RESEARCH : FINALISING NEGOTIATIONS ON HORIZON 2020 FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME.

In the field of research, the Irish Presidency will continue negotiations on the Horizon 2020 framework programme for research and innovation with a view to ensuring its "timely approval", Sean Sherlock, minister of state with responsibility for research and innovation, declared at the conclusion of the last Research Council under the Cyprus Presidency, on 11 December 2012.

The Council led to significant progress on the Horizon 2020 package. This expands the areas of research that can be financed by the EU by including, via the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a strong innovation component. The package contains six legislative texts. The European Parliament's Committee on Energy, Research and Industry (ITRE) adopted its negotiating position on the whole package on 28 October 2012, but ministers still have to finalise their position on a text on the Euratom research and training programme. On the other five items, the Council adopted a partial general approach on which it can launch the negotiations with Parliament.

Background

The Horizon 2020 package is made up of six legislative documents, three on the framework programme, two on the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the last on the Euratom research programme:

- proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council establishing the Horizon 2020 framework programme for research and innovation (2014-2020)

- proposal for a decision establishing the specific programme implementing the framework programme for research and innovation

- proposal for a regulation laying down the rules for participation and...