Text · Opinion parliamentary committee draft
On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the European Competitiveness Fund ('ECF’), including the specific programme for defence research and innovation activities, repealing Regulations (EU) 2021/522, (EU) 2021/694, (EU) 2021/697, (EU) 2021/783, and amending Regulations (EU) 2021/696, (EU) 2023/588, (EU) [EDIP]
Full title
On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the European Competitiveness Fund ('ECF’), including the specific programme for defence research and innovation activities, repealing Regulations (EU) 2021/522, (EU) 2021/694, (EU) 2021/697, (EU) 2021/783, and amending Regulations (EU) 2021/696, (EU) 2023/588, (EU) [EDIP]
Document IMCO-PA-782506 · COM(2025)0555 – C100165/2025 – 2025/0555(COD)(COD)
- Kind
- Opinion parliamentary committee draft IMCO-PA-782506
- Date
- 6 February 2026
- Committee
- Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
- Rapporteur
- Regina Doherty
- Dossier
- 2025-0555
More facts (3)
- Formats
- Official page PDF Word
- Subject matter
- INDU, RDT
- Reference
- COM(2025)0555 – C100165/2025 – 2025/0555(COD)(COD)
In short
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This is the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee's draft opinion on the proposed regulation establishing the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), including a defence research and innovation programme. The rapporteur proposes amendments to define competitiveness, target funding on excellence, impact and quality, and prevent crowding out of private capital. The amendments strengthen SME provisions through simpler procedures, advisory support, a fast-track procedure and dedicated work programme parts. They also add rules on digital leadership, strategic dependencies, capital markets integration, cross-border infrastructure and skills.
Position. The rapporteur proposes amendments to make the ECF simpler, more focused and more effective, strengthening SME provisions, the Single Market, digital leadership and private capital mobilisation, while keeping safeguards targeted and proportionate.
Key points
- Defines competitiveness as increased innovation and productivity responding to market demand, better product and service quality and an improved price ratio.
- Sets the ECF's general objective as increasing European economic competitiveness on the basis of excellence, impact and quality.
- Requires ECF support to address market failures and suboptimal investment situations by crowding in private capital and institutional investors without crowding out other private investors.
- Adds a specific objective of funding the Digital Single Market through digital skills, innovation, resilience, data-sharing frameworks and cyber-security.
- Requires work programmes to describe in a dedicated part how they support SMEs and to reduce administrative barriers to applying for or drawing down ECF funding.
- Allows SME application design options including a one-stop-shop portal, a standardised form, a fast-track procedure with a 60-calendar-day limit and bonus scoring.
- Requires award criteria to be founded on excellence, impact and quality and to consider whether a proposal was supported by an SME.
- Allows eligibility conditions such as participation, transfer, supply and control restrictions as a last resort to protect Union strategic and economic security interests.
- Requires the ECF Strategic Stakeholder Board to include industry stakeholders and SME representatives in shaping priorities, designing calls and overseeing implementation.
- Requires centralised advisory and business acceleration services, including investment advice, business coaching, matchmaking with private investors and financial literacy support.
- Establishes the 'EU for Business' Network to enhance consultation, learning and collaboration with European SMEs and facilitate information exchange and feedback.
- Requires the Commission to publish an annual report on the share of ECF funding awarded to SMEs under each window and average time-to-grant for SME proposals.
Who is affected
- Small and medium enterprises, start-ups and scale-ups, which gain simpler procedures, advisory support and dedicated funding actions.
- Businesses operating across borders in the Single Market, which the ECF should help to access funding, information and administrative support.
- Private investors and institutional investors, which the ECF should crowd in without crowding out.
- Member States, which may support seal-awarded projects or provide additional resources to the ECF.
- Recipients of ECF funding, who may face participation, transfer, supply and control restrictions as a last resort.
Figures and deadlines
- 44% effective tariff for the manufacturing sector from the incomplete Single Market.
- 110% effective tariff for the services sector from the incomplete Single Market.
- Only 13% of businesses had ever taken part in an EU-funded programme.
- Transfer restrictions apply during or within 5 calendar years after the end of an action.
- Fast-track SME procedure: time from submission to grant agreement shall not exceed 60 calendar days for SME-only calls.
- Bonus scoring for proposals led by an SME or where SMEs account for more than 50% of consortium members.
- Final evaluation and requests for supporting documents shall be conducted within three months of the signature of the legal commitment.
- Board members' term limited to four years, renewable once.
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Short justification
Europe faces a decisive moment. The EU’s global competitiveness is being held back by a fragmented Single Market, unnecessary regulatory complexity, and a lack of investment, particularly in innovative companies that should be growing and creating jobs. Businesses, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), start-ups, and scale-ups across sectors face significant pressures around resources and red tape. As underlined by the Draghi and Letta reports, internal barriers within the EU Single Market represent an effective tariff that is often more damaging than external trade barriers. Therefore, the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) must be designed not simply as a spending instrument, but as a catalyst for market-driven growth and innovation across Europe.
The ECF should support the increased competitiveness of the Single Market through targeted investment, skills development, innovation, and improved market access. Funding should be awarded based on excellence, quality, and impact, thereby driving increased innovation, dynamism, and meeting market-demand, with additional supports for SMEs to help them to grow and scale in the European market.
European funding schemes can often seem distant and inaccessible for businesses, especially SMEs. who may have insufficient information about where and how to apply, high application costs, and uncertain outcomes. Low participation rates reflect these challenges; only 13% of businesses had ever taken part in an EU-funded programme. Therefore, the Fund should be designed with simplicity and proportionality in mind, to ensure accessibility for SMEs.
In establishing the ECF, my amendments seek to strengthen the Fund’s ability to deliver real and tangible improvements in European competitiveness, productivity and growth, firmly rooted in a well-functioning Single Market.
My amendments also bring clarity to how competitiveness is understood throughout the Regulation. Competitiveness must be based on higher productivity, innovation and quality, responding to market demand and delivering sustainable growth. This clarity is essential if the Fund is to deliver genuine European added value.
A core objective of these amendments is to ensure that public funding is used in a targeted, proportionate and market-led way. The ECF should step in where there are clear market failures and investment gaps, but it must not crowd out private capital. That is why these amendments focus on crowding in private investment, making better use of capital markets, and sharing risk more effectively. Public funding alone will not close Europe’s investment gap. Mobilising private finance is essential if we are serious about matching our global competitors and giving start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs the chance to grow and stay in Europe.
SMEs are the backbone of the European economy and of the Single Market, but they are too often held back by excessive red tape, lack of information and difficulties accessing finance. These amendments strengthen SME-specific provisions throughout the Regulation, including clearer consideration in work programmes, simpler procedures, better advisory support and stronger outreach. If the ECF is to work for smaller businesses, it must cut unnecessary bureaucracy, lower application costs and be designed around the needs of users, not institutions.
In line with IMCO’s remit, these amendments strengthen the role of the ECF in completing and deepening the Single Market. The Fund should make it easier for businesses to operate across borders, supported by interoperable digital and physical infrastructure, and allow them to compete on excellence, quality and innovation, instead of their ability to navigate complex regulation.
My amendments also take a balanced and pragmatic approach to resilience. They support reducing high-risk dependencies where this is clearly necessary, while safeguarding openness, competition and long-term innovation. Any safeguards must be targeted and proportionate, delivering security without damaging Europe’s attractiveness as a place to invest, innovate and do business.
Taken together, these amendments are about making the European Competitiveness Fund simpler, more focused and more effective — supporting businesses, including SMEs, throughout their investment journey, strengthening the Single Market, and delivering real and measurable improvements in Europe’s competitiveness.
The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection submits the following to the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, as the committee responsible:
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (2) The Union is facing a defining period for its future, from a political, economic, social, environmental, climate and security perspective, including increased risks of conventional military threats. The Draghi report on the future of European Competitiveness3 presented a new vision to reignite sustainable growth in Europe. The Letta report4 outlined that Europe must leverage its Single Market to achieve a leadership position in the global competition. The Commission communication on the Competitiveness Compass5 provided a roadmap for boosting competitiveness, building on the recommendations of these reports. The Commission communication on the Clean Industrial Deal6 outlined the need to accelerate decarbonisation, reindustrialisation and innovation, bringing together climate action and competitiveness under one overarching growth. Sectorial Industrial Action Plans, such as Automotive, Steel and Metals and Chemicals aim to ensure the long-term competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience of the European industry. The State of the Digital decade 20257 highlights the urgent need to foster cooperation and increase public and private investments for strengthening Union’s digital leadership, sovereignty and inclusiveness. The Joint White Paper on European Defence Readiness8 underlines the need to massively and rapidly reinvest in defence in support of Europe’s freedom of action. Moreover, the priorities of the Economic Security Strategy further underline the crucial need to secure the Union’s technological edge and de-risk economic relations including by enhancing the resilience of supply chains and thereby reducing dependencies on others. The European Ocean Pact outlines the need to enhance competitiveness and accelerate the strategic transition across the blue economy sectors, focussing especially on decarbonisation and scaling up innovation. As outlined in the Commission Communication on the Road to the next MFF,9 the next Union long-term budget needs to be more focused, simpler, more flexible, and predictable and better deliver on the Union priorities, including bolstering the Union competitiveness. | (2) The Union is facing a defining period for its future, from a political, economic, social, environmental, climate and security perspective, including increased risks of conventional military threats. Economic pressures and competition for control over essential supply chains have highlighted Europe's strategic challenges, and the still-incomplete Single Market limits the economic potential of the integration of the Union, constituting an effective tariff between its Member States of 44% for the manufacturing sector and 110% for the services sector. The Draghi report on the future of European Competitiveness3 presented a new vision to reignite sustainable growth in Europe primarily by boosting competitiveness, reducing regulatory burdens, and incentivising innovation. The Letta report4 outlined that Europe must leverage and further integrate its Single Market to achieve a leadership position in the global economy. The Commission communication on the Competitiveness Compass5 provided a roadmap for boosting competitiveness, building on the recommendations of these reports. The Commission communication on the Clean Industrial Deal6 outlined the need to accelerate decarbonisation, reindustrialisation and innovation, bringing together climate action and competitiveness. Sectorial Industrial Action Plans, in areas such as Automotive, Steel and Metals and Chemicals aim to ensure the long-term competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience of the European industry. The State of the Digital decade 20257 highlights the urgent need to foster cooperation and increase public and private investments for strengthening the Union’s digital leadership, sovereignty and inclusiveness, while the Commission proposal for a Regulation on the Digital Omnibus7a highlights the need to reduce regulatory overlap and complexity. The Joint White Paper on European Defence Readiness8 underlines the need to massively and rapidly reinvest in defence in support of Europe’s freedom. Moreover, the priorities of the Economic Security Strategy further underline the crucial need to secure the Union’s technological edge and de-risk economic relations including by enhancing the resilience of Europe's supply chains. The European Ocean Pact outlines the need to enhance competitiveness and accelerate the strategic transition across the blue economy sectors, focussing especially on decarbonisation and scaling up innovation. As outlined in the Commission Communication on the Road to the next MFF,9 the next Union long-term budget needs to be more focused, simpler, more flexible, and predictable and to better deliver on the Union priorities, including bolstering the Union competitiveness. |
| 3 The future of European competitiveness: Report by Mario Draghi, September 2024, https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/draghi-report_en | 3 The future of European competitiveness: Report by Mario Draghi, September 2024, https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/draghi-report_en |
| 4 Enrico Letta's Report on the Future of the Single Market, April 2024, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/ny3j24sm/much-more-than-a-market-report-by-enrico-letta.pdf. | 4 Enrico Letta's Report on the Future of the Single Market, April 2024, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/ny3j24sm/much-more-than-a-market-report-by-enrico-letta.pdf. |
| 5 Competitiveness compass - European Commission | 5 Competitiveness compass - European Commission |
| 6 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, The Clean Industrial Deal: A joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation, COM(2025) 85 final, 26.2.2025. | 6 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, The Clean Industrial Deal: A joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation, COM(2025) 85 final, 26.2.2025. |
| 7 COM(2025) 290 final State of the Digital Decade 2025: Keep building the EU's sovereignty and digital future. | 7 COM(2025) 290 final State of the Digital Decade 2025: Keep building the EU's sovereignty and digital future. 7a COM/2025/837 final |
| 8 Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council on ‘European Economic Security Strategy’, JOIN(2023) 20 final, 20.6.2023. | 8 Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council on ‘European Economic Security Strategy’, JOIN(2023) 20 final, 20.6.2023. |
| 9 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, The road to the next multiannual financial framework, COM(2025) 46 final, 11.2.2025. | 9 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, The road to the next multiannual financial framework, COM(2025) 46 final, 11.2.2025. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (2 a) In the context of this Regulation, competitiveness should mean measures that result in increased economic growth, innovation, and productivity in response to market demand within the Single Market, as well as better quality in terms of products and services and an improved price ratio for products and services. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3) To regain and reinforce its competitive edge, it is essential that the Union revives the innovation cycle by developing its disruptive innovation capacity and investing in emerging, cutting-edge and strategic technologies with significant economic potential. To ensure its autonomy in the global economy, the Union should guarantee its technological and industrial leadership in strategic sectors, starting with critical raw materials supply chains, to develop and manufacture strategic technologies in Europe, as well as mitigate risks affecting its security and resilience emanating from critical external dependencies. This can be done by addressing market failures and suboptimal investment situations, in a proportionate manner and without crowding out private funding, considering the high investment needs for delivering on Union priorities, including for decarbonisation and the digital transition. Greater emphasis should be put on leveraging private sector participation by improving the use of risk-sharing mechanisms between Union funds and private investors, to ensure an efficient use of public funding. This will build upon and further amplify the impact of the progress achieved on the Savings and Investment Union, which will provide the necessary regulatory landscape for private investments to thrive. The use of any additional national resources is without prejudice to the application of Articles 107 and 108 TFEU. | (3) To regain and reinforce its competitive edge, it is essential that the Union revives the innovation cycle by developing its disruptive innovation capacity and investing in emerging, cutting-edge and strategic technologies with significant economic potential, including by raising productivity, innovation, and market-leadership. To ensure its autonomy in the global economy, the Union should guarantee its technological and industrial leadership in strategic sectors, starting with critical raw materials supply chains, to develop and manufacture strategic technologies in Europe, as well as mitigate risks affecting its security and resilience emanating from critical external dependencies. This can be done by addressing market failures and suboptimal investment situations, in a targeted and proportionate manner and without crowding out private funding, and focusing on delivering added-value and meeting market-demand, considering the high investment needs for delivering on Union priorities, including for decarbonisation and the digital transition. Indeed, facilitating greater access to private funding from capital markets offers the potential to bridge a crucial funding gap that currently limits the growth potential of European businesses, including the ability of start-ups and SMEs to grow, scale, innovate, and employ. Greater emphasis should be put on accessing capital market financing and leveraging private sector participation by improving the use of risk-sharing mechanisms between Union funds and private investors, to ensure an efficient use of public funding. This will build upon and further amplify the impact of the progress achieved on the Savings and Investment Union, which will provide the necessary regulatory landscape for private investments to thrive. The use of any additional national resources is without prejudice to the application of Articles 107 and 108 TFEU. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (4) This requires that Union funding offers support to businesses and projects along the entire investment journey. This journey encompasses all stages of developing and manufacturing strategic technologies, products and services in Europe, from applied research, through all forms of innovation, scale-up, industrial deployment, to manufacturing and market deployment, including the necessary investment and operational costs support, infrastructure and skills. The investment journey is not linear as all stages feed each other, and ideas for new products or services might arise at any stage. European funding needs to cater for this non-linear reality with increased flexibility of providing support preserving predictability for funding. | (4) This requires that Union funding offers support to businesses and projects along the entire investment journey, where appropriate, to deliver added value, boost competitiveness, build capacity, and meet market demand where the market itself has not sufficiently provided this. This journey encompasses all stages of developing and manufacturing strategic technologies, products and services in Europe, from applied research, through all forms of innovation, scale-up, industrial deployment, to manufacturing and market deployment, including the necessary investment and operational costs support, infrastructure and skills. The investment journey is not linear as all stages feed each other, and ideas for new products or services might arise at any stage. European funding needs to cater for this non-linear reality with increased flexibility of providing support preserving predictability for funding. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (6) Digital connectivity is crucial to foster collaboration within the ecosystem, accelerating innovation, enabling seamless and secure access to critical digital capacities and solutions across the Union, facilitating cross-border public-private partnerships, and fostering interoperability and cost-effectiveness. | (6) Digital connectivity is crucial to foster collaboration within the ecosystem, accelerating innovation, enabling seamless and secure access to critical digital capacities and solutions across the Union, facilitating cross-border public-private partnerships, increasing digital literacy, investing in vital infrastructure and networks, as well as for data retention, connectivity, cloud storage, data sharing, and fostering interoperability and cost-effectiveness. These elements are vital if the Union is to show digital leadership and regain competitiveness in the digital sector. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (10) The Commission should ensure tight coordination and synergies between all Union founding sources in the MFF. For this purpose, the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation will be tightly linked to the ECF: to ensure that the European industry leverages research results funded by the Union to further innovate and produce in Europe. In order to foster synergies, the work programmes adopted under this Regulation should integrate in a specific and dedicated part and ensure coherence with the ‘Competitiveness’ component, Part II ‘Competitiveness and Society’ of the Regulation (EU) [XXX]10 of the European Parliament and of the Council [Horizon Europe Framework programme for Research and Innovation]11 in accordance with the committee procedure set out in this Regulation. Besides, the ECF shall ensure coherence with the types of actions planned to be implemented under the Innovation Fund, notably when developing work programmes. | (10) The Commission should ensure tight coordination and synergies between all Union founding sources in the MFF. For this purpose, the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation will be tightly linked to the ECF: to ensure that the European industry leverages research results funded by the Union to further innovate and produce in Europe. In order to foster synergies, the work programmes adopted under this Regulation should integrate in a specific and dedicated part and ensure coherence with the ‘Competitiveness’ component, Part II ‘Competitiveness and Society’ of the Regulation (EU) [XXX]10 of the European Parliament and of the Council [Horizon Europe Framework programme for Research and Innovation]11 in accordance with the committee procedure set out in this Regulation. The rules of Horizon Europe Framework programme for Research and Innovation, including, where relevant and unless otherwise specified, any relevant provisions from this Regulation, should apply to the collaborative research and innovation activities funded under Pillar II, ‘Competitiveness’ part of that programme and should be integrated in a specific dedicated part in the ECF Work Programmes. In accordance with Article 4(3) of the Commission proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Horizon Europe, the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, for the period 2028-2034 laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, and repealing Regulation (EU) 2021/69511a and the ECF rules, the ECF Work Programmes, including collaborative research parts under the policy windows of Chapters IV to VII of the ECF, should be adopted under the work programme rules of this Regulation, including its committee procedures to maintain a seamless support to the investment journey. The specific programme on defence research and innovation has its own set of rules consolidated in this Regulation, which are applicable to the Support for Defence Industry Policy action, including the Collaborative Defence Research & Development, Innovation and Technological Superiority action. |
| 10 OJ L.., p | 10 OJ L.., p |
| 11 COM(2025) 543 | 11 COM(2025)0543. |
| 11a COM(2025)0543. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (12 a) European openness and the Union's international leverage through its trading relations with the rest of the world are an important source of the Union's economic strength. The ECF should work to support European openness, while upholding Europe's strategic economic interests. Union’s competitiveness is strengthened by economic relations and partnerships with third countries, through competitive pressure, export market opportunities and innovation and knowledge spillovers, but also as a crucial source of resilience through diversification, in particular in the area of critical raw materials. Synergies with the instrument Global Europe, to be established under the Commission’s proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Global Europe1a offer opportunities to increase coherence between internal and external competitiveness policy. Competitiveness actions under the ECF with an external dimension should, where relevant, be supported by and implemented in synergy with Global Europe. | |
| 1a COM(2025)0551. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (13) Cooperation between public and private sectors can benefit European competitiveness and leveraging private investments is necessary to complete the objectives of the ECF. Therefore, it should be possible to implement parts of the ECF budget through public-private partnerships together with other public and private entities, where this is the most effective implementation form to achieve the policy objectives established for research and technological development, while ensuring additionality and avoiding the crowding-out of private investments. Public-private partnerships in the form of Joint Undertakings should be established where a close involvement of the Union is required and should ensure appropriate voting rights for the Union as well as sufficient co-investment by other partners to leverage Union support. In view of fostering synergies and efficiencies, it is necessary, based on the assessed needs, to ensure a centralised establishment and administrative functions for joint undertakings. Therefore, the number of joint undertakings should be as limited as possible. | (13) Cooperation between public and private sectors can benefit European competitiveness and leveraging private investments is necessary to complete the objectives of the ECF. Therefore, it should be possible to implement parts of the ECF budget through public-private partnerships together with other public and private entities, where this is the most effective implementation form to achieve the policy objectives established for research and technological development, while ensuring additionality and avoiding the crowding-out of private investments. Public-private partnerships in the form of Joint Undertakings should be established where a close involvement of the Union is required and should ensure appropriate voting rights for the Union as well as sufficient co-investment by other partners to leverage Union support. In view of fostering synergies and efficiencies, it is necessary, based on the assessed needs, to ensure a centralised establishment and administrative functions for joint undertakings. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (14) The ECF should use the whole toolbox of Union budget to unlock additional public and private investments, in particular from institutional investors throughout the whole investment journey. It should contribute to creating an “investment culture” by better leveraging public funds and the de-risking potential of the Union budget. It will maximise the added value of Union action and crowd-in private capital to secure a competitive innovation and industrial base, also by using innovative funding instruments including public-private co-investment with asymmetric risk returns. In this regard, the use of financial instruments that crowd in private investors should be the privileged option wherever possible. | (14) The ECF should use the whole toolbox of Union budget to unlock additional public and private investments, in particular from institutional investors throughout the whole investment journey. It should contribute to creating an “investment culture” by better leveraging public funds, delivering returns for investors, and the de-risking potential of the Union budget. It will maximise the added value of Union action and crowd-in private capital to secure a competitive innovation and industrial base, also by using innovative funding instruments including public-private co-investment with asymmetric risk returns. In this regard, the use of financial instruments that crowd in private investors should be the privileged option wherever possible. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (19) Infrastructure is an essential enabler for European competitiveness. Investments in infrastructure are a necessary condition for the proper functioning of the EU's single market, the green and digital transition and for increasing the Union’s resilience and security. For example, the trans-European transport network fosters sustainable forms of transport, promotes improved multimodal and interoperable digital and transport solutions, thereby contributing to a smooth functioning of the internal market. The trans-European networks for energy are key for a genuine Energy Union to enable the Union’s energy and climate objectives by connecting Union countries’ electricity and clean energy networks to ensure our energy independence and competitiveness. For this, the development of cross-border interconnectors, domestic transmission and distribution grids is essential. The ECF support will work in coherence and complementarity with the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). It is essential for Europe’s competitiveness to provide for synergies between the development of trans-European networks in energy and transport with strong cross-border impact supported by CEF, and investment support for the decarbonisation, modernisation and expansion of transport, energy and digital infrastructure under ECF. | (19) Infrastructure and capital investment are essential enablers for European competitiveness. Investments in infrastructure are a necessary condition for the proper functioning of the EU's single market, the green and digital transition and for increasing the Union’s resilience and security. For example, the trans-European transport network fosters sustainable forms of transport, promotes improved multimodal and interoperable digital and transport solutions, thereby contributing to a smooth functioning of the internal market. The trans-European networks for energy are key for a genuine Energy Union to enable the Union’s energy and climate objectives by connecting Union countries’ electricity and clean energy networks to ensure our energy independence and competitiveness. For this, the development of cross-border interconnectors, domestic transmission and distribution grids is essential. The ECF support will work in coherence and complementarity with the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). It is essential for Europe’s competitiveness to provide for synergies between the development of trans-European networks in energy and transport with strong cross-border impact supported by CEF, and investment support for the decarbonisation, modernisation and expansion of transport, energy and digital infrastructure under ECF. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (26) The Union can become a global leader in digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, digital identity, semiconductors, robotics, quantum technologies, space technologies and others by harnessing the untapped potential of our researchers and industries. The ECF should promote the development and deployment of digital solutions and infrastructures and capacities across the Union for the benefit of the European society and economy. | (26) The Union can become a global leader in digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, digital identity, semiconductors, microelectronics, robotics, quantum technologies, space technologies, cyber security, and others by harnessing the untapped potential of our researchers and industries. The ECF should promote the development and deployment of digital solutions, infrastructures, skills, and capacities across the Union for the benefit of the European society and economy. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (27) Chronic underinvestment in the European tech sector is one of the main reasons for the lack of competitiveness of the Union, as compared to our global competitors. Moreover, European sovereignty in digital technologies and infrastructures has become key for our resilience, security and for democracy, as highlighted in the 2025 State of the Digital decade report which also underlined the remaining significant gaps to reach Union’s 2030 goals, notably for the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and space technologies, semiconductors, 5G and digital skills. | (27) Chronic underinvestment in the European tech sector and needless red tape and bureaucracy are among the main reasons for the lack of competitiveness of the Union in the global tech economy, as compared to our global competitors. Moreover, European sovereignty in strategic digital technologies and infrastructures has become key for our resilience, security and for democracy, as highlighted in the 2025 State of the Digital decade report which also underlined the remaining significant gaps to reach Union’s 2030 goals, notably for the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and space technologies, semiconductors, 5G and digital skills. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (28) While Europe’s digital transformation is accelerating, the many critical dependencies on non-Union suppliers (from raw materials, advanced semiconductors, and AI chips to systems, infrastructures and services) require European alternatives that anchor the digital transformation in Europe’s economy, with our shared values as the essential differentiator, including by leveraging the power of open-source technologies. Support for digital leadership is driven by regulatory and non-regulatory Union policy initiatives in the digital area such as the AI Act, AI Continent and AI Action Plan, the Apply AI Strategy, the Cloud and AI Development Act, the Data Union Strategy, the Digital Networks Act, the EU Quantum Strategy and the Quantum Act, the Cyber-Solidarity Act, the Cyber-Resilience Act and the Cybersecurity Act, the White Paper for European Defence-Readiness 2030, and the revision of the EU Chips Act, and by future policy initiatives. The digital areas to invest in include a number of critical frontier technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-powered digital twins, robotics, semiconductors, autonomous or quantum technologies. They also include key infrastructures such as digital identity, cloud, high performance and quantum computing, communication, advanced underwater observation infrastructure, and sensing infrastructures, digital connectivity networks, including submarine cables, as well as cybersecurity, defence or space capacities. Fostering their uptake across private and public sectors makes our entire economy more competitive, secure, sovereign, and sustainable, fortifying societal resilience and preparedness. Moreover, interoperable digital technologies are driving the modernisation of the public sector, serving for the integration of the single market, which is our most valuable stepping stone for European digital start-ups to become globally competitive. Technological progress and innovation in every economic sector, and thus their productivity and competitiveness, are essentially driven by the integration of sector-specific digital developments and use of digital solutions that should be supported across the ECF. | (28) While Europe’s digital transformation is accelerating, the many critical dependencies on non-Union suppliers (from raw materials, advanced semiconductors, and AI chips to systems, infrastructures and services) require European or other reliable alternatives that anchor the digital transformation in Europe’s economy or along reliable supply chains, with our shared values as the essential differentiator, including by leveraging the power of open-source technologies. Support for digital leadership is driven by regulatory and non-regulatory Union policy initiatives in the digital area such as the AI Act, AI Continent and AI Action Plan, the Apply AI Strategy, the Cloud and AI Development Act, the Data Union Strategy, the Digital Networks Act, the EU Quantum Strategy and the Quantum Act, the Cyber-Solidarity Act, the Cyber-Resilience Act and the Cybersecurity Act, the White Paper for European Defence-Readiness 2030, and the revision of the EU Chips Act, and by future policy initiatives. The digital areas to invest in include a number of critical frontier technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-powered digital twins, robotics, semiconductors, autonomous or quantum technologies. They also include key infrastructures such as digital identity, cloud, high performance and quantum computing, communication, advanced underwater observation infrastructure, and sensing infrastructures, digital connectivity networks, including submarine cables, as well as cybersecurity, defence or space capacities. Fostering their uptake across private and public sectors makes our entire economy more competitive, secure, sovereign, and sustainable, fortifying societal resilience and preparedness. Moreover, interoperable digital technologies are driving the modernisation of the public sector, serving for the integration of the single market, which is our most valuable stepping stone for European digital start-ups to become globally competitive. Technological progress and innovation in every economic sector, and thus their productivity and competitiveness, are essentially driven by the integration of sector-specific digital developments and use of digital solutions that should be supported across the ECF. |
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| (31) A successful deployment of interoperability across borders and sectors has a substantial, untapped potential, especially for the competitiveness of European businesses. Therefore, it is imperative to invest in the development of pan-European digital public infrastructures encompassing interoperable, secure and sovereign digital networks, solutions and services to address the fragmented interoperability landscape across the Union, notably to transform the Member States’ public sector into an interconnected, frictionless, and agile digital ecosystem. The implementation of interoperability by European public administrations at all levels is a precondition for a resilient and innovation-driven public sector which contributes to the Union’s goals of competitiveness, technological sovereignty and security. | (31) A successful deployment of interoperability across borders and sectors has a substantial, untapped potential, especially for the competitiveness of European businesses. Therefore, it is imperative to invest in the development of pan-European digital public infrastructures and data sharing frameworks encompassing interoperable, secure and sovereign digital networks, solutions and services to address the fragmented interoperability landscape across the Union, notably to transform the Member States’ public sector into an interconnected, frictionless, and agile digital ecosystem. The implementation of interoperability by European public administrations at all levels is a precondition for a resilient and innovation-driven public sector which contributes to the Union’s goals of competitiveness, technological sovereignty and security. |
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| (44) To promote the Union’s competitiveness, in addition to its budget, wherever possible the ECF should attract and generate additional assigned external revenues. In this respect, the ECF should be open and facilitate synergies and cooperation for any financial or non-financial contributions that can support the competitiveness objectives, including from Member States, third countries and international organisations. | (44) To promote the Union’s competitiveness, in addition to its budget, wherever possible the ECF should attract and generate additional assigned external revenues. In this respect, the ECF should be open and facilitate synergies and cooperation for any financial or non-financial contributions that can support the competitiveness objectives, including from Member States, capital markets, third countries and international organisations. |
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| (45) To promote the resilience of the Union economy, notably by reducing strategic dependencies, the ECF should enable Union preference for support to manufacturing and developing strategic technologies and sectors located in the Union, notably for actions related to Union strategic assets, interests, autonomy or security, in line with Union law and its international commitments. It is essential that European funding contributes to the uptake of strategic technologies developed in the Union and funded through European funding. To support the development and manufacturing in the Union of strategic technologies funded by the Union, the ECF should allow to condition its support through control restrictions, asset transfers restrictions and supply restrictions to the use of specific products and technologies. | (45) To promote the resilience of the Union economy, notably by reducing strategic dependencies, the ECF should enable Union preference for support to manufacturing and developing strategic technologies and sectors located in the Union in a targeted and pragmatic manner, and as a last resort without disincentivising long-term competition and innovation, ultimately undermining Europe’s competitiveness ambitions, and, notably for actions related to Union strategic assets, interests, autonomy or security, in line with Union law and its international commitments. It is essential that European funding contributes to the uptake of strategic technologies developed in the Union and other like-minded international partners, and funded through European funding. To support the development and manufacturing in the Union of strategic technologies funded by the Union, the ECF should allow to condition its support through control restrictions, asset transfers restrictions and supply restrictions to the use of specific products and technologies in a targeted and pragmatic manner, and as a last resort without disincentivising long-term competition and innovation, ultimately undermining Europe’s competitiveness ambitions. |
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| (45 a) To ensure focus on reducing and preventing high-risk dependencies, the approach identified by the Commission in its staff working document entitled “Strategic dependencies and capacities Accompanying the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Updating the 2020 New Industrial Strategy: Building a stronger Single Market for Europe's recovery” 1a should be used as a foundation. High risk dependencies should be understood in this context as dependencies on an external reliance on goods, services, data, capital or technology relevant for the Union’s economy and open international trading system, which are essential for the Union’s security and resilience and that create important vulnerability due to a high degree of market concentration, limited dispensability and substitutability, and exposure to coercive or unstable third countries. | |
| 1a SWD/2021/352 |
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| (48) Union support should focus on the achievement of policy objectives. In all cases, ECF funding should be provided in the form best able to achieve its objectives, while limiting administrative burden for recipients to the absolute minimum. When implementing the budget, the ECF should provide the full toolbox of Union support and ensure synergies between its supported policies, in particular by allowing for simplified common award procedures to pursue objectives of more than one policy. As such, the elimination of burdensome financial reporting through the widest possible use of financing not linked to cost should be pursued as a major simplification measure. | (48) Union support should focus on the achievement of policy objectives and European added value. In all cases, ECF funding should be provided in the form best able to achieve its objectives, while limiting administrative burden for recipients to the absolute minimum. When implementing the budget, the ECF should provide the full toolbox of Union support and ensure synergies between its supported policies, in particular by allowing for simplified common award procedures to pursue objectives of more than one policy. As such, the elimination of burdensome financial reporting through the widest possible use of financing not linked to cost should be pursued as a major simplification measure. |
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| (50) The ECF should be implemented through work programmes as set out in this Regulation. Work programmes could be adopted under an annual or multi-annual format. The latter could in particular be considered for the purposes of Union support provided for budgetary guarantees and financial instruments, with a view to provide predictability to implementing partners. The designated mode of implementation reflects the identified needs for directionality, flexibility, predictability and efficiency, required to meet the objectives of the Regulation. In accordance with Regulation (EU Euratom) 2024/2059, the work programmes and the call documents will set out more technical implementation details for the budget across the set of policies supported by the ECF, including specific eligibility and award criteria depending on the instrument of budget implementation, be it grant, or procurement, and the specific policy objectives pursued. In accordance with Article 136 of the Financial Regulation, eligibility restrictions should apply to high-risk suppliers, for security reasons. Work programmes are also the appropriate place to allocate budget in accordance with evolving policy priorities, and they should set out contributions, specific conditions and expected results. | (50) The ECF should be implemented through work programmes as set out in this Regulation. Work programmes could be adopted under an annual or multi-annual format. The latter could in particular be considered for the purposes of Union support provided for budgetary guarantees and financial instruments, with a view to provide predictability to implementing partners. The designated mode of implementation reflects the identified needs for directionality, flexibility, predictability and efficiency, required to meet the objectives of the Regulation. In accordance with Regulation (EU Euratom) 2024/2059, the work programmes and the call documents will set out more technical implementation details for the budget across the set of policies supported by the ECF, including specific eligibility and award criteria depending on the instrument of budget implementation, be it grant, or procurement, and the specific policy objectives pursued. In accordance with Article 136 of the Financial Regulation, eligibility restrictions should apply to high-risk suppliers, for security reasons. Where work programmes lay down award criteria, those should be based on excellence, impact, and quality, and, where applicable, take into account the impact of proposals in light of the ECF objectives as well as contribute generally to a more competitive and dynamic Single Market. Work programmes are also the appropriate place to allocate budget in accordance with evolving policy priorities, and they should set out contributions, specific conditions and expected results |
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| (50 a) SMEs are an integral part of European economy and European community life and an important source of employment and growth potential in every Member State, but they are also faced with challenges, barriers, information asymmetries, and cost-pressures that warrant specific attention. SMEs should therefore be given specific recognition and support under the ECF. To make sure that the needs of SMEs are properly taken into account, work programmes under the ECF shall describe in a specific dedicated part how they aim to support SMEs. |
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| (50 b) An essential aim and goal of the ECF should be to further and support the completion of the Single Market by helping businesses, including SMEs and start-ups to grow, scale, and innovate. The ECF should aim as a priority to facilitate businesses to better access funding, information, and administrative support in order to contribute to a more competitive, dynamic, and integrated Single Market across all Member States. Such support should also include greater information and knowledge of how to access Union funds and supports, as well as reducing the administrative and bureaucratic burden that may currently make it difficult to access such funds and supports. |
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| (59) The ever-evolving geopolitical situation underlines the need for Europe to ensure its own strategic autonomy and avoid strategic dependencies. The ECF will include the possibility to support production ramp up and undertake accelerated competitiveness actions for projects that offer specific support to European strategic autonomy. This is for example the case for projects that have been selected as strategic under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 (Critical Raw Materials Act), Regulation (EU) 2024/1724 (Net Zero Industry Act) and the Regulation (EU) 2025/102 (Critical Medicines Act). | (59) The ever-evolving geopolitical situation underlines the need for Europe to ensure its own open strategic autonomy and avoid strategic dependencies. The ECF will include the possibility to support production ramp up and undertake accelerated competitiveness actions for projects that offer specific support to European strategic autonomy. This is for example the case for projects that have been selected as strategic under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 (Critical Raw Materials Act), Regulation (EU) 2024/1724 (Net Zero Industry Act) and the Regulation (EU) 2025/102 (Critical Medicines Act). |
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| (77) A Project Advisory should be established to support objectives of the ECF, building on the of InvestEU Advisory Hub. It should unify advisory support to private and public entities across Europe, offering tailored services to potential beneficiaries and contribute to development of a pipeline of potential investment operations under the ECF. At the same time, role of business support services such as the EU for Business Network, among others, should be to make European businesses become more innovative and competitive, grow and scale in the Single Market and to raise awareness and contribute to capacity building on avenues for accessing capital market-based funding. To avoid undue administrative burden and ensure a swift deployment and support to the market in continuity, the ECF may rely on the existing community of the InvestEU Programme pillar assessed advisory partners. | (77) A Project Advisory should be established to support objectives of the ECF, building on the example of the InvestEU Advisory Hub. It should unify advisory support to private and public entities across Europe, offering tailored services to potential beneficiaries and contribute to development of a pipeline of potential investment operations under the ECF. At the same time, role of business support services such as the EU for Business Network, among others, should be to make European businesses become more innovative and competitive, grow and scale in the Single Market and to raise awareness and contribute to capacity building on avenues for accessing capital market-based funding. To avoid undue administrative burden and ensure a swift deployment and support to the market in continuity, the ECF may rely on the existing community of the InvestEU Programme pillar assessed advisory partners. |
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| (79 a) The ECF should be designed with simplicity, proportionality and certainty to ensure accessibility for SMEs, family businesses, start-ups and other companies. High application costs deter SMEs from applying, whereas reducing this upfront risk is essential to increase participation. Streamlining application processes should be a priority. Improved information provision and outreach are critical, as many businesses lack the capacity to research and apply for supports in-house. A user-centred design, reduced administrative burden, clearer information, proportional requirements and quicker decision-making would significantly improve uptake and impact, especially for SMEs, while still supporting larger firms to invest, innovate and scale. |
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| (80) Evidence shows that direct financial support to SMEs is not enough on its own to support their scaling-up and that they need and benefit from dedicated advice at Union level. Providing advice on Single Market rules, innovation and access to finance contributes to Union competitiveness. Moreover, business support at local, regional and national level is diverse and should also connect less developed and outermost regions. Existing Union initiatives such as the Enterprise Europe Network, European Cluster Collaboration Platform and European Digital Innovation Hubs have helped bridge this gap. Accordingly, an ‘EU for Business Network’ shall be established, building on the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) and other networks, to simplify and streamline advisory and partnership services. | (80) Evidence shows that direct financial support to SMEs is not enough on its own to support their scaling-up and that they need and benefit from dedicated advice at Union level. Providing advice and guidance on Single Market rules, innovation access to finance contributes to Union competitiveness. Moreover, business support at local, regional and national level is diverse and should also connect less developed and outermost regions. Existing Union initiatives such as the Enterprise Europe Network, European Cluster Collaboration Platform and European Digital Innovation Hubs have helped bridge this gap. Accordingly, an ‘EU for Business Network’ shall be established, building on the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) and other networks, to simplify and streamline advisory and partnership services, to increase knowledge, experience, and awareness of how to best access Union funding streams, as well as to promote consultation with the SMEs sector as part of the operation of the ECF. |
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| (81) The ECF will support SME’s access to finance and strengthen the competitiveness of the Union SMEs via two main avenues: First, in addition to the EU for Business Network, the ECF will also conduct additional cross-cutting activities focused on strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs. Second, the ECF policy windows should include dedicated SME actions targeting SMEs in strategic sectors, such as bonus systems to encourage SME participation, with a view to fostering SME innovation, growth and scaling-up. Special support may be granted for access to and the availability of finance for SMEs and small mid-cap companies across all sectors of the economy, including micro-finance, support for social enterprises. Furthermore, a flexible financial toolbox under the ECF should ensure that SMEs could receive the type of support that best fits their needs along their investment journey. | (81) The ECF will support SME’s access to finance and strengthen the competitiveness of the Union SMEs via two main avenues: First, in addition to the EU for Business Network, the ECF will also conduct additional cross-cutting activities focused on strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs, including as part of the award criteria. Second, the ECF policy windows should include dedicated SME actions targeting SMEs in strategic sectors, such as bonus systems to encourage SME participation, with a view to fostering SME innovation, growth and scaling-up. Special support may be granted for access to and the availability of finance for SMEs and small mid-cap companies across all sectors of the economy, including micro-finance, support for social enterprises. Furthermore, a flexible financial toolbox under the ECF should ensure that SMEs could receive the type of support that best fits their needs along their investment journey. |
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| (3 a) "Competitiveness" means increased innovation and productivity in response to market demand within the Single Market, as well as better quality in terms of products and services and an improved price ratio for products and services, leading to increased economic growth. |
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| 1. The general objective of the ECF is to increase European competitiveness, notably in strategic sectors and technologies along the investment journey by: | 1. The general and overarching objective of the ECF is to increase European economic competitiveness on the basis of excellence, impact, and quality, notably in strategic sectors and technologies along the investment journey by: |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
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| (a) delivering technological, economic and environmental impact from the Union's investments, including by developing disruptive and incremental innovation, and emerging, cutting-edge, dual-use, and strategic technologies with significant economic potential, including by developing and accelerating their manufacturing and industrial deployment; | (a) boosting innovation, and delivering technological, economic and environmental impact from the Union's investments, including by developing disruptive and incremental innovation, and emerging, cutting-edge, dual-use, and strategic technologies with significant economic potential, including by raising productivity, and developing and accelerating their manufacturing, industrial and market deployment, as well as by supporting micro-enterprises, start-ups, SMEs, and mid-cap companies to grow, scale, and remain in the European market by being able to better meet and anticipate market demand and provide products and services to meet existing and future consumer needs; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
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| (b) reducing or preventing the Union’s strategic dependencies, and reinforcing the Union’s resilience, and economic security, including through diversifying sources and markets, support to ramp up of European production of strategic technologies and creating, strengthening and protecting critical Union value chains and infrastructure; | (b) reducing or preventing the Union’s high-risk strategic dependencies, and strengthening the Union’s resilience, economic security, openness, and global market leadership, including through diversifying sources and markets, support to ramp up European production of strategic technologies and creating, strengthening and safeguarding critical Union value chains and infrastructure, including from hybrid and cyber threats; |
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| (c) addressing market failures and suboptimal investment situations, including by crowding in private capital and institutional investors as well as public funding in a proportionate manner, while avoiding duplication and without crowding out private investors; serving as an integrated platform for delivering targeted financial support to companies across all development phases start-ups, scale-ups, and strategic companies, including those actively pursuing manufacturing, industrial and market deployment; | (c) addressing market failures and suboptimal investment situations, especially by crowding in private capital and institutional investors as well as public funding in a proportionate manner, ensuring additionality and a market-led approach, by avoiding duplication and without crowding out other private investors; serving as an integrated platform for delivering targeted financial support to companies across all development phases start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs, mid-cap companies, and strategic companies, including those actively pursuing manufacturing, industrial, services and market deployment; |
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| (c a) funding and further developing the Union's Digital Single Market by investing, inter alia, in digital skills development, innovation, resilience, data-sharing frameworks, and cyber-security; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
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| (d) furthering the integration of Union capital markets in alignment with the objective of delivering Savings and Investment Union, including solutions to address the fragmentation of Union capital markets, eliminate barriers and create incentives for private investments and diversify and reinforce the sources of financing for Union enterprises in all the Member States, including those with less developed capital markets; | (d) furthering the integration of Union capital markets in line with the objective of delivering the Savings and Investments Union, including tools to address the fragmentation of Union capital markets, eliminate barriers and create incentives for private investments, for instance boosting retail investment, and diversify and reinforce the sources of private financing for Union enterprises in all the Member States, including those with less developed capital markets; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
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| (e) aligning research, innovation and industrial policy support to translate Union’s research excellence into Union industrial strength on global markets and securing the future of manufacturing in Europe; | (e) aligning research, innovation, competition, and industrial policy support to translate Union’s research excellence into Union industrial strength on global markets and securing the future of manufacturing in Europe, while fostering an innovative and dynamic European economy; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
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| (f) developing Union cross-border and critical infrastructure key to the Union’s competitiveness, and strategic independence in particular energy and transport, digital and security, defence and space infrastructure as well as social infrastructure and related data and services; | (f) developing and strengthening Union cross-border and critical infrastructure essential for the Union’s competitiveness, open strategic independence and resilience, in particular for energy, transport, digital, security, defence, space and water infrastructure as well as social infrastructure and related data and services; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
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| (g) strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs and small mid-cap companies established in the Union and their ability to grow and scale up, in particular by improving their access to finance, including private investment, micro-finance and support to social enterprises as facilitating access to Union funding, through faster, simplified and harmonised procedures; reducing and ensuring a proportionate reporting burden; | (g) strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs and small mid-cap companies established in the Union and their ability to grow and scale up, in particular by improving their access to finance, including private investment, micro-finance and support to social enterprises as well as facilitating access to Union funding, through faster, simplified and harmonised procedures and reducing and ensuring a proportionate reporting burden. An important focus shall be put on reducing unnecessary administrative and bureaucratic barriers to accessing finance and improving information about available finance and improved businesses supports to meet market demand, based on the principles of competitiveness, innovation, dynamism, and excellence. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
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| (h) addressing shortages of skills critical to all kinds of quality jobs in strategic sectors for EU competitiveness, through both horizontal and specific skills investment, contributing to the availability of skills in future emerging technologies, and by pursuing to accompany investments with skills investment and indicate when it is included; | (h) promoting quality jobs and addressing shortages of skills critical to all kinds of employment in strategic sectors for EU competitiveness, through both horizontal and specific skills investment, contributing to the availability of skills in future emerging technologies, including for start-ups and SMEs; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
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| (i) ensuring the integration of the Single Market, including by supporting initiatives at any stage of the investment journey with positive spill-over effects for the Single Market and resilience of its value chains; | (i) ensuring the integration of the Single Market, including by supporting initiatives at any stage of the investment journey with positive spill-over effects for cross-border business investment, the Single Market, and the resilience of its value chains; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
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| (4) For support to the agriculture and food security, the specific objective of fostering the competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience of the agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry and rural and coastal areas and their role in the transition to a climate-neutral climate-resilient, water-smart, nature-positive economy and the protection of natural resources biodiversity while contributing to long term food security in the Union. | (4) For support to the agriculture and food security, the specific objective of fostering the competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience of the agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry and rural and coastal areas, including start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs in this area, and their role in environmental protection and contributing to long term food security in the Union. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
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| (c) For support to Digital Leadership policy, the specific objectives of fostering innovation and competitiveness of digital sector for a competitive and secure Union and bringing its benefits to citizens and society, public administrations and businesses across the Union. This shall include, but not be limited to, supporting the entire digital value- and supply-chains and activities including support to start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs, in particular along the following dimensions: Achieving leadership in digital and AI technologies, including through technology transfer and innovation, and through cutting-edge infrastructures such as AI-powered digital twins; Achieving technological sovereignty by building resilient digital ecosystems and ensuring a high-level of cybersecurity in the Union; Enabling the power of digital for businesses and citizens by deploying advanced digital applications and services, infrastructures, capacities and capabilities and by reinforcing interoperability across the Union, Including support to digitalisation of companies, including SMEs, small mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups; Supporting the digital transformation and interoperability of public and private sectors through the rapid uptake of AI, the wallet technologies, such as EU Digital Identity Wallets and trust services established pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 and the forthcoming European Business Wallets and other digital innovative solutions. Support to cultural and creative industries, complementing the AgoraEU programme. | (c) For support to Digital Leadership, the specific objectives of fostering innovation, dynamism, and competitiveness of digital sector for a competitive and secure Union, including support for start-ups, scale-ups, and SMEs, bringing its benefits to citizens and society, public administrations and businesses across the Union. This shall include, but not be limited to: |
| (i) developing and shaping essential digital technologies, including in the areas of AI high performance computing, quantum technologies, semiconductors, and robotics; | |
| (ii) building resilient digital ecosystems and infrastructure, and strengthening the security of supply; | |
| (iii) building state-of-the-art digital applications, infrastructures and services, including pan-European digital networks; | |
| (iv) supporting the digital transformation and interoperability of public and private sectors; | |
| (v) supporting the integration of digital solutions and digital practices into all areas of business and service provision to improve efficiency, improve access, and meet market demand; | |
| (vi) developing data-sharing frameworks and infrastructures; | |
| (vii) improving digital knowledge and capability in all areas; | |
| (viii) supporting the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of relevant Union legislation and policy; | |
| (ix) enhancing a high level of cybersecurity in the Union. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
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| (1) For support to resilience of supply chains, the specific objectives of reinforcing Europe’s resilience by strengthening the Union capacity in exploration, extraction, processing and recycling of raw materials and diversifying supply sources and markets, and improving the timely availability of such products, including through the reduction of their delivery lead time, reservation of manufacturing slots or stockpiling of products, intermediate products or raw materials. | (1) For support to resilient supply chains, the specific objectives of reinforcing Europe's economic security and the resilience of European industry, including start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs in this area, by: |
| (a) strengthening the Union's capacity in exploration, extraction, processing, and recycling of raw materials; | |
| (b) diversifying supply sources and markets; and | |
| (c) improving the timely availability of such products, including through the reduction of their delivery lead time, reservation of manufacturing slots or stockpiling of products, intermediate products or raw materials. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
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| (3) For the implementation of EU space systems and space policy, the specific objectives of developing, maintaining and operating space systems, providing cutting-edge space-based information, data and services supporting Union policies, notably in the area of security, defence, sustainable growth, environment protection and climate resilience, global engagement and strategic independence; Maximising the socio-economic benefits of space-based activities, in particular by fostering the development of an innovative and competitive Union space economy and supporting the development of a genuine Single Market for space activities, including collaborative research and innovation for space products and technologies and support to SMEs; Enhancing the safety, security and sustainability of all outer space activities; Promoting the role of the Union as a global actor in the space sector. | (3) For the implementation of EU space systems and space policy, including for start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs in this area, the specific objectives of: |
| (a) developing, maintaining and operating space systems, providing cutting-edge space-based information, data and services, supporting Union policies, notably in the area of security, defence, sustainable growth, environment protection and climate resilience, global engagement and strategic independence; | |
| (b) maximising the socio-economic benefits of space-based activities, in particular by fostering the development of an innovative and competitive Union space economy and supporting the development of a genuine Single Market for space activities, including collaborative research and innovation for space products and technologies and support to SMEs; | |
| (c) enhancing the safety, security and sustainability of all outer space activities; and | |
| (d) promoting the role of the Union as a global actor in the space sector. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
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| (4) For support to civil industrial security, the specific objectives of strengthening the competitiveness and responsiveness of the European civil security industry, in the application areas of security, resilience of critical and dual-use infrastructures, technologies including critical energy infrastructure, and solutions for the control of goods and persons at borders, the protection of borders, maritime security, customs security and civil preparedness against security threats, as well as reinforcing the capabilities of the relevant end-users in the civil security sector. | (4) For support to civil security industry, the specific objectives of strengthening the competitiveness and responsiveness of the European civil security industry, including start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs in this area, in the application areas of: |
| (a) security, resilience of critical and dual-use infrastructure, technologies including critical energy infrastructure; | |
| (b) solutions for the control of goods and persons at borders, and the protection of borders; | |
| (c) maritime security, customs security, and civil preparedness against security threats; and | |
| (d) reinforcing the capabilities of the relevant end-users in the civil security sector. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
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| 1. A Competitiveness Seal may be awarded to high-quality actions which shall comply at least with the following conditions: | 1. A Competitiveness Seal may be awarded to high-quality actions which enhance innovation and market competitiveness, on the basis of excellence, and in addition shall comply with at least both of the following conditions: |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
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| 3. Member States may support projects which have been awarded a seal, or may provide support through the ECF by making additional resources available to the ECF in accordance with Article 5(1) or (2). | 3. Without prejudice to State aid rules, Member States may support projects which have been awarded a seal, or may provide support through the ECF by making additional resources available to the ECF in accordance with Article 5(1) or (2). |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
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| 1. The ECF support shall target development manufacturing and exploitation in the Union of strategic technologies and sectors, in line with Union law and international commitments. The award procedures may apply any of the conditions set out in paragraph 2 to protect Union’s strategic and economic security interests, as well as security and critical assets and the services they provide. | 1. The ECF support shall target development manufacturing and exploitation in the Union of strategic technologies and sectors, in a practical and proportionate manner and on a case-by-case basis, in line with Union law and international commitments. The award procedures may apply any of the conditions set out in paragraph 2 as a last resort to protect Union’s strategic and economic security interests, as well as security and critical assets and the services they provide. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. The work programme, the investment guidelines or the documents related to the award procedure may set out eligibility conditions to ensure the competitiveness of the Union, including protection of economic interests and autonomy of the Union where necessary and appropriate, including through preferential conditions such as restrictions or incentives for Union entities, while limiting distortion of the single market. Those eligibility conditions may take the form of: | 2. The work programme, the investment guidelines or the documents related to the award procedure may set out targeted eligibility conditions to ensure the competitiveness of the Union, including protection of economic interests and autonomy of the Union as a last resort, where necessary and appropriate, including through preferential conditions such as restrictions or incentives for Union entities, while limiting distortion of the single market and avoiding the undermining of Union’s openness and the Union's international commitments, and disruptive consequences to Union’s trading relationships. Those eligibility conditions may take the form of: |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) participation and performance restrictions requiring participating entities to be established, use facilities, or perform activities in the Member States, and where appropriate other eligible countries. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure may set out further details on the application of these participation and performance restrictions; | (a) targeted, practical, and proportionate participation and performance restrictions requiring participating entities to be established, use facilities, or perform activities in the Member States, and where appropriate other eligible countries. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure may set out further details on the application of these participation and performance restrictions; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) transfer restrictions requiring recipients of ECF funding, during or within 5 calendar years after the end of an action, to not directly or indirectly transfer all or certain operations, results or related access and use rights, including granting of licences, from an eligible Member State or associated country to an ineligible third country. Otherwise, Union funding may be reduced and may be fully or partially recovered. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure may set out further details on the application of these transfer restrictions; | (b) targeted, practical, and proportionate transfer restrictions requiring recipients of ECF funding, during or within 5 calendar years after the end of an action, to not directly or indirectly transfer all or certain operations, results or related access and use rights, including granting of licences, from an eligible Member State or associated country to an ineligible third country. Otherwise, Union funding may be reduced and may be fully or partially recovered. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure may set out further details on the application of these transfer restrictions; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (c) supply and content restrictions requiring recipients of ECF funding to ensure a certain minimum use or sourcing of equipment, supplies and materials, or their components, used for the action from eligible entities referred to in paragraph 2, points (a) and (b), unless those supplies and materials cannot be reasonably sourced from those eligible entities. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure may set out further details on the application of these supply and content restrictions; | (c) targeted, practical, and proportionate supply and content restrictions requiring recipients of ECF funding to ensure a certain minimum use or sourcing of equipment, supplies and materials, or their components, used for the action from eligible entities referred to in paragraph 2, points (a) and (b), unless those supplies and materials cannot be reasonably sourced from those eligible entities. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure may set out further details on the application of these supply and content restrictions; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (d) control restrictions requiring recipients of ECF funding to acquire and/or hold the ability to decide, without restrictions imposed by ineligible entities, on the creation and use of results, including the legal authority and practical capability to modify, substitute, or remove components of results that are subject to restrictions imposed by ineligible entities or third countries. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure may set out further details on the application of these design authority restrictions; | (d) targeted, practical, and proportionate control restrictions requiring recipients of ECF funding to acquire and/or hold the ability to decide, without restrictions imposed by ineligible entities, on the creation and use of results, including the legal authority and practical capability to modify, substitute, or remove components of results that are subject to restrictions imposed by ineligible entities or third countries. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure may set out further details on the application of these design authority restrictions; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. Essential aspects of the Board shall be the following : | |
| (i) industry stakeholders, including SMEs representatives, shall have a clear role at all stages in shaping priorities and governance, designing calls, and overseeing implementation; | |
| (ii) industry stakeholders shall have a recognised and active role in the thematic platforms established under each policy window; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. The members of the ECF Strategic Stakeholders Board shall be appointed by the Commission, following an open call for nominations or for expressions of interest, or both, whichever the Commission finds more appropriate, and taking into account the need for balance in sector, organisation type, including private investors, and size, expertise, gender, age and geographical distribution. The term of members the Board shall be limited to four years, renewable once. Members of the Board should act with integrity and probity. | 2. The members of the ECF Strategic Stakeholders Board shall be appointed by the Commission, following a transparent process and an open call for nominations or for expressions of interest, or both, whichever the Commission finds more appropriate, and taking into account the need for sectoral balance, with particular attention to strategic sectors, organisation type, including private investors, and size, including SMEs representatives, expertise, gender and age. The term of members of the Board shall be limited to four years, renewable once. Members of the Board shall act with integrity and probity. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. The ECF Strategic Stakeholder Board, informed by an observatory on emerging technologies, shall advise on the overall direction for the ECF, advise on long-term competitiveness trends, advise on areas of market failures and suboptimal investment situations that could be addressed in the implementation of the ECF, and advise on the identification of strategic portfolios of projects within and across activities of the ECF, for which it may be composed in different policy-oriented configurations. | 4. The ECF Strategic Stakeholder Board, informed by an observatory on emerging technologies, shall advise on the overall direction for the ECF, by: |
| (a) on long-term competitiveness trends, advise on areas of market failures and suboptimal investment situations that could be addressed in the implementation of the ECF; | |
| (b) on the identification of strategic portfolios of projects within and across activities of the ECF, for which it may be composed in different policy-oriented configurations; | |
| (c) how the ECF may continue to reduce bureaucratic and administrative burdens and provide clear information on accessing existing funding; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2a. In the light of Article 29, the work programmes under this Regulation shall describe in a specific dedicated part how they aim to support SMEs. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2 b. The work programmes shall adopt an integrated approach, including, inter alia, capital investment, digital and AI adoption, as well as continuous monitoring of the primary barriers and information gaps that exist for businesses applying for or drawing down ECF funding and identification of strategies to overcome those barriers and gaps. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2 c. The work programmes shall address administrative barriers to applying for or drawing down ECF funding by reducing administrative requirements where necessary and providing for more flexible funding models; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2 d. Applications for financing should be designed with simplicity, proportionality and certainty, as well as a commitment to efficient evaluation times and clear feedback. In order to streamline the application process, and with the sole aim of supporting applicants to the ECF from SMEs, the following targeted design options may be considered, inter alia: | |
| (i) a one-stop-shop portal for SMEs with information on all available supports, | |
| (ii) a standardised application form, with greater flexibility for non-high-risk applications from SMEs, | |
| (iii) a fast-track SMEs Procedure under which the time from submission to grant agreement shall not exceed 60 calendar days for SME-only calls for proposals, | |
| (iv) bonus scoring in the evaluation of all proposals led by an SME or where SMEs account for more than 50% of the members of a consortium, | |
| (v) other options that serve to streamline the application process for SMEs, or increase the awareness and accessibility of the ECF for SMEs. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. The work programmes may include dedicated two-stage bottom-up award procedures to identify and support EU Tech frontrunners through industry-driven consortia leveraging on their role as innovation and export drivers to strengthen their global competitive position along with their European SME suppliers through investments in new solutions and identification of relevant partners. Project preparation as well as crowding in of additional public and private capital may be supported. | 1. The work programmes may include dedicated two-stage bottom-up award procedures to identify and support EU Tech frontrunners through industry-driven consortia leveraging on their role as innovation and export drivers to strengthen their global competitive position along with their European SME suppliers through investments in new solutions and identification of relevant partners. Project preparation as well as crowding in of additional public and private capital shall be supported. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. Proposals and offers shall be evaluated and ranked based on common award criteria such as their comparative contribution to Union competitiveness. | 4. Proposals and offers shall be evaluated and ranked based on common award criteria founded on excellence, impact and quality, on their comparative contribution to Union competitiveness, as well as whether the proposal or offer was supported by an SME. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure shall set out additional conditions to ensure that the support is necessary and proportionate, excluding overcompensation and double funding, is temporary and decreases over time. | 2. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure shall set out additional conditions to ensure that the support is necessary and proportionate, including whether the applicant is, or supports a start-up, a scale-up, and an SME, excluding overcompensation and double funding, is temporary and decreases over time. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) the follow-on projects based on results from IPCEIs, conditional on significant private investments. | (b) the follow-on projects based on results from IPCEIs, conditional on generating significant private investments. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (1) limit the requirements for the award decision and signature of legal commitments to a preliminary evaluation of award and exclusion criteria; the award decision shall be taken based solely on a self-declaration of applicants and tenderers on selection and eligibility criteria without request for corresponding supporting documents during pre-evaluation; the final evaluation, including for selection and eligibility criteria, and the requests for any relevant supporting documents shall be conducted within three months of the signature of the legal commitment; and, | (1) limit the requirements for the award decision and signature of legal commitments to a preliminary evaluation of award and exclusion criteria; the award decision shall be taken based solely on a self-declaration of applicants and tenderers on selection and eligibility criteria without request for corresponding supporting documents during pre-evaluation; the final evaluation, including for selection and eligibility criteria, and the requests for any relevant supporting documents shall be conducted within three months of the signature of the legal commitment; applicants who have previously submitted supporting documents to any Union programme shall not be required to re-submit such documents; and, |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. A centralised access to advisory and business acceleration services shall be provided, which may include: | 2. A single centralised access to advisory and business acceleration services shall be provided, which shall include: |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) investment advisory services, including market development activities and advisory support for the identification, preparation, development, structuring, procuring and implementation of investment projects, and for enhancing the capacity of project promoters and financial intermediaries to implement financing and investment operations and improve the understanding and use of financial instruments to exploit their full potential. Such support may cover any stage of the life cycle of a project or financing of a supported entity; | (a) investment advisory services, which may cover any stage of the life cycle of a project or financing of a supported entity, including: |
| (i) market development activities; | |
| (ii) advisory support for the identification, preparation, development, structuring, financing, procuring, implementation, and management of investment projects; | |
| (iii) advisory support for enhancing the capacity of project promoters and financial intermediaries to implement financing and investment operations and improve the understanding and use of financial instruments to exploit their full potential; | |
| (iv) opportunities for regular consultation with and feedback from qualifying businesses; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) business coaching and acceleration services targeting potential ECF beneficiaries and other project promoters, including SMEs and mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups, supporting and facilitating their access to ECF funding and financing, and facilitating matchmaking with private investors and promoting financial literacy of entrepreneurs, including understanding of the opportunities offered by capital market based financing; | (b) business coaching targeting potential ECF beneficiaries and other project promoters, including SMEs, mid-cap companies, start-ups and scale-ups, shall include: |
| (i) accessible information and guidance on accessing and applying for ECF funding; | |
| (ii) accessible information on acceleration services; | |
| (iii) supporting and facilitating access to ECF funding and financing; | |
| (iv) facilitating matchmaking with private investors; | |
| (v) promoting financial literacy of entrepreneurs, including understanding of the opportunities offered by capital market based financing; | |
| (vi) options for business mentoring and exchange of best practice with other ECF beneficiaries or other project promoters, including, inter alia, in relation to administrative matters and accessing capital market based financing; | |
| (vii) recommendations for legal or financial advisory support when required; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b a) additional supports if deemed necessary; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions. | 3. Project advisory shall, among others, support the generation of project pipelines and the encouragement and development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. Project advisory shall be available under each policy window referred, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover general objectives and cross-cutting actions. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. The Commission may conclude advisory agreements with advisory partners and service providers in line with the needs of each policy windows. The Commission and the advisory partners, including the EIB Group, shall cooperate closely with a view to ensuring efficiency, synergies and effective geographic coverage across the Union, while taking account of existing structures and work. | 4. The Commission may conclude advisory agreements with advisory partners and service providers in line with the needs of each policy window. Existing agreements with advisory partners and service providers at national level may also be recognised, provided they are fully recognised and authorised to provide the relevant advice or service in the relevant Member State. The Commission and the advisory partners, including the EIB Group, shall cooperate closely with a view to ensuring efficiency, synergies and effective geographic coverage across the Union, while taking account of existing structures and work. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. “EU for Business” Network shall be established to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies. The network shall have a Union-wide and geographically balanced coverage, taking into account the specificities of all types of regions in the Union, including the less developed regions and the Union outermost regions. | 1. The “EU for Business” Network shall be established. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1 a. The objective of the “EU for Business” Network is to enhance consultation, learning and collaboration with European SMEs to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovative, to grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, startups, scaleups and small mid-cap companies, in order to ensure that businesses, including start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs, and mid-cap companies have clear roles in shaping priorities, designing calls, and overseeing implementation. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1 b. The “EU for Business” Network shall at all stages facilitate information exchange, and opportunities for feedback for businesses that may benefit from the ECF. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. The ECF shall conduct cross-cutting activities focused on strengthening the competitiveness of the SMEs and achieve additionality at Union level, including through the following measures: | 1. The ECF shall conduct cross-cutting activities focused on strengthening the competitiveness of the SMEs, as well as supporting their ability to scale where they contribute to the Union’s competitiveness, market dynamism, and innovation and achieve additionality at Union level, including through the following measures: |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) provision of integrated business advice and support to companies, including through financial support to third parties; | (a) provision of integrated business advice and support to companies, including through guidance when applying for funding and financial support to third parties; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (f) facilitation access to markets including through support to the internationalisation of SMEs and provision of market intelligence, including in less developed regions and outermost regions; | (f) facilitation access to markets including through support to the internationalisation of SMEs and provision of market intelligence, including in less developed regions and outermost regions; sharing of information and facilitation of best practice on trading across international borders, including in less developed regions and outermost regions and with third countries; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (g) improving the business environment for SMEs and promote new business opportunities for SMEs by supporting among others intellectual property valorisation, standard setting and public procurement; | (g) improving the business environment for SMEs and promote new business opportunities for SMEs by supporting among others intellectual property valorisation, standard setting, reducing regulatory burdens, and public procurement; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (g a) providing improved information and training on how to access existing funding opportunities; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (g b) providing opportunities for ongoing consultation so that businesses can have a voice in the design of the priorities, calls and implementation; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1 a. Dedicated, sector-specific actions may include adapting the recommendations for the work programmes set out in paragraph 2d of Article 15for the explicit purpose of encouraging or increasing sector-specific support for SMEs. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. Support for digital leadership shall address, in a comprehensive and coherent manner, the entire scope of the digital sector, such as Artificial Intelligence, (including AI Factories and Gigafactories), high performance computing, quantum technologies, semiconductors and photonics, robotics, large data technologies, telco-edge and cloud technologies, 6G and other wireless technologies, communication networks, advanced connectivity, including 6G and other wireless technologies, sensing technologies, cybersecurity and network resilience, software engineering, augmented reality and virtual worlds, digital twins, Union digital identity and business wallets, trust technologies, new and emerging digital technologies as well as cross-sectoral digital technologies and applications, including those with dual-use potential, support for data technologies and data spaces. | 1. Support for digital leadership shall address, in a comprehensive and coherent manner, the entire scope of the digital sector, such as Artificial Intelligence, (including AI Factories and Gigafactories), data sharing, high performance computing, quantum technologies, semiconductors and photonics, robotics, large data technologies, telco-edge and cloud technologies, 6G and other wireless technologies, communication networks, advanced connectivity, including 6G and other wireless technologies, sensing technologies, cybersecurity and network resilience, software engineering, augmented reality and virtual worlds, digital twins, Union digital identity and business wallets, trust technologies, new and emerging digital technologies as well as cross-sectoral digital technologies and applications, including those with dual-use potential, support for data technologies and data spaces, as well as for SMEs. Support shall be based on the principle of technological neutrality, and shall prioritise innovation, competitiveness, and excellence. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) Achieving leadership in digital and AI technologies through research and innovation, applied research, technology transfer, industrial deployment, and market uptake. The implementation shall include, but not be limited to, developing and shaping sustainable core digital technologies that reflect Union values, safeguard the Union’s security and foster its competitiveness globally. | (a) Achieving leadership in digital and AI technologies through research and innovation, applied research, technology transfer, industrial deployment, and market uptake, including for SMEs. The implementation shall include, but not be limited to, developing and shaping sustainable core digital technologies that reflect Union values, safeguard the Union’s security and foster its competitiveness globally. The focus shall be on high-quality output, a competitive, innovative, efficient, and dynamic European economy, and improved support for technology start-up companies. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) Achieving technological sovereignty by building resilient digital ecosystems, including advanced digital skills, and ensuring a high-level of cybersecurity in the Union. The implementation shall include, but not be limited to, creating an attractive ecosystem for disruptive innovative companies, SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups, as well as emerging industry leaders in the digital sector to remain, grow and thrive within the Union, supporting them in scaling up, expanding their markets, including through procurement, and contributing to the Union’s digital sovereignty, with a focus on addressing the complexity of the technological value chains, standardisation, the security of supply of advanced digital technologies, infrastructures, and services, needed capacities, including manufacturing, production capacity, and advanced digital skills both in the private and public sectors. | (b) Achieving technological sovereignty by building resilient, competitive, innovative, and digital ecosystems, including advanced digital skills, and ensuring a high-level of cybersecurity in the Union. The implementation shall include, but not be limited to, creating an attractive ecosystem for disruptive innovative companies, SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups, as well as emerging industry leaders in the digital sector to remain, grow and thrive within the Union, supporting them in scaling up, expanding their markets, including through procurement, and contributing to the Union’s digital sovereignty on a meritocratic basis, based on excellence, with a focus on addressing the complexity of the technological value chains, improving competition in the European market, meeting market demand, standardisation, the security of supply of advanced digital technologies, infrastructures, and services, market requirements, including manufacturing, production capacity, and advanced digital skills both in the private and public sectors. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (c) Enabling the power of digital for businesses and citizens by deploying state-of-the-art and sustainable digital applications, infrastructures and services across the Union. The implementation shall include, but not be limited to, actions to research and innovate, develop, produce, manufacture, or deploy advanced digital infrastructures at scale across the Union (e.g. high-performance computing, telco-cloud-edge, AI Factories and Gigafactories, data and data spaces, testing and experimentation facilities, semiconductor, photonics and quantum chips pilot lines, quantum computing, communication and sensing infrastructures, cybersecurity hubs, the EU for Business Network, European Digital Innovation Hubs, advanced connectivity infrastructures including submarine cables and non-terrestrial networks), the EU Digital Identity Wallets and trust services as well as the European Business Wallets and services, secure and interoperable digital public infrastructure, to act as a key enabler of the digital transformation and in support of societal resilience and preparedness, bringing clear added-value to businesses, public services and citizens. Where relevant, these actions shall be coordinated with national investments and shall otherwise exploit untapped potential to create a domestic market for advanced digital technologies ‘made in Europe’. Such actions may be provided under the framework of Multi-Country Projects established in accordance with Decision (EU) 2022/2481, including notably those implemented through the European Digital Infrastructure Consortia or Joint Undertakings. | (c) Supporting the ongoing digitalisation of businesses and society including through the deployment of state-of-the-art and innovative digital applications, infrastructures and services across the Union. The implementation shall include, but not be limited to, actions to research and innovate, develop, produce, manufacture, deploy, or support the deployment of advanced digital infrastructures, including at scale across the Union (e.g. high-performance computing, telco-cloud-edge, AI Factories and Gigafactories, data and data spaces, testing and experimentation facilities, semiconductor, photonics and quantum chips pilot lines, quantum computing, communication and sensing infrastructures, cybersecurity hubs, the EU for Business Network, European Digital Innovation Hubs, advanced connectivity infrastructures including submarine cables and non-terrestrial networks), the EU Digital Identity Wallets, data sharing interfaces, and trust services as well as the European Business Wallets and services, secure and interoperable digital public infrastructure, to act as a key enabler of the digital transformation and in support of societal resilience and preparedness, bringing clear added-value to businesses, public services and citizens. Where relevant, these actions shall be coordinated with national investments including to exploit untapped potential to meet domestic market demand for advanced digital technologies manufactured in Europe. Such actions may be provided under the framework of Multi-Country Projects established in accordance with Decision (EU) 2022/2481, including notably those implemented through the European Digital Infrastructure Consortia or Joint Undertakings. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (d) Supporting the Union’s digital transformation of public and private sectors, including to support the development and the circulation of digital skills. The implementation shall include, but not be limited to, providing the necessary support to accelerating and deepening the uptake and deployment of digital solutions across economic sectors, through research, innovation and deployment, to boost their productivity and competitiveness, with a focus on more complex technologies, as well as to achieve societal benefits. Support to public sector applications as well as the broader digitalisation of the public sector shall aim at ensuring a cohesive Union-wide interoperable digital public services landscape, support technological sovereignty, maximising their efficiency for businesses and citizens. The digital transformation of economic and public sectors shall also be supported by the other sectoral windows of the ECF. | (d) Supporting the Union’s digital transformation of public and private sectors, including to support the development and the circulation of digital skills. The implementation shall include, but not be limited to, providing the necessary support to accelerating and deepening the uptake and deployment of digital solutions across economic sectors, through research, innovation and deployment, to boost their productivity and competitiveness, with a focus on more complex technologies, as well as to achieve societal benefits. Support for public sector applications as well as the broader digitalisation of the public sector shall aim at ensuring a cohesive Union-wide interoperable digital public services landscape, support technological sovereignty, maximising their efficiency for businesses and citizens. The digital transformation of economic and public sectors shall also be supported by the other sectoral windows of the ECF. Support for the private sector shall include support for the training, upskilling, and digitalisation of SMEs and SMEs offerings, as well as improved financial support for digital innovation, productivity and competitiveness, while reducing red tape and administrative burdens for SMEs. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3. Activities under this Section shall support the development, deployment and procurement of advanced cybersecurity capacities, infrastructures, technologies and capabilities, with a view to ensure the security of critical infrastructures & digital supply chains, develop an Union situational picture of the threat landscape as well as improve detection capacities and incident response capabilities; supporting the competitiveness of the Union cybersecurity industrial base, cybersecurity skills development together with the cyber maturity of the European industrial basis, including SMEs. | 3. Activities under this Section shall support the development, deployment and procurement of advanced cybersecurity capacities, infrastructures, technologies and capabilities, with a view to ensure the security of critical infrastructures & digital supply chains, develop a Union-wide picture of the threat landscape as well as improve detection capacities and incident response capabilities; support the digitalisation of the economy, helping businesses to grow and scale their digital offerings, and support the competitiveness of the Union cybersecurity industrial base, cybersecurity skills development together with the cyber maturity of the European industrial basis, including for micro-enterprises, SMEs, and mid-cap companies. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (e a) Support to new entrants, innovative startups, SMEs and scaleups. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) The quality and efficiency of the implementation of the action. | (a) The impact, quality, and efficiency of the implementation of the action. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 8 a. The Commission shall publish an annual report presenting the share of ECF funding awarded to SMEs under each window and the average time-to-grant for proposals that come from SMEs. |
Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that -she included in her opinion input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that she received, in the preparation of the draft opinion, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register1, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:
| 1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register |
| IBEC (Irish Business and Employers Federation) |
| Chambers Ireland |
| ISME Ltd |
| 2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies |
Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that she has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.
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- Licensed CC BY 4.0.
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- 25 September 2026
Cite as
European Parliament (2026). “DRAFT OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the European Competitiveness Fund ('ECF’), including the specific programme for defence research and innovation activities, repealing Regulations (EU) 2021/522, (EU) 2021/694, (EU) 2021/697, (EU) 2021/783, and amending Regulations (EU) 2021/696, (EU) 2023/588, (EU) [EDIP]”. Text, 6 February 2026. docId IMCO-PA-782506. EU Parl Watch Research. https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/IMCO-PA-782506 (retrieved 25 September 2026). Data: EP Open Data API: document record, https://data.europarl.europa.eu/api/v2/documents/IMCO-PA-782506 (CC BY 4.0). BibTeX
@misc{epw-text-imco-pa-782506,
author = {{European Parliament}},
title = {{DRAFT OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the European Competitiveness Fund ('ECF’), including the specific programme for defence research and innovation activities, repealing Regulations (EU) 2021/522, (EU) 2021/694, (EU) 2021/697, (EU) 2021/783, and amending Regulations (EU) 2021/696, (EU) 2023/588, (EU) [EDIP]}},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-02-06},
howpublished = {\url{https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/IMCO-PA-782506}},
url = {https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/IMCO-PA-782506},
urldate = {2026-09-25},
publisher = {EU Parl Watch Research},
note = {Text. docId IMCO-PA-782506. Data: EP Open Data API: document record (CC BY 4.0)}
}