24 Jul 2025
Coimbra Group calls MFF proposal 'a promising signal'
Coimbra Group published its initial reaction to the proposal for the Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 on 22 July 2025. In its reaction, Coimbra Group (CG) welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) and the proposed increase in the combined budget share for Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe, from about 9% in the final MFF 2021-2027 to almost 11% in the proposed MFF 2028-2034, calling this "a promising signal for Universities and for Europe’s future in these challenging times". CG furthermore regards it as "encouraging to see the European Universities Alliances referenced in the various proposed draft regulations“, but also points out that the precise budgetary breakdown within each programme is yet to be clarified.
CG especially welcomes
- the confirmation that Horizon Europe will remain a self-standing programme,
- the recognition of the important role of Social Sciences and Humanities,
- the EC's commitment to simplification for the Horizon Europe beneficiaries,
- the emphasis on expanding the European Research Council (ERC) and the European Innovation Council (EIC).
Amongst other issues, CG calls for
- a similar commitment for expanding the Maria Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) as for the ERC and EIC,
- clarity and reassurance on the governance, structure and objectives of Horizon Europe and the ECF, cautioning "against any attempts to operationally integrate the two instruments or to align their strategic directions",
- with regard to the European Universities Initiative as well as for any other EU initiatives or purposes, creating strong interconnections between the Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe programmes to advance the integration of education, research, and innovation.
Finally, CG strongly urges the EP and the Council to "uphold these ambitious funding levels for Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ through to the final agreement".
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