentioned measures.
ANNEX: LIST OF ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT
The following list is drawn up on a purely voluntary basis under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur. The rapporteur has received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the draft report:
| Entity and/or person |
| Permanent Representation of Italy to the European Union |
| Prof. Angelo Riccaboni, Chair of the Board of Trustees |