The legislative documents under debate were:
- “Establishment of Horizon 2020 - The
Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020)” – Rapporteur:
Teresa Riera (S&D, Spain)
- “Specific Programme Implementing Horizon
2020 - The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020)”- Rapporteur:
Maria Da Graça Carvalho (EPP, Portugal)
- “Rules for the participation and
dissemination in 'Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and
Innovation (2014-2020)” - Rapporteur: Christian Ehler (PPE, Germany)
- “Strategic Innovation Agenda of
the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): the
contribution of the EIT to a more innovative Europe” - Rapporteur: Marisa
Matias (GUE/NGL, Portugal)
- “Amendment of Regulation (EC) No
294/2008 establishing the European Institute of Innovation and Technology”
- Rapporteur: Philippe Lamberts (Greens/EFA, Belgium)
The
debate was attended by many Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who
applauded the agreement between the three institutions, which paves the way for
the formal approval of the legislative documents. The most important points
raised were:
- Teresa Riera
(S&D, Spain), Maria Da Graça Carvalho (PPE, Portugal), Christian Ehler
(PPE, Germany), Marisa Matias (GUE/NGL, Portugal) stressed the main
improvements of the Commission’s proposal the Parliament has contributed
to:
- Excellence in science:
emphasis has been given to the Marie Curie actions (strengthened, new
return grants) and to the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET);
- Industrial leadership: An
important part of the budget will be dedicated to SMEs and the new
instrument for SMEs will receive its own budget;
- Societal challenges. Here
the Parliament has successfully advocated for more research on rare
diseases, personalised medicines and poverty related diseases.
- Horizontal issues:
- Special focus on the
synergies between H2020 and structural funds;
- A fast-track instrument
(bottom up mechanism that opens the possibility for some urgent issues
that may arise during the implementation of the programme to be dealt with
quickly and to obtain the necessary results within a reasonable time) is
foreseen. First of all this will go into a pilot stage with a
considerable number of projects financed;
- For the first time the
framework programme envisages the requirement of open access to
publications which arise from any activity or research financed by this
programme;
- Better balance between
large projects and medium and small ones;
- Greater transparency
considering public-private partnerships (PPP);
- Simplification.
- Christian Ehler (EPP, Germany) who has
been a long-standing advocate for Horizon 2020, stressed his concern that
the budget will only reach 70 billion euro, instead of 100 billion.
- The European Institute of Innovation
and Technology (EIT) will be integrated into Horizon 2020. Five new
Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) will be launched over the programme
period in three waves. This was one of the points negotiated with the
Commission, which only wanted two waves.
The
Parliament has indicated that it wants Horizon 2020 to also help structure research
in Europe, making it more than a financial mechanism. To achieve this in the
health sector, the Commission was asked to organise bottom up scientific-led
panels that can help create synergies between the projects financed under
different parts of Horizon2020. These panels will also form a link with
research at Member States level, as well as foster exchanges within the health
sector.
Next
steps
- Some minor issues still need to be
discussed between Parliament and Commission;
- An agreement on the financial aspects
needs to be reached;
- ITRE Committee vote on the 5 texts: 26
September 2013.
