opinion parliamentary committee, 31 March 2026
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
Document CONT-AD-784221 · (COM(2025)0543 – C100164/2025 – 2025/0543(COD))
Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Olivier Chastel
AI:In short
The Committee on Budgetary Control proposes amendments to the proposed Horizon Europe regulation for 2028-2034, which sets rules for participation and dissemination and repeals Regulation (EU) 2021/695. The amendments add budget-protection and transparency duties: traceability of final recipients, reporting to Parliament, conflict-of-interest rules, and audit access for the Commission, OLAF, the European Court of Auditors and the EPPO. They require simplified reporting for SMEs and small mid-caps, lump sums as the default funding form, and safeguards for audit and investigation rights. They add performance and evaluation requirements, including impact-first indicators, annual performance summaries, and review of partnerships and funding streams that miss their targets. They also amend rules on third-country association, pre-commercial procurement guidance, and protection of the Union's financial interests.
Position. The Committee on Budgetary Control proposes amendments to the Horizon Europe proposal, focusing on budget protection, transparency, audit and investigation rights, simplified reporting for smaller beneficiaries, performance measurement, and reporting to Parliament.
Key points
- Adds a recital stating that EU added value must be clearly defined and applied consistently, and should include technological leadership, resilience and strategic autonomy, with emphasis on dual-use technologies.
- Amends recitals to reduce inequalities and promote gender equality, and to require public accountability, fiscal sustainability and value for money in funding decisions.
- Adds recitals requiring simplified access, fewer rules and reduced performance indicators, with reporting for SMEs and small mid-caps limited to what is strictly necessary.
- Adds recitals on coordination between Horizon Europe and Cohesion Policy with a clear division of funding scopes, interoperable monitoring and traceable financial flows to prevent overlap and double funding.
- Adds recitals on the scientific and budgetary autonomy of the European Research Council, on conflict-of-interest transparency for the Joint Research Centre, and on independent evaluations with performance indicators, audits and public consultations.
- Adds recitals on safeguarding the Union's financial interests in international cooperation, including real-time access to auditable data for the internal audit service and the European Court of Auditors, and access for EPPO and OLAF within their mandates.
- Adds recitals on lump sums as the default funding form, on risks of overcompensation and double funding in complex projects, and on methodologies for partial payments, reductions, suspensions and recoveries.
- Adds recitals on performance measurement, annual performance summaries with machine-readable datasets, and mandatory review of programmes or funding streams that fail to meet impact targets.
- Adds recitals on procedural time limits for evaluation, grant preparation and signature, on simpler and more preventive audit and control, and on Parliament's oversight of Programme funds.
- Amends articles to require separate accounting of administrative and operational expenditure, annual breakdowns to Parliament and the Council, and coordination to prevent double funding across Union programmes.
- Adds articles on transparency of beneficiaries and final recipients, on reporting by the Commission to Parliament on derogations and geographical distribution of funds, and on transparency, integrity and due diligence.
- Adds an article on protection of the Union's financial interests, with proportionate, simplified and risk-based controls, mandatory training for applicants and beneficiaries, and cooperation with OLAF and the European Court of Auditors.
Who is affected
- SMEs and small mid-cap enterprises: reporting obligations simplified and limited to what is strictly necessary.
- Beneficiaries, contractors, sub-contractors and final recipients: must provide beneficial ownership information and cooperate with audits and investigations.
- Third countries associated to the Programme: must grant audit and investigation access and ensure enforceability of decisions.
- Contracting authorities using pre-commercial procurement: to receive Commission guidance and capacity-building support.
- European Research Council: scientific and budgetary autonomy and independence in governance, work programmes and selection procedures to be guaranteed.
Figures and deadlines
- EUR 44 079 000 000 for Part I 'Excellent Science'.
- EUR 2 600 000 000 for non-nuclear direct actions of the Joint Research Centre.
- Outstanding loans borrowed by the Union could exceed EUR 900 billion by 2027.
- Where the total estimated cost of an operation exceeds EUR 20 000 000, Union funding may be provided as actual eligible cost reimbursement.
- Target to invest at least 3% of GDP in research and development.
- Transition countries: Innovation Scoreboard Index (2023-2025) above 75% of the Union average and positive relative financial return per GNI (2021-2025) under Horizon Europe.
- Mandatory independent evaluations of partnerships no later than the fourth year of operation.
Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 25 Sept 2026 · Report a problem
Full text
Jump to an amendment (86)
- Amendment 1
- Amendment 2
- Amendment 3
- Amendment 4
- Amendment 5
- Amendment 6
- Amendment 7
- Amendment 8
- Amendment 9
- Amendment 10
- Amendment 11
- Amendment 12
- Amendment 13
- Amendment 14
- Amendment 15
- Amendment 16
- Amendment 17
- Amendment 18
- Amendment 19
- Amendment 20
- Amendment 21
- Amendment 22
- Amendment 23
- Amendment 24
- Amendment 25
- Amendment 26
- Amendment 27
- Amendment 28
- Amendment 29
- Amendment 30
- Amendment 31
- Amendment 32
- Amendment 33
- Amendment 34
- Amendment 35
- Amendment 36
- Amendment 37
- Amendment 38
- Amendment 39
- Amendment 40
- Amendment 41
- Amendment 42
- Amendment 43
- Amendment 44
- Amendment 45
- Amendment 46
- Amendment 47
- Amendment 48
- Amendment 49
- Amendment 50
- Amendment 51
- Amendment 52
- Amendment 53
- Amendment 54
- Amendment 55
- Amendment 56
- Amendment 57
- Amendment 58
- Amendment 59
- Amendment 60
- Amendment 61
- Amendment 62
- Amendment 63
- Amendment 64
- Amendment 65
- Amendment 66
- Amendment 67
- Amendment 68
- Amendment 69
- Amendment 70
- Amendment 71
- Amendment 72
- Amendment 73
- Amendment 74
- Amendment 75
- Amendment 76
- Amendment 77
- Amendment 78
- Amendment 79
- Amendment 80
- Amendment 81
- Amendment 82
- Amendment 83
- Amendment 84
- Amendment 85
- Amendment 86
Text 344 paragraphs
AMENDMENTS
The Committee on Budgetary Control submits the following to the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, as the committee responsible:
Amendment 1
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (2 a) EU added value can only be realised effectively if it is clearly defined and applied consistently by all EU institutions1a. Underlines that in the current geopolitical context, the EU added value should include strengthening the Union’s technological leadership, resilience, and strategic autonomy, with a strong emphasis on dual-use technologies, in full compliance with Union law. | |
| 1a https://www.eca.europa.eu/ECAPublications/OP-2026-02/OP-2026-02_EN.pdf. |
Amendment 2
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (4) The Union should furthermore aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promote equality, between men and women, as well as to combat discrimination in accordance with Article 8 and Article 10 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. | (4) The Union should furthermore aim to reduce inequalities, and to promote gender equality, as well as to combat discrimination in accordance with Article 8 and Article 10 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. |
Amendment 3
Proposal for a regulation
Read the rest (332 paragraphs)
Recital 5
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (5) In a rapidly changing economic, social and geopolitical environment, recent experience has shown the need for a more flexible multiannual financial framework and its Union spending programmes. To that effect, and in line with the objectives of the Programme, the funding should duly consider the evolving policy needs and Union’s priorities as identified in relevant documents published by the Commission, European Parliament resolutions and in Council conclusions, while ensuring sufficient predictability for the budget implementation. | (5) In a rapidly changing economic, social and geopolitical environment, recent experience has shown the need for a more flexible multiannual financial framework and its Union spending programmes. To that effect, and in line with the objectives of the Programme, the funding should duly consider the evolving policy needs and Union’s priorities as identified in relevant documents published by the Commission, European Parliament resolutions and in Council conclusions, while ensuring sufficient predictability for the budget implementation, public accountability, fiscal sustainability and value for money for taxpayers in the Member States. In view of the fact that, according to the European Court of Auditors, outstanding loans borrowed by the Union could exceed EUR 900 billion by 2027, and that rising debt servicing costs reduce the fiscal space available for programme spending, it is important to ensure that the Programme delivers tangible and meaningful benefits. |
Amendment 4
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (6) The rules for participation and dissemination of the Programme are designed to further simplify access, enhance openness, and maximize the impact of Union funding. | (6) The rules for participation and dissemination of the Programme are designed to further simplify access, enhance openness, and maximize the impact of Union funding. The allocation of Horizon funding through calls, in accordance with the excellence principle, is intended to ensure the fairest and most equitable access possible, to achieve the most efficient and effective outcome for funding, and to benefit European society and strengthen its economy, while respecting transparency requirements. |
Amendment 5
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (6 a) Overall access should be simplified and facilitated, bureaucratic burdens reduced, and the number of rules decreased, with reporting, documentation and evidentiary requirements streamlined and the number of performance indicators reduced, in line with the principles of proportionality, necessity and usefulness. |
Amendment 6
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (6 b) In particular, for SMEs and small mid-cap enterprises, reporting obligations should be simplified and limited to what is strictly necessary for sound financial management and performance monitoring. |
Amendment 7
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (7 a) Strengthening the Union’s competitiveness and long-term resilience should prioritise excellence in R&I together with complementing efforts of territorial cohesion to generate, absorb and deploy innovation across the Union. In order to ensure sound financial management, stronger coordination between Horizon Europe and Cohesion Policy shall be accompanied by a clear division of funding scopes, interoperable monitoring systems and traceable financial flows, in order to prevent overlap, double funding and fragmentation of Union resources. |
Amendment 8
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (9) It should be possible to implement parts of the budget through European Partnerships together with other public and private entities, where this is the most effective implementation form to achieve the policy objectives. European Partnerships should be established where a close involvement of the Union is required and should ensure appropriate voting rights for the Union as well as sufficient co-investment by other partners to leverage Union funding. In view of fostering synergies and efficiencies, it is necessary to ensure harmonised rules. Therefore, a strategic and coherent portfolio of a limited number of European Partnerships should be established. | (9) It should be possible to implement parts of the budget through European Partnerships together with other public and private entities, including industry, research organization, local and regional authorities, where this is the most effective implementation form to achieve the policy objectives. European Partnerships should be established where a close involvement of the Union is required and should ensure appropriate voting rights for the Union as well as sufficient co-investment by other partners to leverage Union funding. In view of fostering synergies and efficiencies, it is necessary to ensure harmonised rules. Therefore, a strategic and coherent portfolio of a limited number of European Partnerships should be established. |
Amendment 9
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (10) The European Partnerships, including in the form of Joint Undertakings, as an essential tool to deliver on industrial involvement and investment in collaborative research and innovation, should contribute to the specific policy objectives of the policy windows of the European Competitiveness Fund, and be supported through it, where necessary, to complete these objectives. | (10) The European Partnerships, including in the form of Joint Undertakings, as an essential tool to deliver on industrial involvement and investment in collaborative research and innovation, should contribute to the specific policy objectives of the policy windows of the European Competitiveness Fund, and be supported through it, where necessary, to complete these objectives. They should, where feasible and appropriate, contribute to achieve the EU's social policy objectives. |
Amendment 10
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (13) The European Research Council (ERC) should provide attractive and flexible funding, thereby enabling talented and creative individual researchers—with a deliberate emphasis on nurturing early-stage researchers—to pursue the most promising avenues at the frontier of science. This commitment to investigator-driven research, selected through Union-wide competition based solely on the criterion of excellence and open to talent regardless of nationality or origin, is fundamental to attracting the world's brightest minds and further establishing Europe as a world-leading centre for research and innovation. | (13) The European Research Council (ERC) should provide attractive and flexible funding, thereby enabling talented and creative individual researchers—with a deliberate emphasis on nurturing early-stage researchers—to pursue the most promising avenues at the frontier of science. This commitment to investigator-driven research, selected through Union-wide competition based solely on the criterion of excellence and open to talent regardless of nationality or origin, is fundamental to attracting the world's brightest minds and further establishing Europe as a world-leading centre for research and innovation. The scientific and budgetary autonomy and independence of the ERC in its governance, preparation of work programmes and selection procedures shall be guaranteed. |
Amendment 11
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (14) In a knowledge-based global economy, the Union’s long-term competitiveness, technological leadership and capacity to address global challenges should depend notably on its ability to develop, attract and retain a highly skilled and internationally connected research workforce. Strategic investment in excellent researchers, in their training, mobility and career prospects, within and outside academia, is essential to sustain innovation, economic resilience and societal well-being. In line with the principles of the European Charter for researchers, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) are instrumental in advancing this objective. The Programme should reinforce links between universities and innovation ecosystems, including the private sector. It should enable the completion of the European Research Area, including via development of European higher education sector capacity to compete with global counterparts through collaboration, nurturing and attracting talent and leveraging more private investments, including through higher education initiatives like European Universities Alliances, in synergy with Erasmus+, and in line with the objectives and activities of this Regulation. | (14) In a knowledge-based global economy, the Union’s long-term competitiveness, technological leadership and capacity to tackle global challenges by achieving the Sustainable Development Goals should depend notably on its ability to develop, attract and retain a highly skilled and internationally connected research workforce. Strategic investment in excellent researchers, in their training, mobility and career prospects, within and outside academia, is essential to sustain innovation, economic resilience and societal well-being. In line with the principles of the European Charter for researchers, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) are instrumental in advancing this objective. The Programme should reinforce links between universities and innovation ecosystems, including the private sector. It should enable the completion of the European Research Area, including via development of European higher education sector capacity to compete with global counterparts through collaboration, nurturing and attracting talent and leveraging more private investments, including through higher education initiatives like European Universities Alliances, in synergy with Erasmus+, and in line with the objectives and activities of this Regulation. |
Amendment 12
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (15) The European Innovation Council (EIC) should stimulate deep tech market-creating innovation. It should identify, develop and deploy these deep tech innovations through its instruments. Through coherent and streamlined support, the EIC should fill the vacuum in public support and private investment for breakthrough technologies and deep tech innovation. The EIC should aim to bridge, integrate and accelerate through its instruments the innovator’s journey from research to market and enable the Union to have leading companies in emerging areas of technology to meet its social and economic objectives and avoid dependencies on other regions. The EIC should support high risk, high-potential innovations and companies presenting such technological, scientific, financial, management or market risks that they are not yet considered to be fully bankable and therefore cannot raise the necessary level of investments to be globally competitive from the market. This should incorporate both an ‘open’ (bottom-up) and a ‘challenge’ driven approach, in close coordination and synergy with the European Competitiveness Fund and its policy windows. It should include a ‘DARPA’-like approach dedicated to supporting defence and dual use startups and their scaling up operating in full complementarity with the ECF InvestEU Instrument and the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) and CASSINI (Space entrepreneurship initiative) activities. The implementation should be done in close synergy and coordination with the European Competitiveness Fund. | (15) The European Innovation Council (EIC) should stimulate deep tech market-creating innovation. It should identify, develop and deploy these deep tech innovations through its instruments. Through coherent and streamlined support, the EIC should fill the vacuum in public support and private investment for breakthrough technologies and deep tech innovation. The EIC should aim to bridge, integrate and accelerate through its instruments the innovator’s journey from research to market and enable the Union to have leading companies in emerging areas of technology to meet its social and economic objectives and avoid dependencies on other regions. The EIC should support high risk, high-potential innovations and companies presenting such technological, scientific, financial, management or market risks that they are not yet considered to be fully bankable and therefore cannot raise the necessary level of investments to be globally competitive from the market. This should incorporate both an ‘open’ (bottom-up) and a ‘challenge’ driven approach, in close coordination and synergy with the European Competitiveness Fund and its policy windows. It should include a ‘DARPA’-like approach dedicated to supporting defence and dual use startups and their scaling up operating in full complementarity with the ECF InvestEU Instrument and the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) and CASSINI (Space entrepreneurship initiative) activities. The implementation should be done in close synergy and coordination with the European Competitiveness Fund. To ensure improved access, success rates, quality and timeliness, and to support disruptive technologies towards market-readiness through risk-taking and a coherent portfolio approach, the EIC should enjoy operational autonomy in the design and implementation of its instruments, as well as in project selection and portfolio management, in accordance with this Regulation. |
Amendment 13
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (17) The Joint Research Centre (‘JRC’) should continue to provide independent scientific evidence and technical support for Union policies throughout the whole policy cycle. The direct actions of the JRC should be implemented in a flexible, efficient, and transparent manner, taking into account the needs of Union policies and the relevant needs of the users of the JRC and ensuring the protection of the Union’s financial interests. The JRC should continue to generate additional resources, which it may use to support its scientific and technical activities. | (17) The Joint Research Centre (‘JRC’) should continue to provide independent scientific evidence and technical support for Union policies throughout the whole policy cycle. The direct actions of the JRC should be implemented in a flexible, efficient, and transparent manner, taking into account the needs of Union policies and the relevant needs of the users of the JRC and ensuring the protection of the Union’s financial interests. The JRC should continue to generate additional resources, which it may use to support its scientific and technical activities. For direct actions implemented by the Joint Research Centre, the Commission should ensure appropriate transparency regarding the prevention and management of conflicts of interest, in accordance with Article 61 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 and the applicable ethical rules. To that end, the JRC should make publicly available, on an annual basis, aggregated information on the policies, procedures, and measures in place to identify, prevent, and mitigate potential conflicts of interest, including in the context of collaborations with private entities, without prejudice to applicable rules on confidentiality. Researchers, experts, and other persons involved in evaluations or advisory activities should be subject to conflict-of-interest declaration and mitigation requirements in accordance with applicable Union law. |
Amendment 14
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (18) The Programme should ensure the effective promotion and protection of values and principles of the European Research Area and the Pact for Research and Innovation5 , notably ethics and integrity in research and innovation, freedom of scientific research, science for policy, gender equality and equal opportunities, non-discrimination, open science and the promotion of attractive research careers and mobility. In particular, the Programme should ensure the effective promotion of equal opportunities for all and the implementation of gender mainstreaming, including the integration of the gender dimension in R&I content. It should aim to address the causes of gender imbalance. Particular attention should be paid to ensuring, to the extent possible, gender balance in evaluation panels and in other relevant advisory bodies such as boards and expert groups. | (18) The Programme should ensure the effective promotion and protection of values and principles of the European Research Area and the Pact for Research and Innovation5 , notably ethics and integrity in research and innovation, freedom of scientific research, science for policy, gender equality and equal opportunities, non-discrimination, open science and the promotion of attractive research careers and mobility. In particular, the Programme should ensure the effective promotion of equal opportunities for all and the implementation of gender mainstreaming, including the integration of the gender dimension in R&I content. It should aim to address the causes of gender imbalance. Particular attention should be paid to ensuring, to the extent possible, gender balance in evaluation panels and in other relevant advisory, while ensuring they are composed on the basis of merit, competence and relevant expertise. The Programme should include mechanisms for independent evaluations conducted by external bodies to assess the impact of funding on research and innovation objectives. These evaluations should include clear performance indicators, financial audits, and public consultations. |
| 5 Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/2122 of 26 November 2021 on a Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe, OJ L 431, 2.12.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reco/2021/2122/oj. | 5 Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/2122 of 26 November 2021 on a Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe, OJ L 431, 2.12.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reco/2021/2122/oj. |
Amendment 15
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (19) The Programme should support European research infrastructures and technology infrastructures in driving scientific and technological excellence and industrial competitiveness, by supporting the continuum of the research and innovation cycle from basic to applied research towards societal and market deployment. | (19) The Programme should support European research infrastructures and technology infrastructures in driving scientific and technological excellence and industrial competitiveness, by supporting the continuum of the research and innovation cycle from basic to applied research towards societal and market deployment. The Commission should, where appropriate, monitor the distribution of funding across different stages of the innovation cycle to ensure balanced allocation and avoid excessive concentration of resources in limited segments, thereby enhancing overall programme efficiency. |
Amendment 16
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (20) The Programme should implement concrete measures in support of capacity building in widening countries and strengthening collaborative links across the Union enhancing the research and innovation capacity in widening and transition countries, leading to a more cohesive and integrated European R&I system and contributing to the target to invest at least 3% of GDP in research and development. The eligible Member States from the 2021-2027 period should be divided into two groups for the whole duration of the Programme , on the basis of the Innovation Scoreboard Index and the relative financial return per Gross National Income (GNI), based on the following criteria: i) ‘Transition countries’, with both an Innovation Scoreboard Index (2023-2025) above 75% of the Union average and positive relative financial return per GNI (2021-2025) under Horizon Europe; ii) ‘Widening countries’, all other Member States eligible under the 2021-2027 period. | (20) The Programme should implement concrete measures in support of capacity building in widening countries and strengthening collaborative links across the Union enhancing the research and innovation capacity in widening and transition countries, leading to a more cohesive and integrated European R&I system and contributing to the target to invest at least 3 % of GDP in research and development. The eligible Member States from the 2021-2027 period should be divided into two groups for the whole duration of the Programme , on the basis of the Innovation Scoreboard Index and the relative financial return per Gross National Income (GNI), based on the following criteria: i) ‘Transition countries’, with both an Innovation Scoreboard Index (2023-2025) above 75 % of the Union average and positive relative financial return per GNI (2021-2025) under Horizon Europe; ii) ‘Widening countries’, all other Member States eligible under the 2021-2027 period. Capacity-building measures under should include clear benchmarks and intermediate performance indicators assessing progress in participation rates, coordination roles, institutional reforms and financial absorption capacity, ensuring that Union support leads to measurable structural improvement. |
Amendment 17
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (21) Acknowledging the benefit derived from international cooperation towards addressing, among others, shared technological, economic, environmental and societal concerns, the Programme, should promote cooperation with third countries. International cooperation should aim to strengthen the Union’s competitiveness and excellence in R&I, including its capacity to attract and retain the best talents worldwide. Geo-political considerations including economic security should be at the centre of the approach and varying degrees of cooperation should be considered based on an overall assessment of the benefit that could be derived by the Union towards addressing its priorities and global challenges while safeguarding the Union’s values and interests. Association to all or parts of the Programme should remain the most comprehensive form of cooperation. For EIC defence related activities, only entities established in third countries associated with the European Competitiveness Fund for defence activities should be eligible for funding. The Programme may support activities financed by the Global Europe programme provided they comply with the rules and objectives of this Regulation in line with the provisions on synergies. | (21) Acknowledging the benefit derived from international cooperation towards addressing, among others, shared technological, economic, environmental and societal concerns, the Programme, should promote cooperation with third countries. International cooperation should aim to strengthen the Union’s competitiveness and excellence in R&I, including its capacity to attract and retain the best talents worldwide. Geo-political considerations including economic security should be at the centre of the approach and varying degrees of cooperation should be considered based on an overall assessment of the benefit that could be derived by the Union towards addressing its priorities and global challenges while safeguarding the Union’s values and interests. In this framework, the Union’s financial interests should be safeguarded by, among other measures, guaranteeing full and real time access to auditable data via an interoperable IT-system, with harmonised data-standards, for the internal audit service and the European Court of Auditors. In cases of serious criminal investigations EPPO and OLAF should be granted access within their mandates, without prejudice to the applicable rules on personal data protection. To ensure the transparent use of Union’s resources, the Commission should put in place procedures enabling the audit of entities established in third countries that receive Union funding. Association to all or parts of the Programme should remain the most comprehensive form of cooperation. For EIC defence related activities, only entities established in third countries associated with the European Competitiveness Fund for defence activities should be eligible for funding. The Programme may support activities financed by the Global Europe programme provided they comply with the rules and objectives of this Regulation in line with the provisions on synergies. Any allocation of funds for defence related activities should fully respect the national security interests of the European Union's Member States. |
Amendment 18
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (24) Activities should reflect the importance of tackling the dramatic loss of biodiversity and contribute to the preservation and restoration of nature, ecosystems and their services. The integration of environmental science in activities is necessary to avoid damage to the environment, to maintain clean environment and to restore heathy ecosystems. | (24) Activities should reflect the importance of tackling the dramatic loss of biodiversity and contribute to the preservation and restoration of nature, ecosystems and their services. The integration of environmental science in activities is necessary to avoid damage to the environment, to maintain clean environment and to restore heathy ecosystems. The outcomes of these activities should also be conveyed to other EU policy areas. |
Amendment 19
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (25) The Programme acknowledges climate change as one of the biggest global and societal challenge and climate action as a driver for industrial competitiveness. Activities should reflect the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement. | (25) The Programme acknowledges climate change as one of the biggest global and societal challenge and climate action as factor relevant to industrial competitiveness, as well as a modern carbon-neutral industrial strategy. Activities should reflect the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and Just Transition legislation. Union research funding should respect the principle of technological neutrality. |
Amendment 20
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (26) Simplification in the Programme’s implementation is essential to ensure its accessibility and efficiency, particularly by reducing the administrative burden on beneficiaries and minimising the risk of errors. To this end, the Programme should primarily rely on lump sums as the default form of Union funding. Advancing efforts over the previous Framework Programmes to streamline funding rules and minimise errors, the reimbursement of personnel costs should also be further simplified by using personnel unit costs, which reduces complexity for participants and facilitates reporting. | (26) Simplification in the Programme’s implementation is essential to ensure its accessibility and efficiency, particularly by reducing the administrative burden on beneficiaries and minimising the risk of errors. To this end, the Programme should primarily rely on lump sums as the default form of Union funding, in particular for smaller or medium-scale projects The shift to simplified cost options or any other simplified form of financing provided for by this Regulation shall guarantee transparency and auditability, and shall preserve the rights of OLAF and the EPPO to conduct investigations within their mandate, and of the European Court of Auditors to carry out audits, effectively. Equal treatment shall likewise be ensured. Advancing efforts over the previous Framework Programmes to streamline funding rules and minimise errors, the reimbursement of personnel costs should also be further simplified by proposing the use of personnel unit costs, which reduces complexity for participants and facilitates reporting. Excessive administrative complexity disproportionately excludes actors and regions that have less resources, and therefore, simplification efforts, including with regard to reporting requirements for beneficiaries, are a key prerequisite for equitable access to the Programme in order to render a wider pool of actors across the Union to become more competitive in R&I. In this regard, simplification measures should be designed in a way to benefit applicants and beneficiaries, for example first-time applicants, SMEs and regional universities. The Programme should also promote smaller and more flexible consortia, modular project structures and staged participation in order to facilitate broader participation and effective inclusion across all territories of the Union. Simplification measures should be implemented in a proportionate and risk-based manner, based on a documented risk assessment, ensuring accessibility while safeguarding the Union’s financial interests through appropriate safeguards, including audit and control arrangements, as well as methodologies for determining payment amounts and mechanisms to prevent systematic overcompensation. Ultimately efficiency gains from simplification measures should lead to demonstrable savings in the Programme’s administrative budget. The Commission should therefore report annually to the discharge authority on the performance of these measures, including on administrative cost savings. |
Amendment 21
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (26 a) Projects that involve multiple sources of Union and national financing, long durations, large consortia, or are classified as high-risk present increased risks of overcompensation, irregularities, double funding and fraud, and require detailed financial reporting and verifiable expenditure data to ensure transparency, accountability, and sound financial management. To ensure transparency and sound financial management in the use of financing not linked to costs, the Commission should apply clear methodologies, including cost-plausibility checks and benchmarking against comparable actions, prevent overcompensation and double funding, and ensure effective monitoring and audit, without prejudicing the European Parliament’s budgetary oversight prerogatives. |
Amendment 22
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26 b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (26 b) The Programme should be implemented in full respect of the Union framework to protect the budget, including Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092. The Commission should ensure appropriate transparency and reporting to the European Parliament and the Council on measures affecting Programme spending adopted under that framework. In particular, the Commission should ensure that the control framework enables full traceability of operations and recipients and that data necessary for checks, audits and investigations are complete, reliable and made available through the single electronic data interchange area and the single gateway referred to in Article 31 on Access to Union funding of Regulation (EU) XXX [European Competitiveness Fund]. |
Amendment 23
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26 c (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (26 c) For grants implemented through financing not linked to costs or simplified cost options, the work programme or the award documentation shall specify the methodology for partial payments, reductions, suspensions and recoveries where conditions for payment are not met, including proportionality principles and the treatment of partial achievement. That methodology shall be applied without prejudice to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. |
Amendment 24
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26 d (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (26 d) To support the appropriate level of transparency that benefits the protection of the EU financial interests, the final recipient for support from the Programme should be the natural person or entity that de facto receives the EU funding. Government ministries, agencies, or bodies that oversee, regulate, or administer the funds should only be considered final recipients when they are themselves involved in the execution and direct application of the work or service and bear the associated costs, and should be recorded in a way that allows traceability of Union funds throughout the full implementation chain. |
Amendment 25
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26 e (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (26 e) While simplified cost options, including lump sum funding, contribute to reducing administrative burden and error rates, it is essential that the methodologies used to determine such amounts are based on robust cost-plausibility assessments and benchmarking against comparable actions, and are periodically reviewed to ensure sound financial management and value for money. |
Amendment 26
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
| Text proposed by the Commission | Unchanged text included in the compromise |
|---|---|
| (27) To accommodate specific organisational set-up, especially encountered in the Research and Innovation activities, it should be possible to declare as eligible costs in-kind contributions from third parties. To incentivise valorisation of results, it should be clarified that this should not be counted as revenues of the action. | (27) To accommodate specific organisational set-up, especially encountered in the Research and Innovation activities, it should be possible to declare as eligible costs in-kind contributions from third parties. To incentivise valorisation of results, it should be clarified that this should not be counted as revenues of the action. |
Amendment 27
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (30) The actions supported under this Regulation should accelerate or boost investments by addressing market failures or sub-optimal investment situations, in a proportionate manner, avoiding duplication or crowding out, and by incentivising private funding, and have Union added-value. Without prejudice to the application of Articles 107 and 108 TFEU to national resources, this should also ensure consistency between the actions under the Programme and the State aid rules, thereby avoiding undue distortions of competition in the internal market. | (30) The actions supported under this Regulation should accelerate or boost investments by addressing market failures or sub-optimal investment situations, in a proportionate manner, avoiding duplication or crowding out, and by incentivising private funding, and have Union added-value. Without prejudice to the application of Articles 107 and 108 TFEU to national resources, this should also ensure consistency between the actions under the Programme and the State aid rules, thereby avoiding undue distortions of competition in the internal market. The Parliament underlines that, in practice, rigid eligibility conditions and State aid constraints under shared-management innovation schemes may prevent high-risk, research-based and deep-tech start-ups – often operating in long pre-revenue phases – from accessing support, which undermines the objective of building a Union-wide pipeline of innovative companies. The Programme should therefore promote better alignment and complementarity between Horizon support and shared-management instruments, so that disruptive innovation with longer time-to-market horizons is not structurally excluded. |
Amendment 28
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (32 a) The increased use of pre-commercial procurement under the Programme, including the possibility of two-phase procedures and the acquisition of highly innovative first-of-a-kind solutions, may entail specific risks due to the limited experience of certain contracting authorities with innovative procurement models. To ensure sound financial management, transparency, and effective use of results, the Commission should provide guidance to contracting authorities and beneficiaries, including targeted capacity-building support for authorities with limited experience, notably in smaller Member States, and measures to facilitate the participation of SMEs and other smaller innovators, in particular as regards the prevention of conflicts of interest, the management of intellectual property rights, the ownership of and access to results, and the effective use of procured goods, services or works. |
Amendment 29
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 35
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (35) In accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council9 , Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2988/9510 ,(Euratom, EC) No 2185/9611 and (EU) 2017/193912 , the financial interests of the Union are to be protected through proportionate measures, including the prevention, detection, correction and investigation of irregularities and fraud, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, the imposition of administrative sanctions. In particular, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 and (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) is competent to investigate and prosecute fraud and other criminal offences affecting the financial interests of the Union as provided for in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council13 . In accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, any person or entity receiving Union funds is to fully cooperate in the protection of the Union’s financial interests, to grant the necessary rights and access to the Commission, OLAF, the European Court of Auditors and, as appropriate, to the EPPO, and to ensure that any third parties involved in the implementation of Union funds grant equivalent rights. | (35) In accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council9 , Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2988/9510 ,(Euratom, EC) No 2185/9611 and (EU) 2017/193912 , the financial interests of the Union are to be protected through proportionate measures, including the prevention, detection, correction and investigation of irregularities and fraud, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, the imposition of administrative sanctions. In particular, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 and (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) is competent to investigate and prosecute fraud and other criminal offences affecting the financial interests of the Union as provided for in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council13 . In accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, any person or entity receiving Union fundings under this Regulation, including in the form of blending operations such as financial instruments, is to fully cooperate in the protection of the Union’s financial interests, to grant the necessary rights and access to the Commission, OLAF, the European Court of Auditors and, as appropriate, to the EPPO, and to ensure that any third parties involved in the implementation of Union funds grant equivalent rights. |
| 9 Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 September 2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999,(OJ L248, 18.9.2013, p. 1. | 9 Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 September 2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999,(OJ L248, 18.9.2013, p. 1. |
| 10 Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial interests (OJ L 312, 23.12.95, p.1). | 10 Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial interests (OJ L 312, 23.12.95, p.1). |
| 11 Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities (OJ L292,15.11.96 , p.2). | 11 Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities (OJ L292,15.11.96 , p.2). |
| 12 Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 of 12 October 2017 implementing enhanced cooperation on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (‘the EPPO’) (OJ L283, 31.10.2017,, p.1). | 12 Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 of 12 October 2017 implementing enhanced cooperation on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (‘the EPPO’) (OJ L283, 31.10.2017,, p.1). |
| 13 Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2017 on the fight against fraud to the Union's financial interests by means of criminal law (OJ L 198, 28.7.2017, p. 29). | 13 Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2017 on the fight against fraud to the Union's financial interests by means of criminal law (OJ L 198, 28.7.2017, p. 29). |
Amendment 30
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 35 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (35 a) In order to strengthen the impact of the Programme, emphasis should be placed on performance and tangible results, measured through a clear and impact-first framework. Primary indicators should reflect the economic and industrial value generated by Union-funded innovation, including return on investment, market adoption, productivity growth and revenue growth attributable to supported innovations, as well as indicators such as industrial, economic and environmental impact, patents, scientific publications and exploitation potential. Output indicators, such as funding mobilised, the number of projects funded per sector and the number of start-ups created, should be used as complementary metrics to explain results rather than substitute for them. The Commission should publish, on an annual basis, clear and user-friendly performance summaries for each part of the Programme, including one-page overviews and interactive dashboards with machine-readable datasets. Programmes or funding streams that consistently fail to meet their impact targets should be subject to a mandatory review mechanism whereby they are automatically assessed for possible suspension or reallocation to more effective instruments. |
Amendment 31
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 35 b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (35 b) Procedural time limits should be established for evaluation, grant preparation and signature in order to ensure timely access to funding. This approach should facilitate access for SMEs and spin-offs, avoid the concentration of funding on a limited number of structures and contribute to reducing administrative delays Audit and control systems should evolve towards a simpler and more preventive approach, relying more extensively on digital tools and on mandatory training for beneficiaries and new applicants, in particular regarding personnel cost rules, which are a major source of error. |
Amendment 32
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 35 c (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (35 c) The use of funds under the Programme should be subject to the oversight of the European Parliament. Information on final beneficiaries and financed projects should be made available to the Parliament in a timely manner, and the relevant stakeholders should cooperate with the Parliament in its scrutiny work, including by providing information and participating in parliamentary hearings. |
Amendment 33
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 36
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (36) The Programme is to be implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU) XXX of the European Parliament and of the Council [Performance Regulation] which establishes the rules for the expenditure tracking and the performance framework for the budget, including rules for ensuring a uniform application of the principles of ‘do no significant harm’ and gender equality referred to in Article 33(2), points (d) and (f), as well as the provisions on accessibility for persons with disabilities reflected in Articles 17.3, 20.4 and 21.1 of Annex I, of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 respectively and in line with the accessibility requirements of Annex I and III of directive 2019/882, rules for monitoring and reporting on the performance of Union programmes and activities, rules for establishing a Union funding portal, rules for the evaluation of the programmes, as well as other horizontal provisions applicable to all Union programmes such as those on information, communication and visibility. | (36) The Programme is to be implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU) XXX of the European Parliament and of the Council [Performance Regulation] which establishes the rules for the expenditure tracking and the performance framework for the budget, including rules for ensuring a uniform application of the principles of ‘do no significant harm’ and gender equality referred to in Article 33(2), points (d) and (f), as well as the provisions on accessibility for persons with disabilities reflected in Articles 17.3, 20.4 and 21.1 of Annex I, of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 respectively and in line with the accessibility requirements of Annex I and III of directive 2019/882, rules for monitoring and reporting on the performance of Union programmes and activities, rules for establishing a Union funding portal, rules for the evaluation of the programmes, as well as other horizontal provisions applicable to all Union programmes such as those on information, communication and visibility. The rules for implementing those horizontal principles under this Programme should be proportionate and adapted to the nature of research and innovation and to the feasibility of achieving the objectives of the Programme as set out in this Regulation, and should not impose requirements beyond what is necessary to attain those objectives. Especially the freedom of fundamental research should not be hampered by deterministic, top-down restrictions. For reasons of legal certainty and transparency for applicants and beneficiaries, the specific modalities for implementing those horizontal principles under the Programme should be laid down in this Regulation. |
Amendment 34
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 36 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (36 a) In light of the fact that, according to the Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors for the financial year 2024, outstanding loans borrowed by the Union could exceed EUR 900 billion by 2027, which is almost ten times the level from 2020 before the introduction of the NGEU recovery package, and that rising borrowing costs pose a risk to future budgets and reduce the fiscal space for new priorities, this unprecedented fiscal pressure requires the Programme to demonstrate strict expenditure discipline and prioritise spending with the highest demonstrable added value. Administrative overhead costs, including the costs of executive agencies, should not grow disproportionately to the operational budget. |
Amendment 35
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 24 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (24 a) ‘final recipient’ means a contractor, sub-contractor, remunerated external expert or a person or entity receiving prizes or funds under the Programme. |
Amendment 36
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – indent 3
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – Align EU, national and regional priorities to create a pan-European research and innovation ecosystem. | – Align EU, national and regional priorities to create a pan-European research and innovation ecosystem to adequately address emerging priorities and challenges. |
Amendment 37
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – indent 7 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – Ensure that the Union funding under the Programme, including those under the EIC, is linked to measurable results, performance indicators and ex post evaluation assessing territorial impact, leverage of additional investment and long-term sustainability, whereas those results should be aligned with the EU’s policy objectives. |
Amendment 38
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – indent 7 b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – Ensure that all Programme spending are made available to support the discharge authority’s assessment of value for money. |
Amendment 39
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – indent 7 c (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – Assess the effectiveness, transparency and value for money of financial instruments used under the Programme, including equity investments and blended finance. |
Amendment 40
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1 a. The strategic orientation of the Programme shall be prepared in close cooperation with the Member States in order to ensure public accountability. |
Amendment 41
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (c a) the horizontal principles applicable to the Programme, including the ‘do no significant harm’ principle, gender equality including gender mainstreaming, and accessibility for persons with disabilities, shall be implemented in a manner that is proportionate and adapted to the nature of research and innovation actions and to the feasibility of achieving the objectives of the Programme set out in Article 3. |
Amendment 42
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (c b) the specific modalities for implementing the horizontal principles referred to in this Article shall be laid down in this Regulation and shall not impose requirements beyond what is necessary to attain the Programme’s objectives. |
Amendment 43
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c c (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (c c) ensure administrative simplification and the reduction of the burden for the benefit of applicants and beneficiaries, while ensuring transparency, accountability, and auditability. |
Amendment 44
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point a
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) EUR 44 079 000 000 for Part I ‘Excellent Science’, of which EUR 2 600 000 000 for non-nuclear direct actions of Joint Research Centre (JRC). | (a) EUR 44 079 000 000 for Part I ‘Excellent Science’, of which EUR (XXX) for the European Research Council (ERC), EUR (XXX) for Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and EUR 2 600 000 000 for non-nuclear direct actions of Joint Research Centre (JRC). |
Amendment 45
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3. The amount referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article and the amounts of additional resources referred to in Article 7 may also be used for technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the Programme, such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, information technology systems and platforms, information and communication activities, including corporate communication on the political priorities of the Union, and all other technical and administrative assistance or staff-related expenses incurred by the Commission for the management of the Programme. | 3. The amount referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article and the amounts of additional resources referred to in Article 7 may also be used for technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the Programme, such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, including the design and operation of systems and methodologies to ensure the quality and independent verification of performance and financial-management data, and interoperability with the single electronic data interchange area and single gateway referred to in Article 31 on Access to Union funding of Regulation (EU) XXX (European Competitiveness Fund), information technology systems and platforms, information and communication activities, including corporate communication on the political priorities of the Union, and all other technical and administrative assistance or staff-related expenses incurred by the Commission for the management of the Programme. |
Amendment 46
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3 a. The Commission shall ensure separate accounting of expenditure incurred under paragraph 3 for monitoring, control, audit, and evaluation purposes, including corporate IT systems used for those purposes. The Commission shall transmit annually to the European Parliament and the Council a breakdown of administrative and operational expenditure, distinguishing at least between: | |
| (a) monitoring and performance reporting; | |
| (b) ex ante and ex post controls; | |
| (c) audit and anti-fraud activities; | |
| (d) staff costs, including executive agency staff; | |
| (e) IT systems and platforms; | |
| (f) information and communication activities; | |
| (g) other overhead. |
Amendment 47
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. Resources allocated to Member States under shared management may, at their request, be made available to the Programme. The Commission shall implement those resources directly or indirectly in accordance with Article 62(1), point (a) or (c) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. They shall be additional to the amount referred to in Article 6(1) of this Regulation. Those resources shall be used for the benefit of the Member State concerned. Where the Commission has not entered into a legal commitment under direct or indirect management for additional amounts thus made available to the Programme, the corresponding uncommitted amounts may, at the request of the Member State concerned, be transferred back to one or more respective source programmes or their successors. | 2. Resources allocated to Member States under shared management may, at their request, be made available to the Programme. The Commission shall implement those resources directly or indirectly in accordance with Article 62(1), point (a) or (c) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. They shall be additional to the amount referred to in Article 6(1) of this Regulation. Those resources shall be used for the benefit of the Member State concerned. Where the Commission has not entered into a legal commitment under direct or indirect management for additional amounts thus made available to the Programme, the corresponding uncommitted amounts may, at the request of the Member State concerned, be transferred back to one or more respective source programmes or their successors. Additional resources from shared-management shall be designed, implemented and monitored in line with the partnership principle, while fully safeguarding Parliament’s roles as legislator, budgetary and discharge authority. |
Amendment 48
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. The Programme shall be implemented in synergy with other Union programmes. An action that has received a Union contribution from another programme may also receive a contribution under this Programme. The rules of the relevant Union programme shall apply to the corresponding contribution or a single set of rules may be applied to all contributions and a single legal commitment may be concluded. If the Union contribution is based on eligible costs, the cumulative support from the Union budget shall not exceed the total eligible costs of the action and may be calculated on a pro-rata basis in accordance with the documents setting out the conditions for support. | 1. The Programme shall be implemented in synergy with other Union programmes. An action that has received a Union contribution from another programme may also receive a contribution under this Programme, provided that multiple contributions do not cover the same costs. The rules of the relevant Union programme shall apply to the corresponding contribution or a single set of rules may be applied to all contributions and a single legal commitment may be concluded. If the Union contribution is based on eligible costs, the cumulative support from the Union budget shall not exceed the total eligible costs of the action and may be calculated on a pro-rata basis in accordance with the documents setting out the conditions for support. The Commission shall ensure coordination measures that enable the prevention and detection of double funding and the consistent application of eligibility and control standards across the Programme and, on a risk-based basis, verify that Union support granted under this Regulation and under other Union programmes does not finance the same costs multiple times, including by facilitating data exchange and using the data available via the systems referred to in Article 31 on Access to Union funding of Regulation (EU) XXX (European Competitiveness Fund), subject to applicable data-protection and security rules. |
Amendment 49
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2 a. Where an action receives combined or cumulative funding from the Union budget, the Commission shall ensure that the action is assigned a unique identifier and that the granting authority performs ex ante cross-checks and risk-based ex post checks to prevent double funding and to ensure traceability across programmes. |
Amendment 50
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2 b. Where actions are supported in combination with funding under shared management, the Commission and Member States should, where appropriate, promote practical arrangements facilitating access for innovative SMEs and start-ups, including by addressing cash-flow constraints and disproportionate requirements for financial guarantees at early stages, while ensuring sound financial management. |
Amendment 51
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3 a. The Commission and Member States shall ensure systematic cross-checking of funding under this Programme with other Union programmes and instruments in order to prevent double funding of the same action or beneficiary. |
Amendment 52
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 4
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. The Member States may finance actions to which a Competitiveness Seal was awarded. | 4. The Member States may finance actions to which a Competitiveness Seal was awarded. Such actions shall comply with applicable Union State aid rules and shall be implemented in a manner that prevents double funding. |
Amendment 53
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (e a) employ robust risk management mechanisms in place, and deploy effective sanctioning mechanisms for when the terms of the agreement are breached; |
Amendment 54
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point e b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (e b) ensure full due diligence of reporting project outcomes and transparency regarding the information on final beneficiaries in projects financed under association agreements; |
Amendment 55
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point e c (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (e c) introduce and implement strong measures on the prevention of conflict of interest. |
Amendment 56
Article 9 – paragraph 3
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3. For the purposes of paragraph 2, point (d), the third country shall grant the necessary rights and access required under Regulations (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 and (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013, and guarantee that enforcement decisions imposing a pecuniary obligation on the basis of Article 299 TFEU, as well as judgments and orders of the Court of Justice of the European Union, are enforceable. | 3. For the purposes of paragraph 2, point (d), the third country shall grant the necessary rights and access required under Regulations (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 and Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, to the Commission, OLAF and the European Court of Auditors, and guarantee that enforcement decisions imposing a pecuniary obligation on the basis of Article 299 TFEU, as well as judgments and orders of the Court of Justice of the European Union, are enforceable. |
Amendment 57
Article 9 – paragraph 5
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 5. The scope of association of each third country to the Programme shall take into account an analysis of the risks, notably those likely to affect the Union’s public order and security in relevant policy areas, including economic and research security, as well as benefits and the broader objective of driving economic growth and competitiveness of the Union through innovation. Accordingly, with the exception of EEA members, acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidate countries, third countries may be excluded from parts of the Programme in accordance with this Regulation or the association agreement itself. | 5. The scope of association of each third country to the Programme shall take into account an analysis of the risks likely to affect the Union’s public order and security in relevant policy areas, including economic and research security. The scope of association of each third country to the Programme shall also take into account an analysis of benefits and the broader objective of driving economic growth and competitiveness of the Union through innovation. Accordingly, with the exception of EEA members, acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidate countries, third countries may be excluded from parts of the Programme in accordance with this Regulation or the association agreement itself. |
Amendment 58
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. The Programme shall be implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, under direct management or under indirect management with bodies referred to in Article 62(1), point (c) of that Regulation. | 1. The Programme shall be implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, under direct management or under indirect management with bodies referred to in Article 62(1), point (c) of that Regulation while fully safeguarding Parliament’s roles as budgetary and discharge authority. |
Amendment 59
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. Where Union funding is provided in the form of a grant, funding shall be provided as financing not linked to cost, or as simplified cost options in particular through lump sums as well as unit costs for personnel, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. Funding may be provided in the form of actual eligible cost reimbursement only where the objectives of an action cannot be achieved otherwise. Where it is necessary to enable other sources of funding including co-investments with national resources subject to State aid rules, funding shall be provided in the form of actual eligible cost reimbursement or simplified cost options. | 4. Where Union funding is provided in the form of a grant, funding shall be provided in the form that is –considered most appropriate based on the nature and objectives of the action. As such, it may be provided as financing not linked to cost, or as simplified cost options in particular through lump sums as well as unit costs for personnel, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. Where the total estimated cost of an operation exceeds EUR 20 000 000, representing a large-scale investment, or necessary and appropriate, Union funding may be provided in the form of actual eligible cost reimbursement. Such funding or funding in the form of simplified cost options may also be provided where it is necessary to enable other sources of funding, including co-investments with national resources subject to State aid rules. |
Amendment 60
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4 a. The use of s lump sums as form of funding shall not diminish the audit and investigation rights of the European Court of Auditors, OLAF or the EPPO, nor reduce the level of assurance available to the discharge authority. The Commission shall, on the basis of a documented risk assessment, establish proportionate ex post verification mechanisms for lump sum funded actions. |
Amendment 61
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4 b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4 b. When funding is provided in the form of simplified cost options, the work programme or the award documentation shall provide justification on the appropriateness of the chosen implementation form and define objective, measurable and verifiable conditions for payment, including the evidence required to demonstrate achievement of outputs, results or milestones. In such cases, the work programmes shall specify: | |
| (a) the methodology for determining the amount; | |
| (b) the objectively verifiable milestones, targets or conditions for payment; | |
| (c) the procedure for verification of their fulfilment, including, where appropriate, independent verification; | |
| (d) the consequences of partial fulfilment, including proportional grant reductions and recoveries; and | |
| (e) the assessment of the reversal of measures and/or non-fulfilment of preconditions after completion of action. | |
| For grants implemented through simplified cost options, the work programme or the award documentation shall specify the methodology for reductions, suspensions and recoveries where conditions for payment are not met, including proportionality principles and the treatment of partial achievement. That methodology shall be applied without prejudice to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. |
Amendment 62
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 5
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 5. For the purposes of Article 153(3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, the evaluation committee may be composed partially or fully of independent external experts. | 5. For the purposes of Article 153(3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, the evaluation committee shall be composed partially or fully of independent external experts. Where external experts are used, the granting authority shall carry out appropriate checks prior to the award procedure and ensure documented management and absence of conflicts of interest, transparency in the selection of experts, and an appropriate level of independence and expertise commensurate with the scientific and academic merit, risk profile and scale of the action. Where applicable, evaluation committees shall include independent external experts. Where, due to duly justified reasons of urgency, security or confidentiality, independent external experts cannot participate, the authorising officer by delegation shall document the reasons and the compensatory safeguards applied to ensure transparency, equal treatment and the absence of conflicts of interest. With full respect for Union data protection rules, the names of the independent external experts shall be made available to the discharge authority upon request. |
Amendment 63
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 10a | |
| Transparency of beneficiaries and final recipients | |
| 1. All implementation forms shall enable the full traceability of Union funds. The Commission shall ensure transparency of Union support provided under this Regulation in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 and shall publish, in a machine-readable and searchable format, information on all consortial partners and final recipients of Union funding, including beneficiaries, contractors, sub-contractors and recipients, and, where applicable, beneficial owners, while respecting Union data protection rules. | |
| 2. The information published shall include at least the name, location (country), title of the action, the relevant part as referred to in Article 4 of this Regulation, the form of support, and the amount committed and paid. Any restriction of publication under this Article shall be necessary and proportionate and shall be documented; where publication is restricted, the Commission shall publish a non-confidential summary. | |
| 3. The choice of implementation form shall not affect the applicable rules on exclusion, conflict of interest, avoidance of double funding, nor the audit and investigation rights laid down in Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, and all beneficiaries, including contractors, sub-contractors and recipients, shall respect the audit rights of the European Court of Auditors. |
Amendment 64
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point b
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) reporting requirements; | (b) reporting requirements and transparency requirements for the accountability; |
Amendment 65
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (d a) the respective competences, obligations and operational responsibilities of the Commission and the other stakeholders for the purposes of sound financial management; |
Amendment 66
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (d b) the arrangements ensuring an adequate level of transparency, auditability and accountability in the implementation and monitoring of the Programme; |
Amendment 67
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point d c (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (d c) the detailed provisions governing financial contributions, including the conditions under which their level and form may be adapted, provided that the overall financial participation remains balanced, proportionate and consistent with the principles of sound financial management. |
Amendment 68
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 5 – point f a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (f a) be subject to mandatory independent evaluations no later than the fourth year of operation, assessing whether they have met their impact targets and delivered tangible results; where the evaluation concludes that a partnership has consistently failed to meet its impact targets, the Commission shall propose its termination or fundamental restructuring and shall reallocate the corresponding funding to more effective instruments; the results of such evaluations shall be transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council and made publicly available. |
Amendment 69
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. The ERC shall attract the most talented researchers from all over the world and establish the Union as a world-leading centre for research and innovation. | 2. The ERC shall seek to attract the most talented researchers from all over the world and contribute to establishing the Union as a world-leading centre for research and innovation. |
Amendment 70
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2 a. The ERC shall carry out its responsibilities free from political influence in the selection and financing of activities. Decisions concerning individual grants shall be based exclusively on scientific excellence, as determined through independent peer review, thereby safeguarding public confidence. |
Amendment 71
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1 a. For actions supported through blended finance or investment-only support under the EIC Accelerator, performance measurement should be impact-first: market adoption, revenue growth and return on investment attributable to EIC-supported innovations. The Commission shall report annually to the European Parliament on: | |
| (a) the number of supported companies that have reached profitability or achieved sustained revenue; | |
| (b) the leverage effect, measured as total co-investment mobilised per euro of Union equity; | |
| (c) an ex post assessment of whether EIC equity investments have complemented or displaced private capital that would otherwise have been available on comparable terms. | |
| This information shall be published in machine-readable format. |
Amendment 72
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. The Programme shall support organisations to create competitive, robust and connected innovation ecosystems and framework conditions. Synergies with Union, national and regional programmes shall be pursued to this end. | 1. The Programme shall support organisations to create competitive, robust and connected innovation ecosystems and framework conditions. In this regard, support to innovation ecosystems shall be based on clearly defined objectives, governance capacity, co-financing commitments and sustainability plans beyond the duration of Union funding. Synergies with Union, national and regional programmes shall be pursued to this end. |
Amendment 73
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. The Programme shall support activities to foster the integration of the knowledge triangle – higher education, research and innovation, and business – across the Union. | 2. The Programme shall support activities to foster the integration of the knowledge triangle – higher education, research and innovation, and business – across the Union. This shall include, where appropriate, cascade funding mechanisms and other tailored support formats enabling early-stage, student-led and university-based start-ups to access seed support and to connect to wider European innovation networks, particularly in widening and transition countries. |
Amendment 74
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 3
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3. The Policy Support Facility shall provide Member States and Associated Countries with practical expert support to design, implement and evaluate reforms that enhance the quality of their research and innovation investments, policies and systems. It shall contribute to building stronger and more effective national research and innovation systems and a more robust European Research Area. | 3. The Policy Support Facility shall provide Member States and Associated Countries with practical expert support to design, implement and evaluate reforms that enhance the quality of their research and innovation investments, policies and systems. It shall contribute to building stronger and more effective national research and innovation systems and a more robust European Research Area. This support may also cover guidance and expert assistance to national and regional authorities, particularly in widening and transition countries to design innovation support schemes that are better adapted to the needs of high-risk, research-based start-ups and to strengthen the pipeline from research results to market uptake, in complementarity with the Programme. |
Amendment 75
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 5 – point b a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b a) measures strengthening regional innovation ecosystems to build a sustainable pipeline of innovative SMEs and start-ups, including deep-tech ventures, enabling their effective participation in collaborative research and innovation projects and supporting the scaling of innovation across the Union. |
Amendment 76
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 11
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 11. In addition to the grounds set out in Article 132 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, award procedures and resulting legal commitments shall allow for termination where the objectives of the action are unlikely to be achieved at all or within the set timelines, or the action has lost its policy relevance. | 11. In addition to the grounds set out in Article 132 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, award procedures and resulting legal commitments shall allow for termination where the objectives of the action are unlikely to be achieved at all or within the set timelines, or the action has lost its policy relevance. The legal commitment shall specify the procedure for termination, including the beneficiary’s right to be heard, the evidence to be relied upon, and the financial consequences, including the methodology for determining any reduction, recovery or final payment. |
Amendment 77
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 12
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 12. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure may specify the eligibility criteria set out in this Regulation or set additional eligibility criteria for specific actions including to take into account specific policy requirements. | 12. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure may specify the eligibility criteria set out in this Regulation or set additional eligibility criteria for specific actions including to take into account specific policy requirements. In order to enhance accessibility and effective participation to research and innovation across all territories of the Union, the award procedure shall take into account the possibility to include modular approaches and smaller or more flexible consortia. |
Amendment 78
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 3 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3 a. Procedural time limits shall be set for key steps in the grant lifecycle, including evaluation, grant agreement preparation, and signature, to ensure timely access to funding. Clear and accessible rules shall be applied to facilitate the participation of SMEs and spin-offs, broaden the base of beneficiaries. |
Amendment 79
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 2 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2 a. Standardized templates shall be used for calculating indirect costs, with clear guidelines on eligible direct cost categories (e.g. personnel, equipment, travel). Training and FAQs should be provided to clarify common pitfalls (e.g. double-counting of overheads). |
Amendment 80
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 1 – point c
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (c) undertake best efforts to valorise their results, either directly or indirectly, including through transfer or licensing; if results are not valorised within a given period, the Commission may identify instruments and tools, such as those serving the valorisation strategy set out in Chapter III of Regulation (EU) XXX [European Competitiveness Fund], that the beneficiaries concerned shall use to facilitate the valorisation of those results; | (c) undertake best efforts to valorise their results, either directly or indirectly, including through transfer or licensing; if results are not valorised within a given period, the Commission may identify instruments and tools, such as those serving the valorisation strategy set out in Chapter III of Regulation (EU) XXX [European Competitiveness Fund], that the beneficiaries concerned shall use to facilitate the valorisation of those results, including instruments supporting regional and local deployment and the involvement of innovation ecosystems beyond leading hubs, and, where appropriate, support for university technology transfer structures and incentives for patenting, licensing and spin-offs; |
Amendment 81
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 1 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1 a. The Commission shall monitor the effective valorisation of results and assess the economic and societal return on the Union's investment, introducing corrective measures where necessary, in order to enhance the impact of and avoid the under-utilisation of publicly funded research. |
Amendment 82
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 5 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 5 a. The Commission shall develop and make publicly available guidance for the implementation of pre-commercial procurement under the Programme. Such guidance shall address, in particular, the prevention of conflicts of interest, the management of intellectual property rights, ownership of and access to results, the effective use of procured goods, services or works, and the mitigation of risks associated with innovative or first-of-a-kind solutions. The guidance shall ensure compliance with the principles of transparency, equal treatment, and sound financial management and shall include practical measures and tools to support first-time and less experienced applicants, with particular attention to SMEs and start-ups. |
Amendment 83
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 33a | |
| Protection of the financial interests of the Union | |
| 1. The Commission shall take appropriate measures to ensure that, when actions financed under this Regulation are implemented, the financial interests of the Union are protected by the application of preventive measures against fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities, by effective controls and, if irregularities are detected, by the recovery of the amounts wrongly paid and, where appropriate, by effective, proportionate and dissuasive administrative and financial penalties. | |
| 2. Control and audit systems shall be proportionate, simplified, and risk-based, with increased use of digital tools and preventive measures. Mandatory training, including online training, shall be provided to applicants and beneficiaries to ensure a proper understanding of applicable rules and best practices, in particular regarding personnel costs. | |
| 3. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out investigations related to all types of funding under this Regulation, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, within the remit of their mandate with a focus on serious crimes, systemic fraud and corruption affecting the financial interests of the Union. | |
| 4. Any person or entity receiving Union funds shall fully cooperate in the protection of the Union’s financial interests, shall grant the necessary rights and access to the Commission, OLAF, the European Court of Auditors and as appropriate the EPPO, and shall ensure that any third parties involved in the implementation of Union funds grant equivalent rights, without prejudice to the applicable rules on the protection of personal data, including the principles of proportionality and necessity. | |
| 5. Where funds are managed by bodies referred to in Article 62(1), point (c) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, the Commission shall ensure, by including relevant provisions in its agreements with those bodies, that the above-mentioned rights of OLAF, the European Court of Auditors and the EPPO are fully respected, and that a harmonised approach is applied across their respective mandates. |
Amendment 84
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 33b | |
| Reporting by the Commission to the European Parliament | |
| 1. The Commission shall report annually to the European Parliament on the use of derogations and exceptions from Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 applied in the implementation of the Programme and on the geographical distribution of funds. | |
| 2. The report shall cover, in particular, the use of: | |
| (a) direct award procedures and negotiated procedures without prior publication in public procurement; | |
| (b) direct grants and other derogations from competitive award procedures; | |
| (c) accelerated or simplified award and implementation procedures; | |
| (d) any other exceptional measures deviating from the standard rules of the Financial Regulation applicable to procurement, grants, financial instruments or budgetary guarantees. | |
| 3. The report shall include, for each category of derogation or exception: | |
| (a) the legal basis relied upon; | |
| (b) the justification for its application, including the circumstances and objectives pursued; | |
| (c) the number of cases concerned and the corresponding financial amounts; | |
| (d) information on the beneficiaries or contractors, in accordance with applicable transparency and data protection rules; | |
| (e) an assessment of the impact of such derogations transparency and value for money. | |
| 4. With regard to the geographical distribution of funds, the report shall provide information on the allocation of support for each of the four parts of the Programme among Member States, associated countries and, where applicable, third countries, including the type of funding instrument used. | |
| 5. The Commission shall transmit the report to the European Parliament by 31 July of the year following the end of the financial year in order to allow the European Parliament to exercise its budgetary control and discharge responsibilities under the Treaties. |
Amendment 85
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 c (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 33c | |
| Transparency, integrity and due diligence | |
| 1. The Commission shall ensure that support under this Regulation is not granted to, or for the benefit of, persons or entities subject to Union restrictive measures adopted under Article 215 TFEU, or to any other person or entity where awarding Union support would be prohibited under applicable Union law. | |
| 2. Applicants, beneficiaries, contractors, sub-contractors, implementing partners, financial intermediaries and final recipients shall provide, upon request and in accordance with applicable law, information on their beneficial ownership and control structure, including changes occurring during implementation, for the purpose of protecting the Union’s financial interests. | |
| 3. Implementing partners and financial intermediaries shall apply proportionate anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing due diligence in accordance with applicable Union and national law and shall include, in their procedures, checks for the Union support managed by them under this Regulation. | |
| 4. The Commission shall ensure that legal commitments and agreements provide for termination, suspension, reduction and recovery where paragraphs 1 to 3 are breached, without prejudice to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. | |
| 5. Legal entities receiving support under the European Innovation Council, including grant, blended finance, or equity support, shall ensure the publication of annual reports at the level of the supported action on the use of Union funding, progress, and outcomes, without prejudice to the applicable legal provisions on commercial confidentiality. Such reports shall be publicly accessible and, where appropriate, subject to independent audits to verify their accuracy. | |
| 6. For direct actions implemented by the Joint Research Centre, the Commission should ensure appropriate transparency regarding the prevention and management of conflicts of interest, in accordance with Article 61 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 and the applicable ethical rules. | |
| 7. To that end, the Joint Research Centre should make publicly available, on an annual basis, aggregated information on the policies, procedures, and measures in place to identify, prevent, and mitigate potential conflicts of interest, including in the context of collaborations with private entities, without prejudice to applicable rules on confidentiality. | |
| 8. Researchers, experts, and other persons involved in evaluations or advisory activities shall be subject to conflict-of-interest declaration and mitigation requirements in accordance with applicable Union law. |
Amendment 86
Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 9
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 9. Blended finance actions shall be suspended, amended or, if duly justified, terminated if measurable milestones are not reached or if the beneficiary refuses the investment support without a duly justified reason. | 9. Blended finance actions shall be suspended, amended or, if duly justified, terminated if measurable milestones are not reached, if the beneficiary fails to apply ethical standards as set out in EU policy guidelines, or if the beneficiary refuses the investment support without a duly justified reason. |
Annex: declaration of input 4 paragraphs
Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he included in his opinion input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the opinion, prior to the adoption thereof in committee, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:
| 1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register |
| Le Conseil des rectrices et des recteurs francophones (212751635794-10) |
| 2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies |
| None |
The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for opinion.
Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament's Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.
Procedure pages
How the committees handled the text, and how their members voted on it.
Procedure – committee asked for opinion 1 paragraph
| Title | 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 | |
| References | COM(2025)0543 – C10-0164/2025 – 2025/0543(COD) | |
| Committee(s) responsible Date announced in plenary | ITRE 23.10.2025 | |
| Opinion by Date announced in plenary | CONT 23.10.2025 | |
| Rapporteur for opinion Date appointed | Olivier Chastel 15.1.2026 | |
| Discussed in committee | 2.3.2026 | |
| Date adopted | 24.3.2026 | |
| Result of final vote | +: –: 0: | 22 0 7 |
Final vote by roll call by the committee asked for opinion 3 paragraphs
22 · For
- ECR
- Bert-Jan Ruissen, Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza
- EPP
- Georgios Aftias, François-Xavier Bellamy, Caterina Chinnici, Niclas Herbst, Monika Hohlmeier, Andreas Schwab, Marion Walsmann, Tomáš Zdechovský
- Patriots
- Ondřej Knotek
- Renew
- Gilles Boyer, Olivier Chastel, Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu
- S&D
- Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Andi Cristea, Maria Guzenina, Giuseppe Lupo, Marit Maij, Thomas Pellerin-Carlin
- Greens
- Daniel Freund, Erik Marquardt
0 · Against
7 · Abstained
- ECR
- Dick Erixon
- ESN
- Arno Bausemer
- Patriots
- Tamás Deutsch, Virginie Joron, Pierre Pimpie
- The Left
- Rudi Kennes, Pasquale Tridico