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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

REGI-PA-782392

Committee on Regional Development · Rapporteur: Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza

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The Committee on Regional Development gives its draft opinion on the Commission proposal for Horizon Europe 2028-2034, the tenth EU research framework programme. It welcomes the proposal but asks for a stronger territorial dimension, closer links with Cohesion Policy and support for less-experienced regions. It proposes amendments to add regional balance to the programme's objectives, to define smart specialisation strategies and regional innovation ecosystems, and to widen access for regional universities, SMEs and first-time applicants. The amendments also address brain drain, disaster-risk funding, simplification through lump sums and modular consortia, and the classification of widening countries and regions.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that the Committee on Regional Development ask the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy to incorporate amendments reinforcing the territorial dimension of Horizon Europe, its synergies with Cohesion Policy and support for less-performing regions, while keeping excellence as the primary funding criterion.

Key points

  1. The committee welcomes Horizon Europe 2028-2034 but says the framework should better integrate the territorial dimension and reinforce synergies with Cohesion Policy.
  2. It finds participation uneven across member states and regions, with funding concentrated in a limited number of hubs, and calls for a geographically balanced European Research Area.
  3. It asks for stronger coordination between Horizon Europe and Cohesion Policy in the next Multiannual Financial Framework to avoid fragmentation and duplication, and supports clearer synergies with the ERDF, ESF+ and other programmes.
  4. It supports a strategic portfolio of European Partnerships with balanced stakeholder representation, including regional and local authorities, and adds them as possible partners in the definition of European Partnership.
  5. It reaffirms excellence as the primary funding criterion but says excellence should be inclusive, nurturing emerging centres and new actors in widening countries and regions and promoting brain circulation.
  6. It asks for simplification to benefit first-time applicants, SMEs and regional universities, and for smaller, more flexible consortia, modular project structures and staged participation.
  7. It proposes new definitions of smart specialisation strategy and regional innovation ecosystem, and adds territorial cohesion and diffusion to the programme's objectives.
  8. It asks that disaster risk, preparedness and response funding streams be clearly defined and separate from crisis reserve mechanisms under National and Regional Partnership Plans.
  9. It wants widening participation to address regional disparities, not be treated as a transitional status based on national averages, and lists the widening countries while acknowledging internal regional disparities.
  10. It asks that access to capacity-building measures from 2030 not penalise less-performing regions and take account of regional disparities within member states.
  11. It calls for MSCA to promote balanced brain circulation and for the Joint Research Centre to cooperate with national and regional authorities on territorial uptake of scientific evidence.
  12. It asks that collaborative research allow differentiated contributions along the innovation cycle, especially at demonstration, testing and dissemination stages, and that award procedures consider modular approaches and smaller consortia.

Who is affected

  • Regions and member states with lower research and innovation capacity, which would gain capacity-building support and a place-based approach.
  • Regional universities, SMEs, start-ups and first-time applicants, which would benefit from simplification and more flexible consortia.
  • Local and regional authorities, which would take part in European Partnerships and joint award procedures.
  • Researchers, who would be supported in building careers across regional ecosystems and in brain circulation rather than one-way mobility.

Figures and deadlines

  • At least 3% of GDP to be invested in research and development.
  • From 2030 onwards, access to capacity-building measures is restricted to widening countries that increased real public investment in research and development.
  • The 2021-2027 eligible member states should be divided into two groups for the whole duration of the programme.