13 Oct 2026
EARTO calls on EU leaders to protect FP10 and ECF from further cuts
EARTO, the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations, has published a letter calling on EU leaders to shield Heading 2 (which includes FP10 and the ECF) of the next Multiannual Financial Framework from any further cuts.
In particular, EARTO calls for the following:
- Protect Heading 2 with FP10 & ECF: According to EARTO, the figures discussed under previous Presidency proposals were already far below what is needed, as more than 14 EU Programmes are now brought together under this heading. What looks like a large budget on paper is far less impressive against reality, the associations claims.
- Boost FP10 - No Competitiveness without Innovation: Europe’s growth and productivity depend on innovation, and innovation depends on sustained public investment in RD&I to crowd in private investment. The FP10 figures discussed so far were already far from the step change called for by Mario Draghi; EARTO is convinced that further cuts would send the wrong signal at the wrong time.
- Restore collaborative RD&I as the heart of FP10: EARTO calls for at least 60% of FP10’s budget to go to collaborative RD&I, as in Horizon Europe. This is where Europe builds shared capabilities, strengthens value chains and turns knowledge into impact, yet its share falls from 56% today to around 43% in the European Commission proposal, the association points out.
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