The CSIC applauds the recognition of Research and Innovation in the MFF

The CSIC applauds the new budget proposed for Horizon Europe, which recognises the importance of R&I as a key instrument to achieve the objectives and priorities of the EU

The CSIC applauds the new budget proposed for Horizon Europe, which recognises the importance of R&I as a key instrument to achieve the objectives and priorities of the EU

foto MFF

Madrid, Tuesday 9 June 2020

The European Commission presented on May 27 its new proposal for the period 2021-2027

The CSIC stresses that more details are needed on figures committed to R&I and their distribution within Horizon Europe

The Spanish National Research Council celebrates the European Commission’s new proposal of the Multiannual Financial Framework of the European Union (EU) for the period 2021 – 2027 (MFF 2021-2027) and the Recovery Plan, announced on May 27, which includes 94.4 billion euros (in 2018 prices) for Horizon Europe, the EU Research and Innovation programme. This would mean an increase of about 10 billion euros compared to the previous proposal, published in May 2018, which provided the next Framework Programme with 84 billion euros in 2018 prices.

 

However, the CSIC stresses that further details on the distribution of the figures allocated to R&I and synergies with other programs are welcome. 13.5 billion of the before mentioned 94,4 will come from the so called “Next Generation EU” the European Union Recovery Plan, and the rest 81 billion euros will be coming out of the Multiannual Financial Framework pocket. In addition, the budgetary reinforcement of “Next Generation EU” will finance priority areas of health, climate, digital and the European Innovation Council (EIC).

 

The CSIC underlines that Horizon Europe, the main European R&I instrument, recognizes the importance of research and innovation as a key instrument to achieve the EU’s objectives and priorities, such as health or the green and digital transformations as well as boosting a knowledge-based economy and the creation of growth and employment.

The CSIC Vice-Presidency for International Relations recalls that, to achieve those objectives, this program needs an ambitious budget and considers that the € 120 billion requested by the European Parliament in November 2018 are the only way to boost R&D in Europe. We must not forget the importance of fundamental and non-oriented research to achieve these objectives to long term, as seen in the current circumstances.

The CSIC reiterates its willingness to promote excellence in science and innovation and its availability to play an active role in preparing the next framework programme, in collaboration with the EU institutions and other organizations of European research. As part of that commitment, the agency is preparing an action plan to reinforce and facilitate the participation of its researchers in Horizon Europe.

It also asks the European Parliament and European Council to reach an agreement as quickly possible to allow the programme to start in January 2021 and maintain the efforts initiated by the European Commission to reinforce the role of R&I in the EU, giving it the necessary resources.

Download the CSIC comments here.

 

 CSIC Communication Department