The European Research Ministers reached an initial agreement on the Framework Program and the Participation Rules (ie the Regulation) on Horizon Europe, the next Framework Program for Research and Innovation for the years 2021-2027.
This gives the Council a mandate to enter into trilogue with the European Parliament in the coming months, which will also take a position around Horizon Europe during the December plenary session.
This partial agreement (partial general approach, PGA) includes an agreement on all aspects of the Regulation, except for the budget, on international cooperation and on a number of horizontal issues (Structural Funds, synergies, etc.).
Heinz Fassman, federal minister for Education, Science and Research of Austria, who will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union until the end of December 2018:
“Europe's future growth and prosperity depends on its ability to remain a world leader in research and innovation. Today's agreement provides us with the framework needed to achieve this goal.”