The Council has agreed its partial negotiating position on the regulation and specific programme for Horizon Europe 2028–2034, establishing its mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament.
What has been agreed?
The position covers the proposed structure and implementation of the tenth EU framework programme for research and innovation. It is partial because financial and other horizontal issues linked to the next Multiannual Financial Framework remain outside the agreement, as do elements connected to forthcoming European Institute of Innovation and Technology legislation.
The Council supports a close connection between Horizon Europe and the proposed European Competitiveness Fund, while seeking a stronger role for Member States in defining strategic priorities.
The proposed four-pillar structure
- Excellent Science: continued support for frontier research, research careers and infrastructures, with particular attention to early-career researchers.
- Competitiveness and Society: collaborative research and innovation addressing industrial priorities and societal challenges, combining policy direction with bottom-up approaches.
- Innovation: an expanded European Innovation Council and stronger support for high-risk, high-potential innovation, including deep technologies.
- European Research Area: reinforced coordination, research infrastructures and widening measures to reduce research and innovation disparities.
What could change for applicants and beneficiaries?
The Council position calls for clearer eligibility and evaluation rules, broader use of lump-sum funding, simplified cost options for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, reduced reporting and simpler personnel-cost calculation. It also proposes a more systematic lifecycle for European partnerships, from their creation and monitoring to evaluation and possible phasing-out.
This is a negotiating position, not the final programme. It does not change the rules or calls operating under Horizon Europe 2021–2027, and it does not yet establish the final budget for 2028–2034.
Research security, dual use and widening
The mandate introduces proportionate, risk-based research-security safeguards. It also addresses dual-use dimensions in collaborative research and foresees appropriate checks for European Innovation Council support involving dual-use or defence-related technologies.
For widening participation, the Council aims to retain established instruments while allowing new measures for Widening and transition countries. The final design will depend on negotiations with the European Parliament and the wider MFF agreement.
What happens next?
The Council can now enter negotiations with the European Parliament. The programme’s financial envelope will depend on the final 2028–2034 EU budget. The institutions aim to complete the wider budget agreement and related legislation in time to ensure continuity of EU research funding from January 2028.
Official sources
- Council of the European Union: Council agrees its position on Horizon Europe 2028–2034 ↗
- Council of the European Union: Horizon Europe policy background ↗
This EXELIXIS briefing is an original summary of the Council’s published position. The proposal remains under negotiation; official EU documents and the final adopted legislation prevail.