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amendment list, 18 May 2026

Establishing the European Competitiveness Fund ('ECF’), including the specific programme for defence research and innovation activities

Document ITRE-AM-788899 · (COM(2025)0555 – 2025/0555(COD))

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

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Text 867 paragraphs

Amendment 2288

Jana Nagyová, Ondřej Knotek, Tomáš Kubín, Klara Dostalova, Afroditi Latinopoulou, Anna Bryłka

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The Project Advisory shall be made available for repayable and non-repayable instruments. Actions and activities supported under this chapter shall contribute to the general objectives set out in Article 3(1) and shall support and complement, where relevant, activities under the other chapters.1. The Project Advisory shall be made available for repayable and non-repayable instruments. Actions and activities supported under this chapter shall contribute to the general objectives set out in Article 3(1) and shall support and complement, where relevant, activities under the other Chapters (IV, V, VI and VII). Each Member State shall establish at least one national contact point for advisory services to businesses.

Or. en

Amendment 2289

Dimitris Tsiodras

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The Project Advisory shall be made available for repayable and non-repayable instruments. Actions and activities supported under this chapter shall contribute to the general objectives set out in Article 3(1) and shall support and complement, where relevant, activities under the other chapters.1. The Project Advisory shall be made available for repayable and non-repayable instruments. Actions and activities supported under this chapter shall contribute to the general objectives set out in Article 3(1) and shall support and complement, where relevant, activities under the other chapters (IV, V, VI and VII). Each Member State may establish at least one national contact point for advisory services to businesses.

Or. en

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Amendment 2290

Christian Ehler, Oliver Schenk, Matej Tonin, Adina Vălean, Pilar del Castillo Vera, Hildegard Bentele, Angelika Niebler, Eszter Lakos, Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Susana Solís Pérez, Dimitris Tsiodras

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The Project Advisory shall be made available for repayable and non-repayable instruments. Actions and activities supported under this chapter shall contribute to the general objectives set out in Article 3(1) and shall support and complement, where relevant, activities under the other chapters.1. The Project Advisory shall be made available for repayable and non-repayable instruments and shall contribute, where relevant, to addressing the priorities and market failures identified pursuant to Article 14a. Actions and activities supported under this chapter shall contribute to the general objectives set out in Article 3(1) and shall support and complement, where relevant, activities under the other chapters.

Or. en

Amendment 2291

Aura Salla

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The Project Advisory shall be made available for repayable and non-repayable instruments. Actions and activities supported under this chapter shall contribute to the general objectives set out in Article 3(1) and shall support and complement, where relevant, activities under the other chapters.1. The Project Advisory shall be made available for repayable and non-repayable instruments and shall contribute, where relevant, to addressing the priorities and market failures identified pursuant to Article 14a. Actions and activities supported under this chapter shall contribute to the general objectives set out in Article 3(1) and shall support and complement, where relevant, activities under the other chapters.

Or. en

Amendment 2292

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 2 – introductory part

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. A centralised access to advisory and business acceleration services shall be provided, which may include:2. A centralised access to advisory and business acceleration services shall be provided, which shall include:

Or. en

Amendment 2293

Radan Kanev

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point a

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) investment advisory services, including market development activities and advisory support for the identification, preparation, development, structuring, procuring and implementation of investment projects, and for enhancing the capacity of project promoters and financial intermediaries to implement financing and investment operations and improve the understanding and use of financial instruments to exploit their full potential. Such support may cover any stage of the life cycle of a project or financing of a supported entity;(a) investment advisory services, including market development activities and advisory support for the identification, preparation, development, structuring, procuring and implementation of investment projects, and for enhancing the capacity of project promoters and financial intermediaries to implement financing and investment operations and improve the understanding and use of financial instruments to exploit their full potential. including to regional and local authorities. Such support may cover any stage of the life cycle of a project or financing of a supported entity;

Or. en

Amendment 2294

Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point a

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) investment advisory services, including market development activities and advisory support for the identification, preparation, development, structuring, procuring and implementation of investment projects, and for enhancing the capacity of project promoters and financial intermediaries to implement financing and investment operations and improve the understanding and use of financial instruments to exploit their full potential. Such support may cover any stage of the life cycle of a project or financing of a supported entity;(a) investment advisory services, including market development activities and advisory support for the identification, preparation, development, structuring, procuring and implementation of investment projects in the EU, and for enhancing the capacity of project promoters and financial intermediaries to implement financing and investment operations and improve the understanding and use of financial instruments to exploit their full potential. Such support may cover any stage of the life cycle of a project or financing of a supported entity;

Or. ro

Amendment 2295

Yvan Verougstraete, Brigitte van den Berg, Morten Løkkegaard, Christophe Grudler, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Bart Groothuis

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) business coaching and acceleration services targeting potential ECF beneficiaries and other project promoters, including SMEs and mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups, supporting and facilitating their access to ECF funding and financing, and facilitating matchmaking with private investors and promoting financial literacy of entrepreneurs, including understanding of the opportunities offered by capital market based financing;(b) business coaching and acceleration services targeting potential ECF beneficiaries and other project promoters, including SMEs and mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups, supporting and facilitating their access to ECF funding and financing, and facilitating matchmaking with private investors and promoting financial literacy of entrepreneurs, including understanding of the opportunities offered by capital market based financing, and supporting efforts to protect their research and innovation investments by obtaining intellectual property titles, such as patents;

Or. en

Amendment 2296

Nicolás González Casares, Mohammed Chahim, Elena Sancho Murillo, Lina Gálvez, Yannis Maniatis, Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, Annalisa Corrado, Christophe Clergeau, Bruno Tobback, Sofie Eriksson, Niels Fuglsang

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) business coaching and acceleration services targeting potential ECF beneficiaries and other project promoters, including SMEs and mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups, supporting and facilitating their access to ECF funding and financing, and facilitating matchmaking with private investors and promoting financial literacy of entrepreneurs, including understanding of the opportunities offered by capital market based financing;(b) business coaching and acceleration services targeting potential ECF beneficiaries and other project promoters, including SMEs and mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups, as well as local and regional authorities, and social economy entities with the aim of supporting and facilitating their access to ECF funding and financing, and facilitating matchmaking with private investors and promoting financial literacy of entrepreneurs, including understanding of the opportunities offered by capital market based financing;

Or. en

Amendment 2297

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) business coaching and acceleration services targeting potential ECF beneficiaries and other project promoters, including SMEs and mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups, supporting and facilitating their access to ECF funding and financing, and facilitating matchmaking with private investors and promoting financial literacy of entrepreneurs, including understanding of the opportunities offered by capital market based financing;(b) business coaching and acceleration services targeting potential ECF beneficiaries and other project promoters, including non-for-profit entities, social economy entities, SMEs and small mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups, supporting and facilitating their access to ECF funding and financing, and facilitating matchmaking with private investors and promoting financial literacy of entrepreneurs, including understanding of the opportunities offered by capital market based financing;

Or. en

Amendment 2298

Radan Kanev

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) business coaching and acceleration services targeting potential ECF beneficiaries and other project promoters, including SMEs and mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups, supporting and facilitating their access to ECF funding and financing, and facilitating matchmaking with private investors and promoting financial literacy of entrepreneurs, including understanding of the opportunities offered by capital market based financing;(b) business coaching and acceleration services targeting potential ECF beneficiaries and other project promoters, including SMEs and mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups, regional and local authorities, supporting and facilitating their access to ECF funding and financing, and facilitating matchmaking with private investors and promoting financial literacy of entrepreneurs, including understanding of the opportunities offered by capital market based financing;

Or. en

Amendment 2299

Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) business coaching and acceleration services targeting potential ECF beneficiaries and other project promoters, including SMEs and mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups, supporting and facilitating their access to ECF funding and financing, and facilitating matchmaking with private investors and promoting financial literacy of entrepreneurs, including understanding of the opportunities offered by capital market based financing;(b) EU-wide business coaching and acceleration services targeting potential ECF beneficiaries and other project promoters, including SMEs and mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups, supporting and facilitating their access to ECF funding and financing, and facilitating matchmaking with private investors and promoting financial literacy of entrepreneurs, including understanding of the opportunities offered by capital market based financing;

Or. ro

Amendment 2300

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b a) capacity-building and advisory support for regional and local authorities, in line with their competences, to strengthen their ability to identify, prepare, develop, structure and implement investment projects under the ECF, and to enhance the geographic coverage and territorial uptake and deployment of ECF-supported actions;

Or. en

Amendment 2301

Mirosława Nykiel, Borys Budka, Adam Jarubas, Krzysztof Hetman, Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b a) tailored project advisory and proposal screening services supporting first-time applicants, aimed at reducing barriers to entry and facilitating successful participation and contribution; as well as strengthening national advisory structures supporting international networking and consortia building.

Or. en

Amendment 2302

Jana Nagyová, Ondřej Knotek, Tomáš Kubín, Klara Dostalova, András Gyürk, Afroditi Latinopoulou, Anna Bryłka

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b a) tailored project advisory and proposal screening services supporting first-time applicants, aimed at reducing barriers to entry and facilitating successful participation and contribution; as well as strengthening national advisory structures supporting international networking and consortia building.

Or. en

Amendment 2303

Dimitris Tsiodras

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
tailored project advisory and proposal screening services supporting first-time applicants, aimed at reducing barriers to entry and facilitating successful participation and contribution as well as strengthening national advisory structures supporting international networking and consortium building;

Or. en

Amendment 2304

Michał Kobosko, Martin Hojsík, Ivars Ijabs, Lucia Yar, Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, Krzysztof Śmiszek

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b a) tailored project advisory and proposal screening services supporting first-time applicants, aimed at reducing barriers to entry and facilitating successful participation and contribution, as well as strengthening national advisory structures supporting international networking and consortia building.

Or. en

Amendment 2305

Ondřej Krutílek

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b a) specific advisory services for first-time applicants and Member States referred to in paragraph 3a of Article 12;

Or. en

Amendment 2306

Morten Løkkegaard, Andreas Glück, Yvan Verougstraete, Bart Groothuis

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2 a. For start-ups and SMEs, access to advisory and business acceleration services shall be provided through the Start-up Gateway referred to in Article 29(1a).

Or. en

Amendment 2307

Radan Kanev

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions.3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. and shall provide advisory and capacity building for regional and local authorities to design and implement investment projects aligned with ECF objectives, including support for pooling with other Union and national funds. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions.

Or. en

Amendment 2308

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions.3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with Programme Managers under Horizon Europe Regulation as well as with ECF Programme Managers, industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions, in particular regarding skills investment and development including measures to support workers in the just transition.

Or. en

Amendment 2309

Christian Ehler, Oliver Schenk, Matej Tonin, Adina Vălean, Pilar del Castillo Vera, Hildegard Bentele, Angelika Niebler, Eszter Lakos, Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Susana Solís Pérez, Dimitris Tsiodras

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions.3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development, taking due account, where appropriate, of the strategic portfolios, technological developments and investment gaps identified by the Economic and Technological Advisory Council pursuant to Article 14a . Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions.

Or. en

Amendment 2310

Aura Salla

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions.3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development, taking due account, where appropriate, of the strategic portfolios, technological developments and investment gaps identified by the Economic and Technological Advisory Council pursuant to Article 14a . Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions.

Or. en

Amendment 2311

Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions.3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters and regional and local project pipelines, including those developed under EU Missions and innovation partnerships. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions.

Or. en

Amendment 2312

Katri Kulmuni, Emma Wiesner

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions.3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances, local and regional authorities, and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions.

Or. en

Justification

The support for the development of project pipelines and investments projects should also be open to local and regional authorities which can via public procurement support the uptake of new technologies/ products.

Amendment 2313

Laura Ballarín Cereza

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions.3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions, such as value chain mapping.

Or. en

Justification

Having a complete and thorough insight on the full value chain of certain clusters is a prerequisite for many of the subsequent possible measures. Therefore, obtaining this insight through mapping of the value chain should be part of the project advisory trajectory.

Amendment 2314

Letizia Moratti, Massimiliano Salini, Fulvio Martusciello

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions.3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances, business organisations and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions.

Or. en

Amendment 2315

Bruno Tobback, Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, Yannis Maniatis, Daniel Attard, Nicolás González Casares, Giorgio Gori

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions.3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances, local and regional authorities, and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions.

Or. en

Amendment 2316

Dan Nica, Borys Budka, Tsvetelina Penkova

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3 a. tailored project advisory and proposal screening services supporting first-time applicants, aimed at reducing barriers to entry and facilitating successful participation and contribution; as well as strengthening national advisory structures supporting international networking and consortia building.

Or. en

Justification

ECF resources should be equally spent in all Member States avoiding concentration only in some.

Amendment 2317

Borys Budka, Danuše Nerudová, Davor Ivo Stier, Nikolina Brnjac, Eszter Lakos, Karlo Ressler, Miriam Lexmann, Adam Jarubas, Krzysztof Hetman, Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz, Mirosława Nykiel, Iuliu Winkler, Loránt Vincze, Andrzej Halicki, Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Inese Vaidere, Tomáš Zdechovský, Siegfried Mureşan, Ioan-Rareş Bogdan, Daniel Buda, Gheorghe Falcă, Adina Vălean, Romana Tomc, Jan Farský, Rasa Juknevičienė, Andrey Kovatchev, Andrey Novakov, Ilia Lazarov, Eva Maydell, Sandra Kalniete

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3 a. 30% of the budget allocated to the Project Advisory should be used to implement actions targeted to start-ups and first time applicants.

Or. en

Amendment 2318

Radan Kanev

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 4

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4. The Commission may conclude advisory agreements with advisory partners and service providers in line with the needs of each policy windows. The Commission and the advisory partners, including the EIB Group, shall cooperate closely with a view to ensuring efficiency, synergies and effective geographic coverage across the Union, while taking account of existing structures and work.4. The Commission may conclude advisory agreements with advisory partners and service providers in line with the needs of each policy windows. The Commission and the advisory partners, including the EIB Group, shall cooperate closely with a view to ensuring efficiency, synergies and effective geographic coverage across the Union, with particular attention to less-developed and transition regions, while, including, where relevant, those supported under cohesion policy, while taking account of existing structures and work.

Or. en

Amendment 2319

Jana Nagyová, Ondřej Knotek, Tomáš Kubín, Klara Dostalova, Afroditi Latinopoulou, Anna Bryłka

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 4

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4. The Commission may conclude advisory agreements with advisory partners and service providers in line with the needs of each policy windows. The Commission and the advisory partners, including the EIB Group, shall cooperate closely with a view to ensuring efficiency, synergies and effective geographic coverage across the Union, while taking account of existing structures and work.4. The Commission may conclude advisory agreements with advisory partners and service providers in line with the needs of each policy windows. The Commission and the advisory partners, including the EIB Group and national promotional banks or institutions acting as partners of the EIB Group, shall cooperate closely with a view to ensuring efficiency, synergies and effective geographic coverage across the Union, while taking account of existing structures and work.

Or. en

Amendment 2320

Dimitris Tsiodras

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 4

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4. The Commission may conclude advisory agreements with advisory partners and service providers in line with the needs of each policy windows. The Commission and the advisory partners, including the EIB Group, shall cooperate closely with a view to ensuring efficiency, synergies and effective geographic coverage across the Union, while taking account of existing structures and work.4. The Commission may conclude advisory agreements with advisory partners and service providers in line with the needs of each policy windows. The Commission and the advisory partners, including the EIB Group and national promotional banks or institutions acting as partners of the EIB Group, shall cooperate closely with a view to ensuring efficiency, synergies and effective geographic coverage across the Union, while taking account of existing structures and work.

Or. en

Amendment 2321

Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 4

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4. The Commission may conclude advisory agreements with advisory partners and service providers in line with the needs of each policy windows. The Commission and the advisory partners, including the EIB Group, shall cooperate closely with a view to ensuring efficiency, synergies and effective geographic coverage across the Union, while taking account of existing structures and work.4. The Commission may conclude advisory agreements with advisory partners and service providers in line with the needs of each policy windows. The Commission and the advisory partners, including the EIB Group, shall cooperate closely with a view to ensuring efficiency, synergies and effective geographic coverage across the Union and across regional and local innovation ecosystems, while taking account of existing structures and work.

Or. en

Amendment 2322

Dimitris Tsiodras

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 4 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4 a. The Commission shall support the establishment and operation in Member States of single national contact points, including advisory and other similar existing structures at national level, the provision of technical assistance, to be managed by the Member States, which may, at their discretion, further extend such advisory services to national and sub-national level. Advisory services and related technical assistance managed by the Member State pursuant to this Article shall constitute eligible actions for funding under Article 4(2) of ECF contributing to achievement of objectives set out in Article 3(1)(a). The Commission shall ensure the timely and effective sharing of relevant information with national advisory authorities, enabling swift and seamless implementation of program updates and conditions at national and sub-national levels.

Or. en

Amendment 2323

Jana Nagyová, Ondřej Knotek, Tomáš Kubín, Klara Dostalova, Afroditi Latinopoulou, Anna Bryłka

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 4 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4 a. The Commission shall support the establishment and operation in Member States of single national contact points, including advisory and other similar existing structures at national level, the provision of technical assistance, to be managed by the Member States, which may, at their discretion, further extend such advisory services to national and sub-national level. Advisory services and related technical assistance managed by the Member State pursuant to this Article shall constitute eligible actions for funding under Article 4(2) of ECF contributing to achievement of objectives set out in Article 3(1)(a). The Commission shall ensure the timely and effective sharing of relevant information with national advisory authorities, enabling swift and seamless implementation of program updates and conditions at national and sub-national levels.

Or. en

Amendment 2324

Dan Nica, Borys Budka, Tsvetelina Penkova

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 4 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4 a. The Commission shall support the establishment and operation in Member States of single national contact points, including advisory and other similar existing structures at national level, the provision of technical assistance, to be managed by the Member States, which may, at their discretion, further extend such advisory services to national and sub-national level. The Commission shall ensure the timely and effective sharing of relevant information with national advisory authorities, enabling swift and seamless implementation of program updates and conditions at national and sub-national levels.

Or. en

Justification

ECF resources should be equally spent in all Member States avoiding concentration only in some.

Amendment 2325

Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 6

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
6. When implementing the Project Advisory, the Commission, its advisory partners and other service providers shall, when appropriate, collaborate with other Union or national public or private advisory and support service providers, including the EU for Business Network.6. When implementing the Project Advisory, the Commission, its advisory partners and other service providers shall, when appropriate, collaborate with other Union or national public or private advisory and support service providers, including the EU for Business Network and Union innovation partnerships and networks operating at regional and local level.

Or. en

Amendment 2326

Letizia Moratti, Massimiliano Salini, Fulvio Martusciello

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 6

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
6. When implementing the Project Advisory, the Commission, its advisory partners and other service providers shall, when appropriate, collaborate with other Union or national public or private advisory and support service providers, including the EU for Business Network.6. When implementing the Project Advisory, the Commission, its advisory partners and other service providers shall, when appropriate, collaborate with other Union or national public or private advisory and support service providers, particularly European and National business organisations and the EU for Business Network.

Or. en

Amendment 2327

Paolo Borchia, Isabella Tovaglieri, Raffaele Stancanelli

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 6

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
6. When implementing the Project Advisory, the Commission, its advisory partners and other service providers shall, when appropriate, collaborate with other Union or national public or private advisory and support service providers, including the EU for Business Network.6. When implementing the Project Advisory, the Commission, its advisory partners and other service providers shall, when appropriate, collaborate with other Union or national public or private advisory and support service providers, especially national business organisations and the EU for Business Network.

Or. en

Justification

Collaboration with business organisations when implementing Project Advisory services should be a standard requirement, not merely an option. Removing the 'when appropriate' qualifier ensures consistent outreach to the smallest firms and maximises the effectiveness of proximity-based advisory services.

Amendment 2328

Julie Rechagneux, Aleksandar Nikolic, Mélanie Disdier

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 6 – point a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) Irrespective of the instrument of budget implementation for the acquisition or provision of advisory services, providers and recipients of the services shall be selected in accordance with the principles of transparency, equal treatment and avoidance of conflicts of interest, including conflicting professional interests.

Or. en

Amendment 2329

Julie Rechagneux, Aleksandar Nikolic, Mélanie Disdier

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 6 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
6 a. Advisory partners contributing to the ECF shall demonstrate proven technical, industrial and financial expertise, comply with the highest professional standards and recognised best industry practices, and be subject to robust safeguards regarding the prevention, detection and management of any actual or potential conflict of interest, in accordance with Article 61 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.

Or. en

Amendment 2330

Jana Nagyová, Ondřej Knotek, Tomáš Kubín, Klara Dostalova, Afroditi Latinopoulou, Anna Bryłka

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 6 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
6 a. Project advisory shall primarily focus on providing technical assistance to less experienced entities or first-time applicants in order to achieve effective use of Union financial resources.

Or. en

Amendment 2331

Julie Rechagneux, Aleksandar Nikolic, Mélanie Disdier

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 6 b (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
6 b. Where advisory services are implemented through external contractors, consultants or private advisory firms, the Commission shall ensure that the selection procedures, contractual arrangements, remuneration mechanisms and monitoring obligations preserve the independence, impartiality and objectivity of the advice provided, prevent regulatory capture, undue influence or preferential treatment, and ensure the protection of commercially sensitive information and the Union’s strategic interests.

Or. en

Amendment 2332

Jana Nagyová, Ondřej Knotek, Tomáš Kubín, Klara Dostalova, Afroditi Latinopoulou, Anna Bryłka

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 6 b (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
6 b. The Commission shall ensure that project advisory services are accessible across the Union, including in less developed, outermost regions and in transition and widening countries, in order to facilitate fair access to Union support.

Or. en

Amendment 2333

Jana Nagyová, Ondřej Knotek, Tomáš Kubín, Klara Dostalova, Afroditi Latinopoulou, Anna Bryłka

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 6 c (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
6 c. Each Member State shall appoint at least one national contact point to facilitate access to Project Advisory, in particular for start-ups and first-time applicants. Member States may also establish one or more sub-national contact points. The Commission, its advisory partners and other service providers shall cooperate with these national and sub-national contact points to ensure the timely dissemination of information and facilitate access to advisory services. The functioning of such contact points shall constitute eligible actions for funding under Article 4(2)(a).

Or. en

Amendment 2334

Julie Rechagneux, Aleksandar Nikolic, Mélanie Disdier

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 6 c (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
6 c. The selection, mandates and remuneration of advisory partners shall be carried out in a transparent and proportionate manner. The Commission shall ensure regular monitoring, evaluation and audit of the performance, integrity and compliance of advisory partners, and shall provide for appropriate corrective measures, suspension, exclusion, financial penalties or termination mechanisms in the event of non-compliance with the requirements laid down under this Regulation.

Or. en

Amendment 2335

Jana Nagyová, Ondřej Knotek, Tomáš Kubín, Klara Dostalova, Afroditi Latinopoulou, Anna Bryłka

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 6 d (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
6 d. 30% of the budget allocated to the Project Advisory shall be used to implement actions targeted to start-ups, first-time applicants and less experienced applicants.

Or. en

Amendment 2336

Paolo Borchia, Isabella Tovaglieri, Raffaele Stancanelli

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions.1. 'EU for Business' Network shall be established as a successor to the Enterprise Europe Network to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on micro-enterprises, SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions. The Network shall ensure a broad involvement of relevant stakeholders, including business associations, with a particular focus on facilitating micro-enterprises' and SMEs' effective access to funding and enhancing programme uptake. Member States and the Commission shall ensure open access especially for the most representative business organisations.

Or. en

Justification

The EU for Business Network should build on the experience and established structures of the Enterprise Europe Network. Business associations with strong territorial roots serving micro-enterprises must be meaningfully involved to ensure that the Network delivers qualified, proximity-based services and reaches the full range of European businesses.

Amendment 2337

Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions.1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage through the presence of local hubs with the appropriate expertise and proximity to effectively support the businesses, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions. It shall leverage growth by working with SMEs, clusters and RTOs via indirect support services along the entire value creation chain which is complementary to the direct investment and financial instruments under this regulation.

Or. en

Amendment 2338

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions.1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive, sustainable, and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, social economy entities , startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions, and shall include a dedicated work stream for innovative starts-up and scale-ups.
The network shall have dedicated work streams for the digital transformation and for the sustainable transformation.

Or. en

Amendment 2339

Letizia Moratti, Massimiliano Salini, Fulvio Martusciello

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions.1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on micro, SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions. The Network shall ensure broad involvement of relevant stakeholders, including industry and business organisations.

Or. en

Amendment 2340

Katri Kulmuni

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions.1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, through the presence of local hubs with the appropriate expertise and proximity to effectively support the businesses, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions

Or. en

Justification

The future Network should maintain a business-driven approach, delivering services that are tailored to the specific needs of companies and that leverage the specific characteristics and points of strengths of each entity. In this context, reinforcing the regional dimension of the Network and ensuring an adequate budget will be essential to guarantee its success.

Amendment 2341

Jana Nagyová, Ondřej Knotek, Tomáš Kubín, Klara Dostalova, Afroditi Latinopoulou, Anna Bryłka

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions.1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established as a successor to the Enterprise Europe Network to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of member states and regions in the Union, including the less developed regions, transition regions, insular areas and the Union outermost regions.

Or. en

Amendment 2342

Dimitris Tsiodras

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions.1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of Member States and regions in the Union, including the less developed regions, transition regions, insular areas and the Union outermost regions.

Or. en

Amendment 2343

Krzysztof Hetman, Alexander Bernhuber, Adam Jarubas, Norbert Lins, Céline Imart, Paulo do Nascimento Cabral, Carmen Crespo Díaz, Herbert Dorfmann, Stefan Köhler, Daniel Buda, Maria Walsh

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions.1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions, rural regions and the Union outermost regions.

Or. en

Amendment 2344

Matej Tonin, Davor Ivo Stier

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions.1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups, small mid-cap and mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions.

Or. en

Amendment 2345

Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions.1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the internal market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions.

Or. ro

Amendment 2346

Rihards Kols

on behalf of the ECR Group

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1 a. The EU for Business Network shall include, as part of its operational coverage, dedicated advisory and pipeline-building services targeted at SMEs, mid-caps and project promoters established in Member States bordering the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus or Ukraine, in particular to support their participation in actions implemented under the policy windows referred to in Article 1(2). These services shall include support in identifying calls, structuring consortia, navigating security clearance procedures, and accessing the ECF InvestEU Instrument.

Or. en

Justification

Member States bordering the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus or Ukraine face documented structural barriers in accessing Union competitiveness funding, including limited consortium-building capacity, a less developed venture capital ecosystem and additional security-clearance procedures linked to dual-use components of certain calls. The EU for Business Network, as a single Union-level advisory infrastructure, is the appropriate vehicle for closing this gap without creating an additional layer of bureaucracy.

Amendment 2347

Mirosława Nykiel, Borys Budka, Adam Jarubas, Krzysztof Hetman, Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1 a. The Network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all Member States and types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions, transition regions, regions facing decarbonisation challenges, insular areas and the Union outermost regions.

Or. en

Amendment 2348

Christian Ehler, Oliver Schenk, Matej Tonin, Adina Vălean, Pilar del Castillo Vera, Hildegard Bentele, Angelika Niebler, Eszter Lakos, Wouter Beke, Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Susana Solís Pérez, Dimitris Tsiodras

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1 a. The Commission shall provide for the EU4Business Network centralized services enabling the network to carry out its obligations. These services should set technological and operational standards to enable cross-border collaboration of network partners, as well as platforms for the exchange of data.

Or. en

Amendment 2349

Aura Salla

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1 a. The Commission shall provide for the EU4Business Network centralized services enabling the network to carry out its obligations. These services should set technological and operational standards to enable cross-border collaboration of network partners, as well as platforms for the exchange of data.

Or. en

Amendment 2350

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall conduct cross-cutting activities focused on strengthening the competitiveness of the SMEs and achieve additionality at Union level, including through the following measures:1. The ECF shall conduct cross-cutting activities focused on strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of the SMEs and social economy entities and achieve additionality at Union level, including through the following measures:

Or. en

Amendment 2351

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point a

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) provision of integrated business advice and support to companies, including through financial support to third parties;(a) provision of integrated business advice and support to companies, clusters and business network organisations, including through guidance and assistance when applying for funding and financial support to third parties;

Or. en

Amendment 2352

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point c

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(c) support and assistance for access to technologies, technology infrastructure and facilities, support market uptake of innovation and support business organisations, SMEs and small mid-cap companies, including startups and scaleups, to participate in collaborative platforms and sectors;(c) support and assistance for access to technologies, technology infrastructure and facilities, support market uptake of innovation and support business organisations, SMEs and small mid-cap companies, including innovative startups, innovative scaleups and social economy entities to participate in collaborative platforms and sectors;

Or. en

Amendment 2353

Matej Tonin, Davor Ivo Stier

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point c

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(c) support and assistance for access to technologies, technology infrastructure and facilities, support market uptake of innovation and support business organisations, SMEs and small mid-cap companies, including startups and scaleups, to participate in collaborative platforms and sectors;(c) support and assistance for access to technologies, technology infrastructure and facilities, support market uptake of innovation and support business organisations, SMEs, small mid-cap and mid-cap companies, including startups and scaleups, to participate in collaborative platforms and sectors;

Or. en

Amendment 2354

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(c a) promote modernisation of industry, contributing to a green, digital and resilient economy;

Or. en

Amendment 2355

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point d

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(d) promoting business understanding of Union policies, obtaining feedback on their effectiveness;(d) promoting business understanding of Union policies, including environmental and energy Union law, and obtaining feedback on their effectiveness;

Or. en

Amendment 2356

Paolo Borchia, Isabella Tovaglieri, Raffaele Stancanelli

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point e

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(e) increasing the access and the availability of finance for SMEs including micro-finance and support to social enterprises, and for small mid-cap companies;(e) increasing the access and the availability of finance for micro-enterprises and SMEs including micro-finance and support to social enterprises; support shall be delivered to SMEs locally, in the places where they operate, including through qualified territorial business support structures that can facilitate access to finance and access to credit; supporting micro-enterprises, SMEs, start-ups, scale-ups, small mid-caps in preparing and structuring investment projects related to internationalisation, digitalisation, industrial transformation, decarbonisation, compliance, certification and participation in European value chains, including where access to finance or access to credit is a key constraint;

Or. en

Justification

Many firms, especially SMEs, face difficulties not only in accessing funding but also in structuring bankable investment projects. ECF business support must explicitly address investment readiness and access to credit. Local delivery of support through territorial business support structures is essential to ensure effective reach to the smallest enterprises.

Amendment 2357

Yvan Verougstraete, Morten Løkkegaard, Christophe Grudler, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Sophie Wilmès

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point e

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(e) increasing the access and the availability of finance for SMEs including micro-finance and support to social enterprises, and for small mid-cap companies;(e) increasing the access and the availability of finance for SMEs including micro-finance and support to social enterprises, and for small mid-cap companies, notably through the diversification of EIB financial intermediaries;

Or. en

Amendment 2358

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point e

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(e) increasing the access and the availability of finance for SMEs including micro-finance and support to social enterprises, and for small mid-cap companies;(e) increasing the access and the availability of finance for SMEs including micro-finance and support to social economy entities, including social enterprises, and for small mid-cap companies;

Or. en

Amendment 2359

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point f

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(f) facilitation access to markets including through support to the internationalisation of SMEs and provision of market intelligence, including in less developed regions and outermost regions;(f) facilitation access to markets including through support to the internationalisation of SMEs and provision of market intelligence as well as marketing of their products and services, including in less developed regions and outermost regions;

Or. en

Amendment 2360

Dimitris Tsiodras

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point f

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(f) facilitation access to markets including through support to the internationalisation of SMEs and provision of market intelligence, including in less developed regions and outermost regions;(f) facilitation access to markets including through support to the internationalisation of SMEs and provision of market intelligence, including in less developed regions, transition regions, insular and outermost Member States and regions;

Or. en

Amendment 2361

Jana Nagyová, Ondřej Knotek, Tomáš Kubín, Klara Dostalova, Afroditi Latinopoulou, Anna Bryłka

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point f

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(f) facilitation access to markets including through support to the internationalisation of SMEs and provision of market intelligence, including in less developed regions and outermost regions;(f) facilitation access to markets including through support to the internationalisation of SMEs and provision of market intelligence, including in less developed regions, transition regions, insular and outermost member states and regions;

Or. en

Amendment 2362

Krzysztof Hetman, Alexander Bernhuber, Adam Jarubas, Norbert Lins, Borys Budka, Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz, Mirosława Nykiel, Céline Imart, Paulo do Nascimento Cabral, Carmen Crespo Díaz, Herbert Dorfmann, Stefan Köhler, Daniel Buda, Maria Walsh

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point f

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(f) facilitation access to markets including through support to the internationalisation of SMEs and provision of market intelligence, including in less developed regions and outermost regions;(f) facilitation access to markets including through support to the internationalisation of SMEs and provision of market intelligence, including in less developed regions, rural regions and outermost regions;

Or. en

Amendment 2363

Yvan Verougstraete, Brigitte van den Berg, Stine Bosse, Morten Løkkegaard, Christophe Grudler, Laurence Farreng, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Bart Groothuis

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(f a) provision of advice and support to companies, particularly SMEs and small mid-cap companies, concerning skills development and investments in particular skills intelligence, just transition planning, targeted upskilling and reskilling and the use of public-private partnerships with inter alia VET and higher education providers;

Or. en

Amendment 2364

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point g

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(g) improving the business environment for SMEs and promote new business opportunities for SMEs by supporting among others intellectual property valorisation, standard setting and public procurement;(g) fostering a favourable business environment for SMEs and social economy entities, promote new business opportunities support their digital and sustainable transformation, including by supporting among others intellectual property valorisation, standard setting and public procurement, access to targeted financial instruments that facilitate the development, demonstration and market uptake of environmentally friendly products and processes;

Or. en

Amendment 2365

Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point g

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(g) improving the business environment for SMEs and promote new business opportunities for SMEs by supporting among others intellectual property valorisation, standard setting and public procurement;(g) improving the business environment for SMEs and promote new business opportunities for SMEs by supporting among others intellectual property valorisation, adequate protection for patents and for their inventions, standard setting and public procurement;

Or. ro

Amendment 2366

Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point h

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(h) promoting entrepreneurship, including women and youth entrepreneurship and the acquisition of entrepreneurial and business skills.(h) promoting entrepreneurship including women and youth entrepreneurship and the acquisition of entrepreneurial and business skills, including in rural and disadvantaged areas, to help reduce depopulation in these areas.

Or. ro

Amendment 2367

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point h

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(h) promoting entrepreneurship, including women and youth entrepreneurship and the acquisition of entrepreneurial and business skills.(h) promoting entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial culture, including women and youth entrepreneurship and the acquisition of entrepreneurial and business skills and contributing to the high-quality training of staff.

Or. en

Amendment 2368

Krzysztof Hetman, Alexander Bernhuber, Adam Jarubas, Norbert Lins, Borys Budka, Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz, Mirosława Nykiel, Céline Imart, Paulo do Nascimento Cabral, Carmen Crespo Díaz, Herbert Dorfmann, Stefan Köhler, Daniel Buda, Maria Walsh

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point h

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(h) promoting entrepreneurship, including women and youth entrepreneurship and the acquisition of entrepreneurial and business skills.(h) promoting entrepreneurship, including women and youth entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship in rural areas, and the acquisition of entrepreneurial and business skills.

Or. en

Amendment 2369

Nicolás González Casares, Mohammed Chahim, Elena Sancho Murillo, Lina Gálvez, Yannis Maniatis, Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, Annalisa Corrado, Christophe Clergeau, Bruno Tobback, Sofie Eriksson, Niels Fuglsang

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point h a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(h a) support in driving the clean transition and in scaling up sustainable technologies, including through access to targeted financial instruments that facilitate the development, demonstration and market uptake of environmentally friendly and innovative products and processes.

Or. en

Amendment 2370

Miriam Lexmann, Paulius Saudargas, Eszter Lakos

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point h a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(h a) Each window shall support capacity building for national contact points in Member States to improve effective participation in the ECF;

Or. en

Amendment 2371

Eszter Lakos, Paulius Saudargas, Davor Ivo Stier

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point h a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(h a) Each window shall support capacity bulding for national contact points in Member States to improve effective participation in the ECF.

Or. en

Amendment 2372

András Gyürk, Jorge Martín Frías

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1 a. Minimum SME participation thresholds shall apply as a horizontal requirement across all ECF activities and thematic windows, independently of any dedicated SME-focused instruments. The Commission shall monitor and report on SME participation rates annually.

Or. en

Amendment 2373

Yvan Verougstraete, Brigitte van den Berg, Christophe Grudler, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez

Proposal for a regulation

Article 28 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1 a. National Contact Points (NCPs) shall be eligible, where appropriate, for funding for the activities listed in paragraph 1 to ensure accessibility of ECF funding opportunities to potential applicants across the Member States.

Or. en

Amendment 2374

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 29 – title

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Dedicated SME Actions to increase SME participationDedicated Actions for SMEs, startups and scaleups

Or. en

Amendment 2375

Niels Flemming Hansen

Proposal for a regulation

Article 29 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Each window shall support dedicated, sector-specific actions targeting start-ups, SMEs and small mid-cap companies or calls for SMEs in strategic sectors with a view to fostering innovation, business acceleration, commercialisation and scaling-up.1. 1. Each policy window and the ECF InvestEU Instrument shall support dedicated, sector-specific actions targeting start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs and small midcap companies in the ECF policy windows with a view to fostering innovation, business acceleration, commercialisation and scaling up.
2. Such actions shall include measures to improve the access of SMEs to technology capabilities and infrastructures. To this end, the Commission shall establish simplified access procedures and dedicated technical assistance mechanisms specifically tailored to the needs of SMEs.
3. To reduce administrative burden and facilitate participation, the implementation of the ECF shall be governed by the ‘once-only’ principle. Beneficiaries shall be entitled to submit administrative and supporting documentation only once to the relevant managing or implementing authority, which shall ensure the interoperability of such data across the Fund’s instruments.
4. In implementing the actions referred to in paragraph 1, each policy window shall aim for a target of allocating at least 20% of its total budget to start-ups, scale-ups, and SMEs.
5. The Commission shall monitor the achievement of this target on an annual basis. Where the actual allocation within a policy window falls below the 20% threshold, the Commission shall, in the subsequent work programmes and calls for proposals, introduce specific corrective measures. Such measures shall include, but are not limited to, dedicated SME-only calls, adjusted eligibility criteria, or enhanced financial incentives to facilitate the target is met in the following period.

Or. en

Justification

To create a clearer framework for how the ECF should facilitate SME participation

Amendment 2376

Nicola Procaccini, Alessandro Ciriani, Elena Donazzan, Pietro Fiocchi, Lara Magoni, Francesco Torselli, Mariateresa Vivaldini

Proposal for a regulation

Article 29 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Each window shall support dedicated, sector-specific actions targeting start-ups, SMEs and small mid-cap companies or calls for SMEs in strategic sectors with a view to fostering innovation, business acceleration, commercialisation and scaling-up.1. Each window shall support dedicated, sector-specific actions targeting start-ups, SMEs and small mid-cap companies or calls for SMEs in strategic sectors with a view to fostering innovation, business acceleration, commercialisation and scaling-up.
2. In addition to the above-mentioned specific actions, a dedicated SME Innovation Open Facility that is targeted at all types of SMEs, shall be created and implemented taking account of the general objective and the specific objectives set out in article 4 (of the ECF Regulation). The Facility shall support, depending on the nature and objectives of the proposed action, single SMEs or SME-only transnational consortia, follow a demand-driven and non-prescriptive approach, support projects focused on the development and demonstration of innovative solutions, capable to deliver tangible results.
3. Proposals submitted under this facility shall be evaluated following the criteria of impact and highest relevance for European competitiveness, considering the expected impact in terms of industrial uptake.
4. The integrated approach set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 should lead to a minimum of 20 % of the total combined budget for the specific objectives of ECF and for the ‘Competitiveness’ component of Part II of Horizon Europe being devoted to SMEs.

Or. en

Amendment 2377

Paolo Borchia, Isabella Tovaglieri, Raffaele Stancanelli, András Gyürk

Proposal for a regulation

Article 29 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Each window shall support dedicated, sector-specific actions targeting start-ups, SMEs and small mid-cap companies or calls for SMEs in strategic sectors with a view to fostering innovation, business acceleration, commercialisation and scaling-up.1. The Fund shall ensure fair and effective access to support for entities of all sizes. Each window shall support dedicated, sector-specific and differentiated actions targeting start-ups and SMEs, ensuring distinct support instruments reflecting their different structural characteristics, and calls for micro-enterprises and SMEs in strategic sectors with a view to fostering innovation, business acceleration, commercialisation and scaling-up. Calls for proposals and funding instruments shall, where appropriate, provide for differentiated funding envelopes or evaluation modalities, in order to avoid disproportionate competition between entities of significantly different sizes and to ensure balanced participation. The Commission shall establish simplified access procedures and dedicated technical assistance mechanisms for micro-enterprises and SMEs. The implementation of the ECF shall apply the 'only once' principle, allowing beneficiaries to submit administrative and supporting documentation only once to the relevant managing or implementing authority.

Or. en

Justification

The current proposal fails to adequately reflect the significant structural differences between SMEs and mid-cap companies. Differentiated instruments, separated funding envelopes and the 'only once' principle are necessary to ensure equitable access. Without these safeguards, ECF resources risk being captured predominantly by larger, better-resourced entities.

Amendment 2378

Yannis Maniatis

Proposal for a regulation

Article 29 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Each window shall support dedicated, sector-specific actions targeting start-ups, SMEs and small mid-cap companies or calls for SMEs in strategic sectors with a view to fostering innovation, business acceleration, commercialisation and scaling-up.1. Each window shall support dedicated, sector-specific actions targeting start-ups, SMEs, small mid-cap companies, energy communities, and other actors of the social economy, or calls for SMEs and energy communities in strategic sectors with a view to fostering innovation, price stability, local growth, business acceleration, commercialisation and scaling-up.

Or. en

Amendment 2379

Letizia Moratti, Massimiliano Salini, Fulvio Martusciello

Proposal for a regulation

Article 29 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Each window shall support dedicated, sector-specific actions targeting start-ups, SMEs and small mid-cap companies or calls for SMEs in strategic sectors with a view to fostering innovation, business acceleration, commercialisation and scaling-up.1. Each window shall support dedicated, sector-specific actions targeting start-ups, SMEs and small mid-cap companies or calls for SMEs in strategic sectors with a view to fostering innovation, business acceleration, commercialisation and scaling-up, ensuring distinct support instruments reflecting different characteristics of the potential beneficiaries.

Or. en

Amendment 2380

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 29 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Each window shall support dedicated, sector-specific actions targeting start-ups, SMEs and small mid-cap companies or calls for SMEs in strategic sectors with a view to fostering innovation, business acceleration, commercialisation and scaling-up.1. Each policy window shall support dedicated, sector-specific actions targeting innovative start-ups and SMEs, with a view to fostering innovation, business acceleration, commercialisation and scaling-up, and shall facilitate the opening up of industrial supply chains to SMEs and small mid-caps within calls in strategic sectors, with a focus on SMEs.

Or. en

Amendment 2381

Letizia Moratti, Massimiliano Salini, Fulvio Martusciello

Proposal for a regulation

Article 29 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1 a. A dedicated SME Innovation Support Scheme shall be established and implemented, targeting all types of SMEs, in line with the Programme objectives. Depending on the nature and objectives of the proposed actions, the Scheme shall support individual SMEs or transnational consortia, follow a demand-driven and non-prescriptive approach, and fund projects aimed at developing and demonstrating innovative solutions with concrete, measurable outcomes.
Proposals submitted under this Scheme shall be evaluated based on their potential impact and their relevance to European competitiveness, taking into account the expected contribution to industrial scalability and market deployment.
The integrated approach set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 should result in at least 20% of the combined total budget for the specific objectives of the ECF and for the ‘Competitiveness’ component of Part II of Horizon Europe being allocated to SMEs.

Or. en

Amendment 2382

Morten Løkkegaard, Andreas Glück, Yvan Verougstraete, Bart Groothuis

Proposal for a regulation

Article 29 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1 a. To facilitate the participation of the entities referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall establish a dedicated Start-up Gateway user interface within the single portal. This Start-up Gateway shall act as a single entry point for start-ups and SMEs, aggregating all relevant funding opportunities, advisory services, and investor matchmaking tools.

Or. en

Amendment 2383

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 29 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1 a. Each policy window shall also support dedicated, sector-specific actions targeting innovative scale-ups with a view to sustaining their high-growth trajectory, facilitating their access to risk capital and industrial cooperation, and supporting their international expansion and market consolidation within the Union.

Or. en

Amendment 2384

Letizia Moratti, Massimiliano Salini, Fulvio Martusciello

Proposal for a regulation

Article 29 – paragraph 1 b (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1 b. Financing applications shall be designed to ensure simplicity, proportionality, legal certainty and equal access. To reduce administrative burden and facilitate the participation of SMEs, simplified and accessible procedures shall be implemented, including standardised and proportionate requirements based on risk, beneficiary size and funding amount, as well as clear guidance, appropriate pre-financing and proportionate reporting and audit obligations.

Or. en

Amendment 2385

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 29 – paragraph 1 b (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1 b. The Commission shall set a publicly available online dashboard tracking Union funding allocated to SMEs, innovative start-ups and innovative scale-ups and to small mid-caps, including the number and nature of beneficiaries, as well as their geographical distribution.

Or. en

Amendment 2386

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 29 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article29a
Dedicated Social Economy Actions to increase Social economy participation
1. Each policy windows shall support dedicated, sector-specific actions targeting social economy entities.
2. The Commission shall set a publicly available online dashboard tracking Union funding allocated to social economy entities, including the number and nature of beneficiaries, as well as their geographical distribution.

Or. en

Amendment 2387

Elena Donazzan

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors with a high-level of technological innovation, building integrated programmes between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include:
a. support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET). This should also encompass innovative education and training programmes integrated with the labour market partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems. The ECF could cover up to 30% of the costs of funding the integration between secondary and tertiary education in order to support the labour market as well.
b. Support for European University Alliances to support graduates for the strategic sectors under this regulation.
c. Support for Centres of Vocational Excellence to deepen connections between learners and the industry, strengthening the recognition and preservation of the role of VET providers in this initiative and in broader upskilling and reskilling at ecosystem level
d. Support for Erasmus+ Scholarships for strategic educational fields to ensure that specific sectors would have sufficient uptake of graduates to meet the objectives of this regulation.

Or. en

Amendment 2388

Benedetta Scuderi

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors in line with the Strategic Priorities Framework referred to in Article 6a, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include:
a) support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce ;
b) support to Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems, for the speedy adaptation of skills development in line with the technological development;
c) support for skills development measures accompanying investments under the Fund, including upskilling, reskilling and workforce adaptation to facilitate job-to-job transitions within value chains.
d) pioneering support for European University Alliances that have reached maturity in education and research infrastructure and are ready to engage in strong European industrial ecosystems;

Or. en

Amendment 2389

Katri Kulmuni

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. It shall also support excellence in higher education and research (including social sciences and humanities as a lever for innovation), promote cooperation between universities, industry, regions and cities, and facilitate the attraction and mobility of highly skilled professionals from EU and third countries in strategic sectors. Particular attention shall be given to talent ecosystems that connect education, innovation, and entrepreneurship at regional and local level. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling, and reskilling and integration of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.

Or. en

Justification

Expanding the scope of the Article ensures that the Fund supports the entire talent value chain, from vocational training to research excellence, while enabling regions and cities to perform the attraction, integration and retention tasks that Europe’s competitiveness now depends on.

Amendment 2390

Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. It shall also support excellence in higher education and research, promote cooperation between knowledge institutions (universities, VET centers) industry, regions and facilitate the attraction and mobility of highly skilled professionals from EU and third countries in strategic sectors. Particular attention shall be given to lifelong talent ecosystems that connect education, innovation, and entrepreneurship at regional and local level. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling, reskilling and integration of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.

Or. en

Amendment 2391

Laura Ballarín Cereza

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. It shall also support excellence in higher education and research, promote cooperation between universities, industry, and regions, and facilitate the attraction and mobility of highly skilled professionals from EU and third countries in strategic sectors. Particular attention shall be given to talent ecosystems that connect education, innovation, and entrepreneurship at regional level. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling, and reskilling and integration of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.

Or. en

Justification

Expanding the scope of the Article ensures that the Fund supports the entire talent value chain, from vocational training to research excellence, while reinforcing regions to perform the attraction, integration and retention tasks that Europe’s competitiveness now depends on.

Amendment 2392

Bart Groothuis, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Morten Løkkegaard, Barry Andrews, Sophie Wilmès, Brigitte van den Berg, Elisabetta Gualmini, Michael McNamara, Andreas Glück, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. It shall also support the attraction and retention of highly skilled professionals from EU and third countries in strategic sectors, with particular attention to addressing the shortage of STEM professionals, and promote cooperation between universities, industry and regional innovation ecosystems, including through synergies with the Erasmus+ programme and Horizon Europe. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.

Or. en

Justification

Europe faces a critical shortage of skilled professionals in strategic sectors, particularly in STEM fields such as semiconductors, clean energy and defence technologies. This amendment strengthens Article 30 by explicitly addressing the need to attract and retain talent from both within and outside the Union, and by creating an operational link with the Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe programmes to avoid duplication and maximise impact. The reference to regional innovation ecosystems ensures that skills development is connected to where industrial activity actually takes place.

Amendment 2393

Brigitte van den Berg, Bart Groothuis

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include:

Or. en

Amendment 2394

Eszter Lakos, Paulius Saudargas, Davor Ivo Stier

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. It shall promote cooperation between universities, industry, regions and cities, and facilitate the attraction and mobility of highly skilled professionals from EU and third countries in strategic sectors. Particular attention shall be given to talent ecosystems that connect education, innovation, and entrepreneurship at regional and local level. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling, reskilling and integration of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.

Or. en

Amendment 2395

Aldo Patriciello

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors with a high-level of technological innovation, building strong links integrated programmes between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations characterised by technological innovation across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET). This should also encompass innovative education and training programmes integrated with the labour market partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems. The ECF could cover up to 30% of the costs of funding the integration between secondary and tertiary education and to support the labour market as well.

Or. en

Amendment 2396

Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz, Borys Budka, Krzysztof Hetman, Mirosława Nykiel, Adam Jarubas, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Sabine Verheyen

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include:
a. support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems;
b. Support for European University Alliances to support graduates for the strategic sectors under this regulation.
c. Support for Erasmus+ scholarships in strategic educational fields to ensure sufficient graduate uptake in specific sectors and support the achievement of this Regulation’s objectives.

Or. en

Amendment 2397

Letizia Moratti, Massimiliano Salini, Fulvio Martusciello

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors with a high-level of technological innovation, building integrated programmes between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to back value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations characterised by technological innovation across the labour market through workforce upskilling and reskilling and Vocational Education and Training (VET). This should also encompass innovative education and training programmes integrated with the labour market partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems. The ECF could cover up to 30% of the costs of funding the integration between secondary and tertiary education in order to support the labour market as well.

Or. en

Amendment 2398

Paolo Borchia, Isabella Tovaglieri, Raffaele Stancanelli

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors with a high level of technological innovation, building integrated programmes between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations characterised by technological innovation across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET). This should also encompass innovative education and training programmes integrated with the labour market to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems. The ECF shall also support the integration between secondary and tertiary education, in order to build structured talent pathways towards strategic sectors.

Or. en

Justification

Skills development activities under the ECF should be specifically oriented towards sectors with high technological innovation, where Europe faces the greatest human capital shortages. Integrated programmes that span the full education-to-employment continuum, including the critical transition between secondary and tertiary education, are essential to build the structural talent pipelines that European competitiveness requires.

Amendment 2399

Seán Kelly

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education institutions, vocational education and training providers, applied research organisations and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy, recognising the central role of universities and higher education institutions in driving innovation, technological leadership, entrepreneurship and industrial competitiveness in the Union. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee, including partnerships involving higher education institutions and centres of vocational excellence, to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.

Or. en

Amendment 2400

Barry Andrews, Billy Kelleher, Michael McNamara, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall support targeted skills development activities, in particular in the strategic sectors, including by fostering links between higher education, VET and training providers, applied research, businesses, especially SMEs, and regional industrial ecosystems, for strategic growth in sectors or occupations through upskilling and reskilling.

Or. en

Amendment 2401

Bruno Tobback, Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, Yannis Maniatis, Giorgio Gori

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, including digital skills, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research, non-formal and informal learning providers including youth organizations, and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. It shall also promote cooperation between universities, industry, regions and cities, and facilitate talent ecosystems that connect education, innovation, and entrepreneurship at Union, National, regional and local level.This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.

Or. en

Amendment 2402

Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development to meet the medium- and long-term need for a specialised workforce, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.

Or. ro

Amendment 2403

Carmen Crespo Díaz, Raúl de la Hoz Quintano

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems to pave the way for a faster take-up of research and innovation outcomes.

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Amendment 2404

Ondřej Krutílek

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy, including strengthening uptake capacity for advanced technologies . This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.

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Amendment 2405

Inese Vaidere

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy, including strengthening uptake capacity for advanced technologies. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.

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Amendment 2406

Marc Botenga

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance at least 14% of its resources to activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.

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Amendment 2407

Katri Kulmuni

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs & connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.

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Justification

In ITRE draft report this has been deleted. It should not be deleted because: Article 30, as proposed by the Commission, provides a clear legal basis for ECF support to skills development in strategic sectors. For universities of science and technology, this is essential to ensure that investment in strategic technologies is matched by strong talent pipelines and cooperation between relevant education and training providers and industry.

Amendment 2408

Brigitte van den Berg, Bart Groothuis

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1 – point a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education.

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Amendment 2409

Brigitte van den Berg, Bart Groothuis

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1 – point b (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) support for Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships, including Centers of Vocational Excellence, to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.

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Amendment 2410

Brigitte van den Berg, Bart Groothuis

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1 – point c (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(c) Support the collection of granular data on skills needs, availabilities and capacities for skills development and develop analyses that enable companies, governments and the European Union to implement policies to prevent and address skills shortages.

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Amendment 2411

Brigitte van den Berg, Bart Groothuis

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30 – paragraph 1 – point d (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(d) promote the development of common competence frameworks for key occupations in strategic sectors, especially for occupations predominatly performed by VET graduates, aligned with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and building on existing sectoral reference frameworks developed under Horizon Europe and the Erasmus+ programme;

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Amendment 2412

Morten Løkkegaard, Andreas Glück, Yvan Verougstraete, Bart Groothuis

Proposal for a regulation

Article 31 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. In accordance with Article 150 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, the ECF shall contribute to the maintenance and extension of the single electronic data interchange area for participants to ensure simplified access to Union funding. That contribution shall be irrespective of the mode or instrument of budget implementation and including advisory and business acceleration services and support to a single gateway for access to Union support in accordance with Regulation (EU) [XXX] [Performance Regulation].1. In accordance with Article 150 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, the ECF shall contribute to the maintenance and extension of the single electronic data interchange area for participants to ensure simplified access to Union funding. That contribution shall be irrespective of the mode or instrument of budget implementation and including advisory and business acceleration services and support to a single gateway for access to Union support in accordance with Regulation (EU) [XXX] [Performance Regulation].The ECF shall also ensure full interoperability with the Once Only Technical System (OOTS) established under Regulation (EU) 2018/1724, to automatically retrieve relevant company data and documents from national business registries, ensuring that applicants are not requested to resubmit information already held by Union institutions or national authorities.

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Amendment 2413

Morten Løkkegaard, Andreas Glück, Yvan Verougstraete, Bart Groothuis

Proposal for a regulation

Article 31 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1 a. The single portal shall be fully integrated with the European Digital Identity Wallets established under Regulation (EU) 910/2014 And the European Business Wallet [to be established under the proposal 2025/0358 (COD)]. The portal shall allow beneficiaries to use their Wallet for authentication, the signing of grant agreements and contracts, and the management of payments.

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Amendment 2414

Morten Løkkegaard, Andreas Glück, Yvan Verougstraete, Bart Groothuis

Proposal for a regulation

Article 31 – paragraph 1 b (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1 b. The Commission shall monitor and publish, on an annual basis, key performance indicators relating to the administrative burden experienced by applicants and beneficiaries. These indicators shall include, in particular: (a) average time-to-inform and time-to-grant; (b) the volume and frequency of supporting documents requested from applicants; (c) the extent to which data submitted by beneficiaries are reused through the Once Only Technical System.

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Amendment 2415

Michał Kobosko, Martin Hojsík, Ivars Ijabs, Lucia Yar, Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, Krzysztof Śmiszek

Proposal for a regulation

Article 31 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform.2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform, promoting pan-EU coverage enabling balanced access and enhancing competitiveness across all Member States, regions and the Union as a whole.

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Amendment 2416

Mirosława Nykiel, Borys Budka, Adam Jarubas, Krzysztof Hetman, Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz

Proposal for a regulation

Article 31 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform.2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform promoting pan-EU coverage enabling balanced access and enhancing competitiveness across all Member States, regions and the Union as a whole.

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Amendment 2417

Jana Nagyová, Ondřej Knotek, Tomáš Kubín, Klara Dostalova, András Gyürk, Afroditi Latinopoulou, Anna Bryłka

Proposal for a regulation

Article 31 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform.2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform, promoting balanced access and enhancing competitiveness across all Member States, regions and the Union as a whole.

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Amendment 2418

Ondřej Krutílek

Proposal for a regulation

Article 31 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform.2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform, promoting balanced access and enhancing competitiveness across all Member States, regions and the Union as a whole.

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Amendment 2419

Dan Nica, Borys Budka, Tsvetelina Penkova

Proposal for a regulation

Article 31 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform.2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform, promoting balanced access and enhancing competitiveness across all Member States, regions and the Union as a whole.

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Justification

ECF resources should be equally spent in all Member States avoiding concentration only in some

Amendment 2420

Dimitris Tsiodras

Proposal for a regulation

Article 31 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform.2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform promoting balanced access and enhancing competitiveness across all Member States, regions and the Union as a whole.

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Amendment 2421

Paolo Borchia, Isabella Tovaglieri, Raffaele Stancanelli, András Gyürk

Proposal for a regulation

Article 31 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform.2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform, including support actions helping enterprises access credit and guarantee-based financial products.

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Justification

This amendment creates a clearer operational link between advisory support and actual financial access. For many enterprises, especially smaller firms, the exploitation and scaling of innovation depends not only on guidance and information, but also on the ability to access credit and suitable guarantee-based financial products

Amendment 2422

Yvan Verougstraete, Stine Bosse, Morten Løkkegaard, Christophe Grudler, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Bart Groothuis

Proposal for a regulation

Article 31 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform.2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, including through effective use of the Competitiveness Seal, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform.

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Amendment 2423

Niels Flemming Hansen

Proposal for a regulation

Article 31 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2 a. The ECF shall, for the purpose of accelerating the valorisation of research outcomes from projects funded under Horizon Europe or preceding European Framework Programmes, provide support for deployment, commercialisation, scaling, licensing, standardisation, validation, demonstration, regulatory readiness, and knowledge valorisation.
(a) This support shall operate as a simplified transition mechanism, avoiding any requirement for a new full proposal process under this Regulation.
(b) Eligibility shall be determined based on the existing results, evaluation outcomes, and reporting from the Framework Programmes.
(c) The service shall be continuously open for requests, with the Commission assessing transition requests at regular cut-off dates at least four times per year.
(d) Support shall be awarded through a simplified transition request submitted by one or more project beneficiaries, including a description of the proposed pathway to real-world use and, where relevant, an updated consortium composition.
(e) The Commission shall not require information already submitted, evaluated, or reported under the Framework Programme, except where necessary to verify eligibility, Union added value, compliance with this Regulation, or the specific need for ECF support.

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Amendment 2424

Morten Løkkegaard, Andreas Glück, Yvan Verougstraete, Bart Groothuis

Proposal for a regulation

Article 31 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2 a. To contribute to strengthening knowledge valorisation, industrial uptake and European value creation, the ECF shall encourage targeted access to funding for projects where companies seek to acquire, license or commercialise intellectual property rights, under fair, transparent and market-conform conditions, including patents, generated by European universities and public research organisations. This shall be particularly considered where such intellectual property has been developed with support from Union research programmes, including Horizon Europe.

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Amendment 2425

Mirosława Nykiel, Borys Budka, Adam Jarubas, Krzysztof Hetman, Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz

Proposal for a regulation

Article 31 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article31a
National Contact Points and NCP network
1. Member States should designate the National Contact Points (“NCP”), building, where appropriate, on existing national advisory or similar structures. The NCPs shall ensure coherent access to all information across the policy windows and instruments established under this Regulation. They shall provide information, guidance, signposting and assistance, and may, without prejudice to its overall responsibility for coherent service delivery, delegate specific tasks to national or sub national entities. The Commission shall ensure the timely and effective sharing of relevant information with the NCP network to enable the swift implementation of programme updates at national and sub national levels.
2. The Commission and the Member States shall provide financial support on an equal basis for the establishment, capacity building and operation of the NCP network and of any delegated entities. Eligible activities may include network cooperation, training, peer learning, communication actions and the development of digital tools and resources. Such support may constitute eligible actions under Article 4(2) and may give priority to initial capacity building and the effective functioning of the NCP network.
3. The Commission will ensure support for National Contact Points, including through regular meetings before calls, training, coaching, strengthening dedicated support structures and facilitating transnational cooperation among them. The Commission will develop minimum standards, in agreement with Member State representatives, for the operation of these support structures, including their role, structure, modalities, flow of information from the Commission before calls for proposals and avoidance of conflicts of interest.

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