Skip to content
Adopted text

Assessment of the implementation of Horizon Europe in view of its interim evaluation and recommendations for the 10th Research Framework Programme

TA-10-2025-0028 · P10_TA(2025)0028 · PE765.325

Official HTML ↗ DOCX
✦ In shortFull text
✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament assesses Horizon Europe implementation and makes recommendations for the next research programme (FP10), covering budget, governance, simplification, widening, missions, partnerships, and international cooperation. It calls for a substantially higher FP10 budget, a stand-alone programme with three core objectives, and reforms to governance, simplification, and instruments like the EIC and ERC. It urges continued climate spending, protection of academic freedom, and a strategic approach to international cooperation and dual-use research.

Key points

  1. Regrets funding cuts and complexity in Horizon Europe; calls for FP10 to be a stand-alone programme with a substantially higher budget to fund at least 75% of excellent proposals.
  2. Insists member states commit to 3% of GDP on R&D by 2030; notes EU invests 2.24% in 2022, below US and China.
  3. Calls for a legislative proposal on freedom of scientific research and for the Commission to enforce academic freedom under recital 72.
  4. Urges the Commission to stay on course for 35% climate spending target and to report on the impact of the Do No Significant Harm principle before FP10.
  5. Calls for simplification: reduce administrative burdens, shorten time-to-grant, and clarify lump-sum funding use.
  6. Recommends restoring EIC autonomy, opening transition activities to all FP projects, and exploring dedicated legal entities for EIC and ERC.
  7. Calls for a 'Choose Europe' co-funding line to turn brain drain into brain gain by 2035, and for a fellowship programme for researchers at risk.
  8. Recommends mission-oriented programming under FP10 with open calls, bottom-up ideas, and portfolio management, piloting this approach in remaining Horizon Europe years.
  9. Calls for a strategic approach to international cooperation, including association agreements requiring Parliament's consent, and maintaining the civilian nature of FP10.
  10. Recommends recognising standardisation costs as eligible and integrating AI considerations in FP10.

Who is affected

  • Researchers and research institutions, especially in widening countries and SMEs, face lower participation due to complexity and underfunding.
  • The European Innovation Council and European Research Council would gain autonomy and increased budgets under FP10.
  • Member states are urged to increase national R&D spending and adopt reforms to close the innovation gap.
  • Third countries seeking association to FP10 would need international agreements with Parliament's consent.

Figures and deadlines

  • 3% of GDP on R&D by 2030
  • 2.24% of GDP invested in R&D in 2022
  • 35% climate spending target
  • 75% of excellent proposals to be funded
  • 2035 for brain gain

Legal basis: Articles 179 to 188 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union