The Council today agreed on key parts of the draft Council decision establishing the specific programme implementing Horizon Europe. This programme sets out the operational objectives and types of activities envisaged for implementing Horizon Europe, the EU's framework programme for research and innovation for the years 2021 to 2027.

The decision sets out provisions concerning:

the broad lines of research activities under each cluster of Horizon Europe;

the process for the multiannual strategic planning, to be adopted by the Commission with the early and close involvement of Member States;

the implementation of the European Innovation Council (EIC);

work programmes implementing the specific programme, to be adopted by the Commission;

widening participation in research activities funded under Horizon Europe

strengthening the European Research Area;

Today's agreement excludes horizontal and financial issues which are currently being discussed as part of the negotiations on the EU's next multiannual financial framework (MFF) covering the period 2021 to 2027. These issues, and in particular the final amounts, will depend on the agreement to be reached on the next multiannual financial framework, following political guidance to be given by the heads of state and government.

Next steps

The Council will adopt the draft decision after receiving the opinion of the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee and once full agreement has been reached on the multiannual financial framework and on the draft regulation on Horizon Europe.