17 Jul 2025
EC publishes legal documents on the next MFF and FP10
Following the presentation of the European Commission's proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) on 16 July 2025, the European Commission has published the respective legal documents, including its Communication on the next Multiannual Financial Framework, as well as the proposed Regulation for the next Research Framework Programme 'Horizon Europe' (FP10) and the Specific Programme for the next Horizon Europe programme 2028-2034.
In the Communication on the next MFF, the chapter on the European Competitiveness Fund and Horizon Europe can be found on page 7 ff. The proposal for the Horizon Europe Regulation includes the proposed budget in Article 6.
As part of the next MFF 2028-2034, the Commission is proposing to double the budget of the Research and Innovation Framework Programme to €175 billion.
The new Horizon Europe programme will be based on four pillars. It will support cutting-edge research, and innovation, attract and nurture research talent, foster international collaboration, and connect science with society.
- Pillar I ‘Excellent Science’ aims to strengthen the EU’s scientific base, attract top talent and promote excellent research in Europe. It covers the European Research Council (ERC), Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and science for EU policies through the Joint Research Centre. The ERC will be expanded to increase its ability to support frontier research, with a focus on funding excellent researchers and their teams following a ‘Choose Europe’ approach.
- Pillar II ‘Competitiveness and Society’ aims to support collaborative research and innovation in areas of high societal impact. It targets EU competitiveness in areas like the clean transition, digital leadership, defence, industry and space, in close cooperation with the European Competitiveness Fund. It will also address global societal challenges and features EU missions, as well as the New European Bauhaus Facility.
- Pillar III ‘Innovation’ aims to support innovation in Europe, with a focus on promoting the development of new products, services and business models. The European Innovation Council (EIC) will be expanded to fund high-risk disruptive projects in stages and will introduce a focus for defence and dual-use startups.
- Pillar IV ‘European Research Area’ aims to support the development of a unified European Research Area (ERA), with a focus on promoting excellence and impact, including a reformed Widening component. As a novelty, it also supports the development and operation of research and technology infrastructures.
According to the Commission, programme implementation will be streamlined.This includes offering simplified support, reducing the number of topics, and shortening the time from call closure to grant signature.
Additionally, the Commission is proposing so-called 'moonshot projects', tightly connected to the European Competitiveness Fund. These projects would move from research to demonstration and real-world deployment. They would be supported by pooled funding from EU (Horizon Europe and the European Competitiveness Fund), national, public, and private sources. The nine areas the Commission proposes for these moonshot projects are: the future circular collider (CERN); clean aviation; quantum computing; next-generation AI; data sovereignty; automated transport and mobility; regenerative therapies; fusion energy;space economy; zero water pollution; ocean observation.
Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva is presenting the proposal on the next Framework Programme at the Informal Meeting of Research Ministers on 17 July 2025. The Interinstitutional negotiations between the European Parliament, Council and Commission are now starting and are due to be concluded in late 2027.
Legal documents on FP10: MFF Proposal, Horizon Europe 2028-2034 Regulation and Specific Programme
Further legal documents on the Commission's MFF proposal can be found on the EC's dedicated Budget 2028-2034 website.