BRUSSELS – The odds are stacked in favour of scrapping the EU’s flagship research and innovation (R&I) programme for a massive European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) instead in the next long-term budget, according to notes from a 25 February closed-door meeting seen by Euractiv.
Hundreds of billions of euros are on the line as the European Commission decides whether to launch a new independent R&I framework programme (FP), or go ahead in its budget proposal for 2028-2034 with plans to merge it with strategic funding, into a flexible politically controlled ECF.
The idea has been harshly criticised by academics, MEPs, and analysts, but remains alive and well, according to notes from a 25 February meeting between a senior staffer for Commissioner for Research, Startups and Innovation Ekaterina Zahareiva and representatives of the research community.
“Zaharieva and DG RTD [Directorate-General Research and Innovation] in favour of an independent FP. All others against. Odds are 80:20 against an FP,” read the notes.
The research representative’s notes single out German coalition negotiations as a possible point of influence to save the FP.
“All other points of contact (Zaharieva, DG RTD, working level) irrelevant. Decision made directly by vdL,” the notes say, referring to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
No FP appeared in the Commission’s Competitiveness Compass when it was unveiled in January, despite Zaharieva’s vow at her confirmation hearing to protect it.
Virtually all EU-level R&I funding programmes fall under an FP, and both Draghi, academics and the Commission agree they are too rigid and too bureaucratic.
But the key question is who should manage more flexible, streamlined funds in the next seven-year budget: the Commission, steering money according to policy priorities, or experts evaluating projects based on “excellence”.
Politico described the initial leaked budget plans as part of a Draghi-enabled ‘”power grab”. Euractiv previously reported strategic overlaps of commission portfolios and, in this case, funds, serve to consolidate power under von der Leyen.
If successful in the FP-ECF case, von der Leyen would place a massive pot of EU cash directly under top-level political control, and away from both experts and Zaharieva.
Member states to the rescue?
According to the notes, there is “lack of political pressure” for an independent FP10, but member states “have the power to counteract”.
European research ministers are in Warsaw on Monday and Tuesday for a Competitiveness Council configuration (COMPET) meeting, set to sign a declaration backing self-standing FPs.
The declaration “may have significance”, but lacks support from Germany, France, Austria, Sweden and Denmark, according to the notes.
The draft declaration has been updated two times since the meeting.
Research community lobbyists told Euractiv that Austria and France are now supportive, that Germany’s incoming leaders appear to support it, and that Sweden and Denmark had mostly disliked the length and level of detail in the first draft.
One, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Finland appears to be a real problem, due to its focus on applied research. A Finnish researcher, however, disputed that characterisation, saying Finland is just more focused on collaborative research.
ERC, EIC preserved
The European Research Council (ERC) and European Innovation Council (EIC) have been praised by academics as prime examples of independent “excellence”-guided funding driving strong results.
Both the leaked idea of merging funding in a competitiveness fund, and the Commission’s Competitiveness Compass caused fears that ERC and EIC autonomy would have to yield to political control.
The notes alleviated those fears, saying the “ERC and EIC will continue to exist (in a similar form)”, although questions remain on how strong or independent those bodies would be.
“We call upon the Commission to preserve their independence,” the final draft Warsaw declaration reads.
Decision imminent
The Commission won’t present a formal budget proposal until July, but time is apparently running out for deciding fundamental questions like the existence of an FP.
The “opportunity window for direct political influence closes mid-March, end of March at the latest”, the notes say.
Academics are therefore rallying desperately to save the next FP. An open letter to EU leaders initially published on Thursday has now been signed by 14 research network organisations and 80 university leaders from across the EU.
“If the status quo persists, FP is history,” the notes say.
[BTS]