29 Sep 2023
EARTO publishes position paper on STEP
On 28 September, EARTO presented an input paper on the Establishment of the European Economic Security Strategy and its strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). In this position paper, EARTO welcomes the Commission's proposal for a Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age and underlines the role of RTOs at the heart of the creation and scale-up of green technologies for industry.
On the developments regarding the new Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), EARTO supports the establishment of a Sovereignty Portal and of a Sovereignty Seal. In addition, the association supports any efforts aiming at reducing current labour and skills shortages in strategic sectors and the proposed increase of the Horizon Europe financial envelope.
However, EARTO voices its great concerns on the proposed budgetary reinforcement of the European Innovation Council (EIC) at the expense of Pillar II within Horizon Europe. EARTO urges the Commission, the Council, and the European Parliament to reject any proposed redeployments from Pillar II to the EIC. Further, EARTO urges the co-legislators to extend the proposed increase of the Horizon Europe financial envelope to Pillar II.
The paper can be downloaded here: