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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 ITRE-PR-784506 · COM(2025)0555 – C100165/2025 – 2025/0555(COD)

Kind
Report parliamentary committee draft ITRE-PR-784506
Date
20 April 2026
Committee
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Rapporteur
Christian Ehler, Dan Nica
Dossier
2025-0555
More facts (3)
Formats
Official page PDF Word
Subject matter
RDT, INDU
Reference
COM(2025)0555 – C100165/2025 – 2025/0555(COD)
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Cite this page Official page (opens the official site)
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In short

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The draft report sets out Parliament's amendments to the proposed regulation establishing the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), a single fund with four policy windows and a defence research and innovation programme. It raises the financial envelope to EUR 257 730 000 000 for 2028-2034 and splits it across policy windows, a flexibility reserve and a skills target. It defines competitiveness, biotechnology, biomanufacturing, strategic dependencies and resilience, and rewrites the Fund's general and specific objectives. It creates a Competitiveness Seal, an Economic and Technological Advisory Council, a Stakeholder Group, an Investment Committee and Horizon Europe Pathway actions linking the ECF to research results. It sets up three defence research programmes (VPERED, SHIELD, DOBRE), a Critical Raw Materials envelope run by a CRM Centre, and new sections on energy infrastructure, industrial decarbonisation, biotechnology, sustainable prosperity, connectivity, technology infrastructure and agile digital leadership.

Position. The rapporteurs propose to amend the Commission proposal by sharpening the Fund's priorities, defining competitiveness, raising and ring-fencing the budget, creating new governance bodies and defence research programmes, and linking the ECF tightly to Horizon Europe.

Key points

  1. Adds a definition of competitiveness based on European companies competing globally on a level playing field, with lower energy costs, higher productivity and long-term public investment.
  2. Sets the ECF financial envelope for 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034 at EUR 257 730 000 000 in current prices.
  3. Distributes the envelope across the four policy windows, the ECF InvestEU Instrument, advisory and SME activities, and a EUR 16 000 000 000 flexibility reserve.
  4. Requires 3% of the amounts under points (a) to (ed) to target skills development measures.
  5. Allows the Commission to reallocate funds between categories of expenditure up to 5%, with implementing acts above that ceiling.
  6. Renames the policy windows: Energy Infrastructure, Industrial Decarbonisation and Clean Technology; Health, Biotechnology and Sustainable Prosperity; Digital Infrastructure and Agile Digital Leadership; Critical Raw Materials, Security, Defence Industry and Space.
  7. Establishes a Competitiveness Seal as a quality label for high-quality projects, allowing cumulative funding from other ECF instruments, Union programmes and Member States, with a fast-track for Horizon Europe projects at Technology Readiness Level 7 or higher.
  8. Sets up an Economic and Technological Advisory Council of up to fifteen members, a Stakeholder Group to advise on calls, and an independent Investment Committee for the ECF InvestEU Instrument.
  9. Creates Horizon Europe Pathway actions in a dedicated part of the work programmes to deploy, commercialise, scale, license or standardise results from Horizon Europe and predecessor programmes.
  10. Raises the maximum budgetary guarantee under the EU Compartment of the ECF InvestEU Instrument to EUR 120 000 000 000, provisioned at 50%, and grants 50% of the EU guarantee to the EIB Group.
  11. Establishes the Vanguard Programme for Early Research in European Defence (VPERED), the Scaling High-Impact Innovation for European Leadership in Defence programme (SHIELD) and the Defence-Oriented Breakthrough Research for Europe programme (DOBRE), funded exclusively from the defence research budget.
  12. Entrusts the Critical Raw Materials budget to the Critical Raw Materials Centre and supports exploration, extraction, processing, recycling, purchasing, stockpiles, contracts for difference and a European market and pricing infrastructure.

Who is affected

  • European companies, start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs in the policy windows, which gain access to funding, advisory services and the EU for Business Network.
  • Defence and space industry and research organisations, which gain three new defence research programmes and ESA implementation tasks.
  • Member States, which may co-fund projects and rely on the Competitiveness Seal evaluation, and whose authorities get access rights to defence research reports.
  • Third countries and international organisations, which may be associated fully or partially to the ECF, including to individual space constellations.
  • Entities in non-associated third countries, which may join consortia at their own cost but receive ECF funding only where essential to the Union's resilience, security or economic security.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 257 730 000 000: financial envelope for the ECF for 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034.
  • EUR 40 000 000 000 for the ECF InvestEU Instrument, with at least EUR 15 000 000 000 for Energy Infrastructure, EUR 5 000 000 000 for Health, EUR 15 000 000 000 for Digital and EUR 5 000 000 000 for Critical Raw Materials.
  • EUR 16 000 000 000 as a flexibility reserve to top up any budget line.
  • 3% of the total of all amounts under points (a) to (ed) for skills development measures.
  • 5% ceiling for Commission reallocation between categories of expenditure.
  • EUR 120 000 000 000: maximum budgetary guarantee under the EU Compartment of the ECF InvestEU Instrument, provisioned at 50%.
  • 50% of the EU guarantee of the EU compartment to be granted to the EIB Group.
  • 5 calendar years: period after an action during which transfer restrictions apply to recipients of ECF funding.

Legal basis. Article 294(2) and Articles 43(2), 168(5), 172, 173(3), 175, 182(4), 183, 188, 189(2), 192(1), 194(2), 212(2) and 322(1)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

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Draft european parliament legislative resolution

(COM(2025)0555 – C100165/2025 – 2025/0555(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2025)0555),

–having regard to Article 294(2) and Articles 43(2), 168(5), Article 172, first subparagraph, Article 173(3), first subparagraph, Article 175, first subparagraph, Article 182(4), Article 183 in conjunction with Article 188, second paragraph, Articles 189(2), 192(1), 194(2), 212(2) and Article 322(1), point (a), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C10 0165/2025),

–having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–having regard to the budgetary assessment by the Committee on Budgets,

–having regard to the opinion of the Court of Auditors of 11 December 2025,

–having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 3 December 2025,

–having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 4 March 2026

–having regard to Rules 60 and 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

–having regard to the opinions of the Committee on Security and Defence, the Committee on Budgetary Control, Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, Committee on Public Health, Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, Committee on Transport and Tourism, Committee on Regional Development and Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development,

–having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (A100000/2026),

1.Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

1.Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

2.Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Amendment 1

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 1 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(1a) The European economy is facing a competitiveness crisis, with many European companies no longer able to compete with their global counterparts on market terms. As a result, Europe faces a productivity problem, with firm-level weaknesses accumulating and contributing to an economy-wide growth slowdown. Addressing this slowdown requires tackling its underlying causes. The first and most decisive of these causes is the lack of an integrated single market within the Union. The International Monetary Fund estimated in 2024 that the non-tariff barriers to trade within the internal market were equal to 45% for goods, and 110% for services. A serious competitiveness agenda must first and foremost address this fragmentation to increase market-size effects and create new opportunities for European companies. Secondly, the competitiveness crisis is driven by structurally high energy prices which cannot be fixed by short-term interventionist measures. Therefore, the completion of the Energy Union, including the buildup of energy network infrastructure as well as renewable and clean energy sources, should be an overarching priority. Thirdly, it is essential to reduce the cost of doing business in Europe. Over decades, a stock of complex, burdensome and far-reaching regulations has been accumulated impacting Union economy which has to be reassessed in light of a changed geopolitical environment, without lowering Union social and environmental standards. This cannot be done at Union level alone but will require Member States’ collaboration. To this extent, the recent adoption of the “One Europe, One Market” roadmap at the European Council in March 2026 is a welcome step in the right direction.

Or. en

Amendment 2

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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. 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 the 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.
3 The future of European competitiveness: Report by Mario Draghi, September 2024, https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/draghi-report_en3 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 Commission5 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.
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.

Or. en

Amendment 3

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 4

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 opportunities can offer 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 while preserving predictability for funding. To ensure that the Union can effectively turn its excellence in research into global economic leadership, a tight connection with clear pathways from innovation to the real economy between the ECF and Horizon Europe is essential.

Or. en

Amendment 4

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 7

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(7) Therefore, the purpose of the ECF is to establish an investment capacity to support European competitiveness in strategic technologies, infrastructures, products and services and sectors, providing for a more seamless investment journey. It will promote the creation, collaboration, and expansion of innovation, private finance and industrial ecosystems.(7) Therefore, the purpose of the ECF is to establish an investment capacity to support European competitiveness through activities that have a Union added value in strategic technologies, infrastructures (including research and technology infrastructures), products, services and sectors. It will promote the creation, collaboration, and expansion of innovation, private finance and industrial ecosystems.

Or. en

Amendment 5

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 10

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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, including through better access to technology infrastructures and regulatory sandboxes. In order to foster synergies, the work programmes adopted under this Regulation should integrate in a specific and dedicated part Horizon Europe Pathway actions and ensure coherence with those activities. The ECF should also ensure coherence with the types of actions planned to be implemented under the Innovation Fund, notably when developing work programmes.
10 OJ L.., p10 OJ L.., p
11 COM(2025) 54311 COM(2025) 543

Or. en

Amendment 6

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 10 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(10a) The main objective of the tight connection between the ECF and Horizon Europe is to establish clear pathways for the deployment, commercialisation, scaling, licensing, standardisation, application or other forms of translation of world-leading innovations from the Framework Programme into real-world use. These pathways, supported under the ECF through Horizon Europe Pathway actions, should address the market failures which stop effective and efficient deployment of research and innovation results in Europe. They should therefore address the core of the European paradox: Europe has an excellent science and technology base but fails to effectively translate that into competitiveness, economic growth and prosperity. Those actions should be designed to maximise the contribution of Horizon Europe to the ECF objectives and will thereby be a cornerstone in the Union’s innovation-driven industrial policy. They will offer support to companies and research organisations in consortia, or exceptionally to single beneficiaries, in order to derisk or accelerate the deployment, or to ensure that despite adverse market conditions the deployment takes place in Europe.

Or. en

Amendment 7

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 12

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(12) Moreover, to foresee a strong connection with the Competitiveness Coordination Tool, the work programme of the ECF should ensure coherence with the selected projects and competitiveness priorities identified under the Tool.deleted

Or. en

Justification

The Competitiveness Coordination Tool has not been presented yet.

Amendment 8

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 13

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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) Joint Undertakings should only be established where a close involvement of the Union is required, Member States are willing to join efforts and the private sector is willing to contribute. Therefore, the number of joint undertakings should be as limited as possible.

Or. en

Amendment 9

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 14

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 the Union budget to unlock additional public and private investments, in particular from institutional investors. 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, and the Commission should duly justify whenever it opts for another form of implementation.

Or. en

Amendment 10

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 15

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(15) The Draghi report calls for more investment support to close the investment gap and recognises InvestEU as the key risk-sharing instrument to use. The ECF InvestEU Instrument should set up a single budgetary guarantee and deliver financial instruments to support EU competitiveness.(15) The Draghi report calls for more investment support to close the investment gap and recognises InvestEU as the key risk-sharing instrument to use. The ECF InvestEU Instrument should set up a single budgetary guarantee and deliver financial instruments to support EU competitiveness. To ensure focus and impact of the ECF InvestEU instrument, it should be increased in size and deliver budgetary guarantees and financial instruments within the sectors covered by the policy windows.

Or. en

Amendment 11

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 16

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(16) In a fast-changing economic, social, security and geopolitical environment, recent experience has shown the need for a more flexible multiannual financial framework and its programmes. To that effect, and in line with the objectives of the ECF, the funding should take due account, in the budgetary procedure, of the evolving policy needs and Union’s priorities as identified in relevant documents published by the Commission while ensuring the necessary predictability for the implementation of investments.(16) In a fast-changing economic, social, security and geopolitical environment, recent experience has shown the need for a more flexible multiannual financial framework and its programmes. To that effect, and in line with the objectives of the ECF, the funding should take due account, in the budgetary procedure, of the evolving policy needs and the changing economic, technological and innovation situation as identified in the reports by the Economic and Technological Advisory Council while ensuring the necessary predictability for the implementation of investments.

Or. en

Amendment 12

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 17

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(17) The ECF should facilitate access to funding from Union programmes through user-centric, fast, simpler and harmonised procedures and improve coherence among Union instruments and with Member States investments. The ECF should put beneficiaries of Union funding, and notably industry, SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups, including those established under the upcoming 28th regime, at the centre of the design of Union funding instruments.(17) The ECF should facilitate access to funding from Union programmes through user-centric, fast, simpler and harmonised procedures and improve coherence among Union instruments and with Member States investments. The ECF should put beneficiaries of Union funding, and notably industry, social partners, financial institutions, investors, research and technology organisations, SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups, including those established under the upcoming 28th regime, at the centre of the design of Union funding instruments.

Or. en

Amendment 13

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 18

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(18) The ECF should operate through four policy windows that mirror Union’s key policy priorities: Clean Transition and Industrial Decarbonisation; Digital Leadership; Health, Biotech, Agriculture and Bioeconomy; Resilience and Security, Defence industry and Space.(18) The ECF should operate through four policy windows that mirror Union’s key policy priorities: Energy Infrastructure, Industrial Decarbonisation and Clean Technology; Digital Infrastructure and Agile Digital Leadership; Health, Biotechnology, and Sustainable Prosperity; Critical Raw Materials, Security, Defence industry and Space.

Or. en

Amendment 14

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 19 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(19a) The development of infrastructure for pre-mature hydrogen and CO2 markets faces several challenges, in particular regarding financial risks due to their anticipatory investment nature, contrary to electricity or gas networks with established customers and tariff structures. This is even more relevant when developing a European cross-border network. Therefore, the work programmes for the ECF InvestEU Instrument should include dedicated actions utilising the budgetary guarantee to de-risk investments in cross-border networks of hydrogen and CO2, allowing projects to receive financial support from all financial instruments available under ECF InvestEU Instrument.

Or. en

Amendment 15

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 21

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(21) The competitive strength of the Union lies in its people. The Competitiveness Compass identifies promoting skills and quality jobs as a horizontal enabler. The European Council Conclusions highlight that “following the Commission communication of 5 March 2025 on a Union of Skills, further efforts should be made to enhance the acquisition, recognition and retention of skills across the EU, from the building of basic skills to engaging in life-long learning, reskilling and upskilling, in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights and its Action Plan”. A strong dialogue is part of this. Human capital is key to the prosperity of the Union, its economic resilience and unique social market economy. It is essential to foster prosperity, including high quality jobs, by boosting productivity growth, making Union industries more competitive and innovative, attracting additional investments, and supporting a dynamic single market and enhanced economic security. The ECF should contribute to the Union of Skills12 by supporting the development of a skilled workforce equipped with the specific skills needed in the strategic investment areas of the Fund, through life-long learning, education, training projects and apprenticeships, and the creation of attractive quality jobs accessible to all and by accompanying ECF investments with skills investment to alleviate skills shortages in the given strategic sector of the ECF and indicate when it is included. This includes a Skills Guarantee that should enable workers in sectors undergoing restructuring to upskill and reskill, in line with relevant national, regional and/or sectoral transition strategies. The ECF should support skills intelligence, upskilling and reskilling, and foster public-private partnerships between universities, VET providers, businesses, in particular SMEs, social partners and applied research institutes. The ECF could also support activities of University Alliances, also in cooperation with employers, to improve their delivery on innovation and the development of skills and talent.(21) The competitive strength of the Union lies in its people. The Competitiveness Compass identifies promoting skills and quality jobs as a horizontal enabler. The European Council Conclusions highlight that “following the Commission communication of 5 March 2025 on a Union of Skills, further efforts should be made to enhance the acquisition, recognition and retention of skills across the EU, from the building of basic skills to engaging in life-long learning, reskilling and upskilling, in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights and its Action Plan”. A strong dialogue is part of this. Human capital is key to the prosperity of the Union, its economic resilience and unique social market economy. It is essential to foster prosperity, including high quality jobs, by boosting productivity growth, making Union industries more competitive and innovative, attracting additional investments, and supporting a dynamic single market and enhanced economic security. The ECF should contribute to supporting the development of a skilled workforce equipped with the specific skills needed in the strategic investment areas of the Fund, through life-long learning, education, training projects and apprenticeships, and the creation of attractive quality jobs and by accompanying ECF investments with skills investment where relevant.
12 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 Union of Skills, COM(2025) 90 final, 5.3.2025.12 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 Union of Skills, COM(2025) 90 final, 5.3.2025.

Or. en

Amendment 16

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 24

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(24) Projects and activities under the Clean Transition and Industrial Decarbonisation window shall promote energy efficiency, integrated renewable energy, new energies, energy renovations, and innovative heating and cooling solutions.(24) Projects and activities under the Energy Infrastructure, Industrial Decarbonisation and Clean Technology window should promote energy efficiency, integrated clean and renewable energy, new energies, and innovative heating and cooling solutions. The SET Plan as integrated into Regulation (EU) 2024/1735 of the European Parliament and of the Council1a, and in particular the work of the European Technology and Innovation Platforms, should be supported and implemented under this Window.
1a Regulation (EU) 2024/1735 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology manufacturing ecosystem and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 (OJ L, 2024/1735, 28.6.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1735/oj).

Or. en

Amendment 17

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 25

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(25) Union manufacturing productivity also depends on resource efficiency, with materials input representing a signification portion of production costs. Circular approaches to products and manufacturing boost resource productivity, whilst value retention activities such as remanufacturing, refurbishment and repair provide significant job opportunities. The ECF should contribute to the bioeconomy, circular economy and access to materials including biomaterials.(25) Productivity depends on resource efficiency. Circular approaches to products and manufacturing boost resource productivity, whilst value retention activities such as remanufacturing, refurbishment and repair provide significant job opportunities. The ECF should contribute to the bioeconomy, circular economy and access to materials including biomaterials.

Or. en

Amendment 18

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 28

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 alternatives that anchor the digital transformation in Europe’s economy, 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.

Or. en

Amendment 19

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 29

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(29) 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 Fund in the context of the activities developed in the different policy windows of the EDependency on high-risk suppliers in critical sectors can pose a strategic risk of foreign interference and jeopardise the Union’s security, resilience and sovereignty. The NIS Cooperation Group, in cooperation with the Commission and the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), plays a key role in carrying out EU Coordinated security risk assessments of critical supply chains, taking into account technical and, where relevant, non-technical risk factors in accordance with Article 22 of Directive (EU) 2022/2555.14(29) 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 Fund in the context of the activities developed in the different policy windows of the ECF. Dependency on high-risk suppliers in critical sectors can pose a strategic risk of foreign interference and jeopardise the Union’s security, resilience and sovereignty. The NIS Cooperation Group, in cooperation with the Commission and the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), plays a key role in carrying out EU Coordinated security risk assessments of critical supply chains, taking into account technical and, where relevant, non-technical risk factors in accordance with Article 22 of Directive (EU) 2022/2555.14 The European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) aims to increase Europe’s cybersecurity capacities and awareness, diminish skills gap in this field, and to build a strong cybersecurity community.
14 Directive (EU) 2022/2555 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union, amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 and Directive (EU) 2018/1972, and repealing Directive (EU) 2016/1148; Text with EEA relevance, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2022/2555/2022-12-27.14 Directive (EU) 2022/2555 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union, amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 and Directive (EU) 2018/1972, and repealing Directive (EU) 2016/1148; Text with EEA relevance, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2022/2555/2022-12-27.

Or. en

Amendment 20

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 29 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(29a) The digital sector is displaying much faster innovation cycles than other sectors. For effective deployment of public funding in this area, it is necessary for the funding mechanisms to be agile enough and expert-driven, in order to react to these developments and harvest their potential. Today, the preparation of Work Programmes, including Commission-internal drafting, often takes more than one year. This is too slow for effective deployment of funding in the sector. Therefore, Work Programmes for Agile Digital Leadership should set out only the budget, objectives, and areas of interventions, while teams of programme managers operating in a portfolio approach should implement the activities. Notably, they should be responsible for the design of award procedures and the documents related to award procedures. They should assess the performance of the activities against a set of Key Performance Indicators, and should have the possibility to reorient or terminate calls in the event of non-performance.

Or. en

Amendment 21

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 31 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(31a) Biotechnology and biomanufacturing are key drivers of innovation, growth and competitiveness. The Union faces persistent challenges in translating scientific excellence into marketable products and scalable industrial production, as well as in securing sufficient investment across the entire innovation cycle. It is therefore necessary to support the development, demonstration, deployment and scale-up of biotechnology and biomanufacturing solutions, while fostering emerging value chains across sectors, including health, agriculture, industry and the bioeconomy. The ECF should support the development of biotechnology and biomanufacturing ecosystems, facilitate access to finance, in particular for SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups, and accelerate market uptake. It should also contribute to ensuring the availability, accessibility and security of supply of biotechnology-based solutions, while ensuring synergies with Union research and innovation programmes.

Or. en

Amendment 22

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 32

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(32) To improve public health and strengthen the competitiveness of the Union, it is crucial to tackle the rise of communicable and non-communicable diseases through targeted health promotion and disease prevention strategies and continued investments, including into the pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors. Such action, coupled with fostering effective, accessible, and resilient health systems, can significantly boost workforce productivity by improving population health and alleviating labour shortages, while also supporting health systems that drive innovation. Leveraging health data is essential in those efforts, enabling informed decision-making. Moreover, fostering innovation by solidifying the evidence-based path from medical breakthroughs to marketable solutions is key to enhancing Union competitiveness and also beneficial to reinforcing supply security.(32) The health-related industrial ecosystem in the Union, including the health biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical technology and veterinary sectors, is among the most competitive and innovative in the world. The ECF should contribute to strengthening its competitiveness. Furthermore, the ECF should strengthen the efficiency and resilience of health systems to advance the digital transformation of healthcare, while also supporting health systems that drive innovation. Leveraging health data is essential in those efforts, enabling informed decision-making. Moreover, fostering innovation by solidifying the evidence-based path from medical breakthroughs to marketable solutions is key to enhancing Union competitiveness and also beneficial to reinforcing supply security.

Or. en

Amendment 23

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 33

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(33) The bioeconomy is a growth engine that allows Europe to make a success of the green transition, strengthen its competitiveness and strategic autonomy. Although Europe’s bioeconomy is already reshaping industrial ecosystems, reinforcing strategic autonomy, and unlocking value across strategic sectors, it is crucial to strengthen investments, initiatives and strategies at Union and Member State level to bring it from niche to norm across Union sectors and regions to realise its potential, and in particular for key industries. There is a need to foster the competitiveness, sustainability, resilience and fairness of the agricultural, fisheries, aquaculture and forestry sectors, of rural and coastal areas and to contribute to long-term food security in the Union.(33) The bioeconomy is a growth engine that allows Europe to make a success of the green transition, strengthen its competitiveness and strategic autonomy. Although Europe’s bioeconomy is already reshaping industrial ecosystems, reinforcing strategic autonomy, and unlocking value across strategic sectors, it is crucial to strengthen investments, initiatives and strategies at Union and Member State level to bring it from niche to norm across Union sectors and regions to realise its potential, and in particular for key industries. There is a need to foster the technological competitiveness of the agricultural, fisheries, aquaculture and forestry sectors, of rural and coastal areas through the deployment of advanced technologies and innovation.

Or. en

Amendment 24

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 35

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(35) Fostering the resilience of the European industry is essential for the Union to remain competitive even in times of crisis and is essential for Union’s security. To ensure its resilience, the ECF should support actions aimed to reduce dependencies and diversify supply in strategic sectors such as the raw materials sector, thus reinforcing the Union capacities for a secure supply of sustainable critical raw materials along the whole value chain in line with the objectives of the Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Critical Raw Materials Act)15 and the chemicals industry, underpinning almost all industry sectors. Pursuing an ambitious and mutually beneficial trade agenda is essential for the Union’s ability to diversify its supply chains and effectively reduce dependencies.(35) Fostering the resilience of the European industry is essential for the Union to remain competitive even in times of crisis and is essential for Union’s security. To ensure its resilience, the ECF should support a dedicated envelope for critical raw materials, thus reinforcing the Union capacities for a secure supply of sustainable critical raw materials along the whole value chain in line with the objectives of the Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Critical Raw Materials Act)15. This envelope should be implemented through the forthcoming Critical Raw Materials Centre. Pursuing an ambitious and mutually beneficial trade agenda is essential for the Union’s ability to diversify its supply chains and effectively reduce dependencies.
15 Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020 (Text with EEA relevance), OJ L, 2024/1252, 3.5.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1252/oj15 Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020 (Text with EEA relevance), OJ L, 2024/1252, 3.5.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1252/oj

Or. en

Amendment 25

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 41

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(41) To ensure predictability for stakeholders and provide a sufficient level of certainty for investment planning, the ECF should set out an indicative budget distribution across the policy windows for the period 2028 to 2034 while maintaining flexibility to reallocate parts of the budget in accordance with new challenges and emerging priorities throughout the duration of the Multiannual Financial Framework. To this extent, it should be ensured that a certain minimum budget envelope is available for long-term planning and commitments broken down over several years into annual instalments in each policy window, allowing the Union to consolidate its demand and enter into strategic long-term relations with recipients give long-term predictability to industry and financial ecosystem, and enable the setup of important Union infrastructures, such as for hydrogen and industrial carbon management, world-class satellite systems, underwater observation infrastructures, cybersecurity, semiconductors quantum, AI and high-performance computing or critical infrastructure, and defence or space projects of common interest.(41) To ensure predictability for stakeholders and provide a sufficient level of certainty for investment planning, the ECF should set out a budget distribution across the different parts of the policy windows for the period 2028 to 2034 while maintaining flexibility through a flexibility reserve to reallocate parts of the budget in accordance with new challenges and emerging priorities throughout the duration of the Multiannual Financial Framework. To this extent, it should be ensured that a certain minimum budget envelope is available for long-term planning and commitments broken down over several years into annual instalments in each policy window, allowing the Union to consolidate its demand and enter into strategic long-term relations with recipients give long-term predictability to industry and financial ecosystem, and enable the setup of important Union infrastructures, such as for hydrogen and industrial carbon management, world-class satellite systems, underwater observation infrastructures, cybersecurity, semiconductors quantum, AI and high-performance computing or critical infrastructure, and defence or space projects of common interest.

Or. en

Amendment 26

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 45

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 targeted Union preference for support to actions in the essential interest of the Union’s security, economic security or manufacturing capacity for critical technologies 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.

Or. en

Amendment 27

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 46

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(46) ECF activities should be open for cooperation with third countries where this is in the interest of the Union. To that extent, the Union may associate, fully or partially, third countries to the activities under the ECF. Association should be subject to a fair balance as regards contributions and benefits of the third countries and ensure the protection of the financial and, where relevant, security interest of the Union.(46) ECF activities should be open for cooperation with third countries where this is in the interest of the Union. To that extent, the Union may associate, fully or partially, third countries to the activities under the ECF. Association should be subject to a fair balance as regards contributions and benefits of the third countries and ensure the protection of the financial and, where relevant, security interest of the Union. Full or partial association should be possible, including for components of policy windows such as a single constellation of EU Space Policy.

Or. en

Amendment 28

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 47

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(47) The ECF should be open and facilitate synergies with other Union activities that support policy areas closely linked with competitiveness, the including the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, external policies and programmes in shared management with Member States. This should allow for the combination and cumulation of funding for actions supporting the objectives of more than one Union policy area. Cooperation between the Commission and Member States should be established to ensure consistency and complementarities between the ECF and the Regulation (EU) [XXX] [National and Regional partnership plans] Moreover, support from the Regulation (EU) [XXX] [National and Regional Partnership Plans ] and from the ECF to projects that have been awarded the Competitiveness Seal should be facilitated, taking advantage of the assessment conducted prior to the attribution of the Seal and without prejudice to the State aid rules. The criteria for awarding the Competitiveness Seal should be designed in a manner that can enable to seal to also act as a quality guarantee providing assurances to institutional investors that the project has been appropriately vetted. The Competitiveness Seal should be awarded to high quality projects contributing to the objectives of the ECF. The ECF may be implemented jointly with other Union programmes or other co-donors or co-investors, and those partners should be able to participate in evaluation committees for jointly funded award procedures. The implementation of all those synergy activities should be simple. Reporting and record-keeping requirements for recipients should be reduced, where possible to a single contractual reporting and payment stream with a single set of rules for all support provided.(47) The ECF should exploit synergies with other Union activities that support policy areas closely linked with competitiveness, the including the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, external policies and programmes in shared management with Member States. This should allow for the combination and cumulation of funding for actions supporting the objectives of more than one Union policy area. Cooperation between the Commission and Member States should be established to ensure consistency and complementarities between the ECF and the Regulation (EU) [XXX] [National and Regional partnership plans] Moreover, support from the Regulation (EU) [XXX] [National and Regional Partnership Plans ] and from the ECF to projects that have been awarded the Competitiveness Seal should be facilitated, taking advantage of the assessment conducted prior to the attribution of the Seal and without prejudice to the State aid rules. The criteria for awarding the Competitiveness Seal should be designed in a manner that can enable to seal to also act as a quality guarantee providing assurances to institutional investors that the project has been appropriately vetted. The Competitiveness Seal should be awarded to high quality projects contributing to the objectives of the ECF. The ECF may be implemented jointly with other Union programmes or other co-donors or co-investors, and those partners should be able to participate in evaluation committees for jointly funded award procedures. The implementation of all those synergy activities should be simple. Reporting and record-keeping requirements for recipients should be reduced, where possible to a single contractual reporting and payment stream with a single set of rules for all support provided.

Or. en

Amendment 29

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 48 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(48a) In order to strengthen the Union’s competitiveness, enhance synergies between funding instruments and reduce administrative burden for applicants, a Competitiveness Seal should be established as a recognised Union quality label awarded to high-quality projects that comply with the requirements of this Regulation and contribute significantly to its objectives. The Competitiveness Seal should facilitate access to alternative sources of support, including other Union programmes, Member State funding and financial instruments, thereby maximising Union added value and accelerating the deployment of strategic projects, while ensuring compliance with applicable rules, the avoidance of double funding and respect for State aid provisions. In particular, projects supported under Horizon and reaching a high level of technological maturity, where relevant, should benefit from a streamlined award procedure, enabling faster mobilisation of investments, and the Commission should ensure coherence, transparency and interoperability within the ECF to make the Competitiveness Seal an effective tool for simplification, resource mobilisation and strategic alignment.

Or. en

Amendment 30

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 49

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(49) The ECF should support a diverse set of policies contributing to competitiveness, while providing a harmonised baseline set of eligibility criteria to provide policy steer and ensuring a sufficient level of protection of economic and security interests by focusing Union support on recipients in the Member States, including Overseas Countries and Territories. Where necessary, the ECF should establish specific eligibility conditions for strategic sectors and technologies, including underlying value chains, critical Union infrastructures and specific capabilities.(49) The ECF should support a diverse set of policies contributing to competitiveness, while providing a harmonised baseline set of eligibility criteria to provide policy steer and ensuring a sufficient level of protection of economic and security interests by focusing Union support on recipients in the Member States, including Overseas Countries and Territories. Where necessary, the ECF should establish specific eligibility conditions for strategic sectors and technologies, including underlying value chains, critical Union infrastructures and specific capabilities, including technology infrastructures.

Or. en

Amendment 31

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 50

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 should in particular be the norm for the purposes of Union support provided for budgetary guarantees and financial instruments, with a view to providing predictability to implementing partners, as well as structural investments into infrastructure in sectors such as space, energy, and the digital sector, regardless of the mode of budgetary implementation. 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, whereas certain general principles related to award criteria are established in this Regulation and should be taken into account during the award procedures. 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.

Or. en

Amendment 32

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 51

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(51) For financial instruments and the budgetary guarantee to effectively crowd in private money, implementing partners need to be closely associated. This ensures policy steer and alignment, as well as project pipeline generation. The experience and lessons learnt with the implementation of the InvestEU Programme emphasise the importance of investment guidelines in creating this buy-in and providing the necessary predictability and visibility to the implementing partners and investors, in order for them to set up their organisational capacity and originate the pipeline of investments, while allowing the necessary flexibility to ensure an adequate policy steer during implementation. Investment guidelines should include detailed description of the policy areas of intervention and investment focus with a view to ensuring additionality and incentivise crowding in private and public investment in support of the Union’s policy objectives and strategic projects. The investment guidelines should be prepared in consultation with implementing partners to benefit from their market knowledge, and enable them to invest in Union priority areas and incentivise them for more risk taking. To cater for evolving needs and developments, the investment guidelines may be reviewed in the context of the MFF mid-term review.(51) For financial instruments and the budgetary guarantee to effectively crowd in private money, implementing partners need to be closely associated. This ensures policy steer and alignment, as well as project pipeline generation. The experience and lessons learnt with the implementation of the InvestEU Programme emphasise the importance of investment guidelines in creating this buy-in and providing the necessary predictability and visibility to the implementing partners and investors, in order for them to set up their organisational capacity and originate the pipeline of investments, while allowing the necessary flexibility to ensure an adequate policy steer during implementation. Investment guidelines should include detailed description of the policy areas of intervention and investment focus with a view to ensuring additionality and incentivise crowding in private and public investment in support of the Union’s policy objectives and strategic projects. The investment guidelines should be prepared in consultation with implementing partners to benefit from their market knowledge, and enable them to invest in Union priority areas and incentivise them for more risk taking. To cater for evolving needs and developments, the investment guidelines may be reviewed in the context of the MFF mid-term review. Funds originating from the ECF and implemented through the ECF InvestEU Instrument should support the four policy windows, while funds originating from other sources could also be used to support the objectives of the programme from which the funding originates, provided that the activities also contribute to the objectives of the ECF.

Or. en

Amendment 33

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 52

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(52) Deep-tech scale-up financing under the Scaleup Europe Fund announced in the Startup Scaleup Strategy, existing at the time of the entry into force of the present Regulation, should be carried out under the terms agreed in the MFF 2021-2027. All scaleup financing under the MFF 2028-2034 should take place under the ECF.(52) Deep-tech scale-up financing under the Scaleup Europe Fund announced in the Startup Scaleup Strategy, existing at the time of the entry into force of the present Regulation, should be carried out under the terms agreed in the MFF 2021-2027.

Or. en

Amendment 34

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 53

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(53) To deliver on the objective of translating research results into markets and strengthening Union’s industrial presence in strategic technologies and sectors, Regulation (EU) [XXX] [Horizon Europe framework programme for Research and Innovation] will be tightly linked with ECF and will support research and innovation activities as laid down by the policy windows of ECF. The ECF work programmes will include collaborative research and innovation actions, in a specific dedicated part. This may also include contributions to European Partnerships established under the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, where necessary to achieve the ECF objectives. The ECF work programmes should also set out policy priorities that will steer EIC challenges.(53) To deliver on the objective of translating research results into markets and strengthening Union’s industrial presence in strategic technologies and sectors, Regulation (EU) [XXX] [Horizon Europe framework programme for Research and Innovation] will be tightly linked with ECF and will support research and innovation activities as laid down by the policy windows of ECF. The ECF work programmes should therefore include Horizon Europe Pathway Actions, in a specific dedicated part.

Or. en

Amendment 35

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 54

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(54) In order to foster resilient Union value chains spanning across multiple Member States, the work programmes may include special value-chains scale up calls which shall support both. project preparation and crowding in of additional public and private capital to integrate suppliers, manufacturers, and innovators from different Member States and diversify sources of supply.(54) In order to foster resilient Union value chains spanning across multiple Member States, the work programmes may include special value-chains scale up calls which shall support eligible projects subject to the conditions provided for in this Regulation in both project preparation and crowding in of additional public and private capital to integrate suppliers, manufacturers, and innovators from different Member States and diversify sources of supply. In the preparation and implementation of such calls, due consideration should be given to the importance of off-take certainty for the scaling up of value chains. The Commission should engage with applicants to ensure such certainty and provide assistance where needed.

Or. en

Amendment 36

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 55

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(55) In order to foster competitiveness of European industry through industry-driven bottom-up innovation, the work programmes may include special 2-stage bottom-up award procedures to identify and support EU Tech frontrunners through industry-driven consortia.(55) In order to foster the competitiveness of European industry through industry-driven bottom-up innovation, the work programmes may include financial contributions to special 2-stage bottom-up award procedures to identify and support EU Tech frontrunners through industry-driven consortia conducted under the Research and Innovation Framework Programme.

Or. en

Amendment 37

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 57

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(57) Multistakeholder consultations, including those of researchers and industry, the social partners, as well as investors, end-users and civil society, from SME, small to large organisations, should contribute to the priorities of the ECF. Those consultations should be structured via advisory boards including the ECF Stakeholder Board whose task should be to provide insights and advise the Commission on policy trends, on investment needs, and on the implementation of the ECF from the perspective of project promoters, with the aim to ensure that feedback from stakeholder communities is reflected in the design of work programmes.(57) Multistakeholder consultations, including those of researchers and industry, the social partners, as well as investors, end-users and civil society, from SME, small to large organisations, should contribute to the implementation of the ECF. Those consultations should be structured via the ECF Stakeholder Group whose task should be to assist the Commission in designing calls, and in the implementation of the ECF from the perspective of project promoters, with the aim to ensure that feedback from stakeholder communities is reflected in the design of calls. The Stakeholder Group should be able to meet in relevant topical sub-configurations.

Or. en

Amendment 38

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 57 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(57a) The ECF includes funding for various different policy areas in one single programme. Therefore, analytic insights into the overall state of the European economy as well as the sectors targeted by the ECF is necessary for the prioritisation of sectors, strategic planning, and in preparation of the programming. To ensure this expertise is science- and expertise-driven and independent, an Economic and Technological Advisory Council (‘Advisory Council’) composed of experts in these areas should be set up. The Advisory Council should provide advice to the Commission on a rolling basis as regards the implementation of the ECF. It should also publish a report annually, sequentially in line with the foreseen publication of the Annual Strategic Report by the Commission. The Advisory Council’s report would create a basis for accountability and transparency for the decisions made in the processes on prioritisation and programming for the ECF.

Or. en

Amendment 39

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 62

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(62) Where necessary and duly justified, the ECF should provide a targeted intervention mechanism to deliberately provide Union support to certain actions of strategic and economic importance. Where certain important projects could not be successfully implemented within the timeline for completion of regular competitive award procedures, the ECF should also provide for the possibility of directly taking-up excellent projects that remained unfunded under any Union programme or continue to financially support well-working projects seamlessly in their next steps along the investment journey, without imposing additional administrative burden for the recipients. In addition, in line with the approach taken by the relevant sectoral legislation, such as the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA), the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) or Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) and referenced in the Clean Industrial Deal (CID) communication and the Single Market Strategy, cases in which specific projects are considered to be of public interest or presumed to be of overriding public interest may be identified in separate existing or future legislation.(62) Where necessary and duly justified, the ECF should provide a targeted intervention mechanism to deliberately provide Union support to certain actions of strategic and economic importance. Where certain important projects could not be successfully implemented within the timeline for completion of regular competitive award procedures, the ECF should also provide for the possibility of directly taking-up excellent projects within the scope of the ECF Policy Windows that remained unfunded under any Union programme or continue to financially support well-working projects seamlessly in their next steps along the investment journey, without imposing additional administrative burden for the recipients. In addition, in line with the approach taken by the relevant sectoral legislation, such as the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA), the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) or Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) and referenced in the Clean Industrial Deal (CID) communication and the Single Market Strategy, cases in which specific projects are considered to be of public interest or presumed to be of overriding public interest may be identified in separate existing or future legislation.

Or. en

Amendment 40

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 63

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(63) Where necessary and duly justified, the ECF should also be able to provide an ‘accelerated intervention’ mechanism to accelerate the provision of Union support to address urgent funding needs to enable the successful implementation of important business ideas in the single market where such funding is not available, at a sufficient level, on the market. For this purpose, due to the urgency, certain checks should be conducted only after the provision of funding, facilitating and limiting administrative burden for recipients and providing financial certainty in the fastest possible manner while accepting a reasonable level of financial risk to the Union commensurate with the objectives pursued.(63) Where necessary, duly justified and within the objectives, the ECF should also be able to provide an ‘accelerated intervention’ mechanism to accelerate the provision of Union support to address urgent funding needs to enable the successful implementation of important business ideas in the single market where such funding is not available, at a sufficient level, on the market. For this purpose, due to the urgency, certain checks should be conducted only after the provision of funding, facilitating and limiting administrative burden for recipients and providing financial certainty in the fastest possible manner while accepting a reasonable level of financial risk to the Union commensurate with the objectives pursued.

Or. en

Amendment 41

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 65

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(65) Where necessary and duly justified, the ECF should allow for a more flexible and accessible way of identifying, selecting and supporting innovative projects and ideas, including by providing for instrument-neutral award procedures that will allow researchers, entrepreneurs, companies and other citizens to propose their innovation solution without the initial artificial narrowing or limitation of Union support to a grant, procurement or other form of Union support. Ideas should be assessed and selected based on their merit in addressing the respective challenge or Union policy priority, and the most appropriate and effective instrument of budget implementation to support these ideas, whether grant, procurement or others, should be selected only afterwards based on the requirements and merits of the individual project.(65) Where necessary, duly justified and within the objectives, the ECF should allow for a more flexible and accessible way of identifying, selecting and supporting innovative projects and ideas, including by providing for instrument-neutral award procedures that will allow researchers, entrepreneurs, companies and other citizens to propose their innovation solution without the initial artificial narrowing or limitation of Union support to a grant, procurement or other form of Union support. Ideas should be assessed and selected based on their merit in addressing the respective challenge or Union policy priority, and the most appropriate and effective instrument of budget implementation to support these ideas, whether grant, procurement or others, should be selected only afterwards based on the requirements and merits of the individual project.

Or. en

Amendment 42

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 66

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(66) Where necessary and duly justified, the ECF should also simplify and accelerate the implementation of Union support for certain important projects.(66) Where necessary, duly justified and within the objectives, the ECF should also simplify and accelerate the implementation of Union support for certain important projects.

Or. en

Amendment 43

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 69

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(69) To avoid undue administrative burden and ensure a swift deployment and support to the market in continuity across programming periods, the implementation of the ECF InvestEU Instrument will build on the existing community of the InvestEU Programme pillar assessed implementing partners, contractual arrangements and relevant financial products. Moreover, to ensure sound financial management, a faster roll-out and simplification to entrusted entities, the implementation of the ECF InvestEU Instrument should build on existing agreements, templates for legal and contractual arrangements, as well as established monitoring and reporting tools. This improves the impact of Union support and allows for more focus on efficiently supporting final recipients. The Commission may rely on and reuse in full or in part the agreements with implementing partners concluded under Regulation (EU) 2021/253, and on assessments made by itself or other entities in the context of agreements under that Regulation.(69) To avoid undue administrative burden and ensure a swift deployment and support to the market in continuity across programming periods, the implementation of the ECF InvestEU Instrument will build on the existing community of the InvestEU Programme pillar assessed implementing partners, contractual arrangements and relevant financial products. Moreover, to ensure sound financial management, a faster roll-out and simplification to entrusted entities, the implementation of the ECF InvestEU Instrument should build on existing agreements, templates for legal and contractual arrangements, as well as established monitoring and reporting tools. This improves the impact of Union support and allows for more focus on efficiently supporting final recipients. The Commission may rely on and reuse in full or in part the agreements with implementing partners concluded under Regulation (EU) 2021/253, and on assessments made by itself or other entities in the context of agreements under that Regulation. The simplification measures achieved through Regulation (EU) 2025/2005, especially as regards the reduction of reporting indicators, should be maintained for the implementation of the ECF InvestEU instrument.

Or. en

Amendment 44

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 70

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(70) To provide implementing partners with broader access to the ECF InvestEU Instrument, the Commission should be able to conclude agreements in indirect management with all the categories of entities listed under Article 62(1), point (c), Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2059. To unlock private capital, bodies established in a Member State, governed by the private law of a Member State or Union law should also be eligible to be exceptionally entrusted, following a positive pillar assessment, with the implementation of financial instruments or budgetary guarantees, including when combined with grants or with other forms of non-repayable support in blending operations, to the extent that such bodies are provided with adequate financial guarantees. Such bodies should be selected taking due account of the nature of the financial instrument or budgetary guarantee to be implemented, the experience and the financial and operational capacity of those bodies, and their rules and procedures for verifying the economic viability of projects of final recipients. The selection should be transparent, justified on objective grounds and should not give rise to a conflict of interests.(70) To provide implementing partners with broader access to the ECF InvestEU Instrument, the Commission should be able to conclude agreements in indirect management with all the categories of entities listed under Article 62(1), point (c), Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2059. To unlock private capital, bodies established in a Member State, governed by the private law of a Member State or Union law should also be eligible to be entrusted, following a positive pillar assessment, with the implementation of financial instruments or budgetary guarantees, including when combined with grants or with other forms of non-repayable support in blending operations, to the extent that such bodies are provided with adequate financial guarantees. Such bodies should be selected taking due account of the nature of the financial instrument or budgetary guarantee to be implemented, the experience and the financial and operational capacity of those bodies, and their rules and procedures for verifying the economic viability of projects of final recipients. The selection should be transparent, justified on objective grounds and should not give rise to a conflict of interests.

Or. en

Amendment 45

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 74

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(74) It is necessary to provide the possibility that the ECF InvestEU Instrument, including the budgetary guarantee, serves as a horizontal delivery tool for other Union policies, to provide support under other Union programmes in accordance with the objectives set out in those programmes. For that purpose, the corresponding provisioning of financial liabilities should be made by those other programmes. Where other Union programmes contribute to objectives of Union’s internal policies, support in the form of a budgetary guarantee or financial instruments, including when combined with non-repayable support in a blending operation, should be provided exclusively through the ECF InvestEU Instrument.(74) It is necessary to provide the possibility that the ECF InvestEU Instrument, including the budgetary guarantee, serves as a horizontal delivery tool for other Union policies, to provide support under other Union programmes in accordance with the objectives set out in those programmes. For that purpose, the corresponding provisioning of financial liabilities should be made by those other programmes. Where other Union programmes contribute to objectives of Union’s internal policies, support in the form of a budgetary guarantee or financial instruments, including when combined with non-repayable support in a blending operation, should be provided exclusively through the ECF InvestEU Instrument, using funds originating from the other Union programmes concerned. Financial instruments provided through the European Innovation Council under Regulation [XXXX/XXXX] (HEU28-34) should be exempt from this. The social window of the current InvestEU is moved to the EU Facility under Regulation [XXXX/XXXX] (NRPPs), and funds from the EU Facility could be committed to the ECF for deployment via the ECF InvestEU Instrument in support of these activities.

Or. en

Amendment 46

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 76

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(76) Whereas European innovative start-ups and scale-ups are essential engines of growth and competitiveness, and acknowledging that they face persistent barriers to access necessary financing in the Union, the ECF InvestEU Instrument should provide targeted financial support to growing and scaling up companies in the Union at all stages — from inception and start-up to scale-up and industrial manufacturing. The ECF InvestEU Instrument should provide direct and indirect funding for European companies with a view to attract private investors — thereby unlocking the full potential of European entrepreneurship and investment. This will empower start-ups and scale-ups and reinforce the Union’s global leadership in technology and industry, while bridging Europe’s innovation and investment gaps and delivering on the ambition of the Savings and Investment Union. The ECF InvestEU Instrument would include a facility aiming to ensure that high-growth enterprises developing or deploying innovative technologies, including in areas important for the Union’s strategic interests and economic security, can access adequate capital to scale up their businesses. It will mobilise investments from Europe’s capital markets, in line with Union’s policy priorities.(76) Whereas European innovative start-ups and scale-ups are essential engines of growth and competitiveness, and acknowledging that they face persistent barriers to access necessary financing in the Union, the ECF InvestEU Instrument should provide targeted financial support to growing and scaling up companies active within the scope of the policy windows in the Union at all stages — from inception and start-up to scale-up and industrial manufacturing. The ECF InvestEU Instrument should provide direct and indirect funding for European companies with a view to attract private investors — thereby unlocking the full potential of European entrepreneurship and investment. This will empower start-ups and scale-ups and reinforce the Union’s global leadership in technology and industry, while bridging Europe’s innovation and investment gaps and delivering on the ambition of the Savings and Investment Union. The ECF InvestEU Instrument would include a facility aiming to ensure that high-growth enterprises developing or deploying innovative technologies, including in areas important for the Union’s strategic interests and economic security, can access adequate capital to scale up their businesses. It will mobilise investments from Europe’s capital markets, in line with Union’s policy priorities.

Or. en

Amendment 47

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 81

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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. 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, including access to technology infrastructure. 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.

Or. en

Amendment 48

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 82

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(82) To further support the principles of simplification and easy access to Union funding opportunities for beneficiaries, the ECF should offer a single portal centralising information on and access to all Union funding opportunities and support other activities. The single portal should facilitate and accelerate access to Union and other funding, financing and investments, streamlining the approach while building on the Funding and Tenders Portal, InvestEU Portal, Access to Finance Portal, STEP Portal and other relevant platforms. It should also be possible to directly apply for funding opportunities on the single portal.(82) To further support the principles of simplification and easy access to Union funding opportunities for beneficiaries, the ECF should offer a single portal centralising information on and access to all Union funding opportunities and support other activities. The single portal should facilitate and accelerate access to Union and other funding, financing and investments, streamlining the approach while substituting all other existing portals such as the Funding and Tenders Portal, InvestEU Portal, Access to Finance Portal, STEP Portal and other relevant platforms. It should also be possible to directly apply for funding opportunities on the single portal.

Or. en

Amendment 49

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 83

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(83) The ECF is to be implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU) [XXX]23 of the European Parliament and of the Council [Performance Regulation] which establishes the rules for the expenditure tracking and the performance framework for the Union budget, including rules for ensuring a uniform application of the principles of ‘do no significant harm’ and gender equality referred to in Article 33(2), points (d) and (f), of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 respectively, rules for monitoring and reporting on the performance of Union programmes and activities, rules for establishing a Union support portal, rules for the evaluation of the programmes, as well as other horizontal provisions applicable to all Union programmes such as those on information, communication and visibility.(83) The ECF is to be implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU) [XXX]23 of the European Parliament and of the Council [Performance Regulation] which establishes the rules for the expenditure tracking and the performance framework for the Union budget, including rules for ensuring a uniform application of the principles of ‘do no significant harm’ and gender equality referred to in Article 33(2), points (d) and (f), of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 respectively, rules for monitoring and reporting on the performance of Union programmes and activities, rules for establishing a Union support portal, rules for the evaluation of the programmes, as well as other horizontal provisions applicable to all Union programmes such as those on information, communication and visibility. With a view to supporting in a timely and transparent manner the decision-making processes within the ECF and with a view to taking into consideration a possible successor programme to the ECF and other initiatives relevant to competitiveness, the Commission should carry out an interim evaluation and final evaluation of the implementation of the ECF and present the conclusions of these evaluations to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.
23 OJ L.., p23 OJ L.., p

Or. en

Amendment 50

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 84

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(84) In a rapidly changing economic, social and geopolitical environment, recent experience has shown the need for a more flexible multiannual financial framework and Union programmes. To that effect, and in line with the objectives of the ECF, the funding should duly consider the evolving policy needs as identified in relevant documents published by the Commission, in Council conclusions and European Parliament resolutions, while ensuring sufficient predictability for the budget implementation.(84) In a rapidly changing economic, social and geopolitical environment, recent experience has shown the need to provide some flexibility within the multiannual financial framework and Union programmes. To that effect, and in line with the objectives of the ECF, the work programmes should duly consider the evolving policy needs as identified in relevant documents published by the Commission, in Council conclusions and European Parliament resolutions, while ensuring sufficient predictability for the budget implementation.

Or. en

Amendment 51

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 85

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(85) In order to achieve the general and specific objectives of the ECF, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the TFEU should be delegated to the Commission in respect of changes to the maximum amount of the budgetary guarantee and the provisioning rate, as well as in respect of certain measures in support of space policy. It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.24 In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.(85) In order to achieve the general and specific objectives of the ECF, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the TFEU should be delegated to the Commission in respect of changes to the provisioning rate, as well as in respect of certain measures in support of space policy. It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.24 In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.
24 OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_interinstit/2016/512/oj.24 OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_interinstit/2016/512/oj.

Or. en

Justification

Alignment with operative provisions.

Amendment 52

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 87

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(87) Although work programmes and other acts implementing this Regulation concern specific budget implementation tasks which do not require a conferral of implementing powers and which should not normally fall within the scope of implementing acts referred to in Regulation (EU) No 182/2011, the advisory procedure should be used for the adoption of certain acts as defined in this Regulation, including work programmes implementing activities for clean transition, health, biotech, agriculture and bioeconomy, and digital leadership, resilience and security, defence industry and space, given that those acts should be fully supported and create synergies with national and shared management activities conducted by the Member States. Due the sensitivity and particular importance of synergies and full coordination with Member States in the area of resilience and security, defence industry support and space, the examination procedure should be used for the adoption of work programmes in these areas.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 53

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 88

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(88) The Commission should adopt immediately applicable implementing acts in duly justified cases where a work programme has not been adopted sufficiently prior to the year of budget implementation in order to ensure business continuity of Union support, in particular of critical operational activities, such as satellite systems and critical infrastructures, or need to be adopted in expedited fashion to immediately react to a crisis or other similar exceptional and duly substantiated emergencies, imperative grounds of urgency so require.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 54

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) A ‘Clean Transition and Industrial Decarbonisation’ window – implemented through the activities set out in Chapter II and Chapter IV, and contributing to the specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), point (a);(a) An ‘Energy Infrastructure, Industrial Decarbonisation and Clean Technology’ window – implemented through the activities set out in Chapters II and IV, and contributing to the specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), point (a);

Or. en

Amendment 55

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) A ‘Health, Biotech, Agriculture and Bioeconomy’ window – implemented through the activities set out in Chapter II and Chapter V, and contributing to the specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), point (b);(b) A ‘Health, Biotechnology and Sustainable Prosperity’ window – implemented through the activities set out in Chapters II and V, and contributing to the specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), point (b);

Or. en

Amendment 56

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(c) A ‘Digital Leadership’ window – implemented through the activities set out in Chapter II and Chapter VI, and contributing to the specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), point (c);(c) A ‘Digital Infrastructure and Agile Digital Leadership’ window – implemented through the activities set out in Chapters II and VI, and contributing to the specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), point (c);

Or. en

Amendment 57

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point d

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(d) A ‘Resilience and Security, Defence Industry, and Space’ window – implemented through activities set out in Chapter II and Chapter VII, including the specific programme for defence research and innovation referred to in paragraph 1, and contributing to the specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), point (d).(d) A ‘Critical Raw Materials, Security, Defence Industry, and Space’ window – implemented through activities set out in Chapters II and VII, including the specific programme for defence research and innovation referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, and contributing to the specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), point (d).

Or. en

Amendment 58

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point -1 (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(-1) ‘competitiveness’ means the ability of European companies to compete successfully in global markets, which requires a level playing field for European industry compared to global competitors in terms of the cost of doing business, including by making it easier to invest, lowering energy costs, enhancing productivity, boosting innovative capacity and increasing long-term public investments, and which requires a skilled workforce, which should lead to quality jobs and sustainable growth across the whole Union;

Or. en

Justification

A „Competitiveness Fund“ should first and foremost define what competitiveness is, in order to establish an intervention logic per policy area and enable budgetary control and evaluation.

Amendment 59

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 11

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(11) ‘Investment journey’ means the continuum of public and private financial support and policy support mechanisms provided to recipients across its entire development chain, including a comprehensive series of activities involved in the allocation of financial resources and provision of support to foster innovation and economic growth. This journey includes, but is not limited to, the initiation from fundamental and applied research phases, progressing through stages of scaling up, industrial deployment, and advancing to the culmination in full-scale manufacturing and industrial maturity and internationalisation;deleted

Or. en

Justification

Both operational references to this term are deleted in the draft report, therefore this definition is no longer needed.

Amendment 60

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 21 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(21a) ‘biotechnology’ means the application of science and technology to living organisms as well as parts, products and models thereof, to alter living or non-living materials for the production of knowledge, goods and services;

Or. en

Justification

It is necessary to set out a definition in order clarify the scope of the provisions in Chapter V. The proposed definition is aligned with that of the Commission proposal for a European Biotech Act.

Amendment 61

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 21 b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(21b) ‘biomanufacturing’ means the use of biotechnology or other technologies for the production of biobased material products and solutions;

Or. en

Justification

It is necessary to set out a definition in order clarify the scope of the provisions in Chapter V. The proposed definition ensures a sufficiently broad scope of biomanufacturing.

Amendment 62

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 21 c (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(21c) ‘strategic dependencies’ means situations where the Union relies predominantly on a single or a small number of countries or entities outside the Union for the supply of critical technologies, critical raw materials, critical infrastructure or critical supply chains in a manner that may affect the Union’s security, economic security, public order, or the Union’s ability to act autonomously;

Or. en

Justification

These terms are used in the objectives of the fund and thereby they should be defined.

Amendment 63

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 21 d (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(21d) ‘resilience’ means the ability of the Union to face economic, security, and economic security challenges and to adapt to such challenges.

Or. en

Justification

These terms are used in the objectives of the fund and thereby they should be defined.

Amendment 64

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
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 objective of the ECF is to increase European competitiveness through activities that have a Union added value, by:

Or. en

Amendment 65

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point -a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(-a) increasing the productivity of European companies;

Or. en

Amendment 66

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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) delivering technological, economic and environmental impact from the Union's investments by deploying, diffusing, scaling up and commercialising disruptive and incremental innovation, including emerging, cutting-edge, dual-use, and strategic technologies with significant economic potential;

Or. en

Amendment 67

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 strategic dependencies and reinforcing the Union’s resilience and economic security, including through diversifying sources and markets, support to ramp up European production of critical technologies, a sustainable and secure supply of critical raw materials and creating, strengthening and protecting critical Union supply chains and infrastructure;

Or. en

Amendment 68

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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, 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 and investments; serving as an integrated platform for delivering targeted financial support to companies across all development phases including start-ups and scale-ups;

Or. en

Amendment 69

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 alignment with the objective of delivering the Savings and Investment Union, eliminating barriers and creating incentives for private investments;

Or. en

Amendment 70

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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) enabling the scaling, commercialisation, uptake and diffusion of results of research and innovation policy in industrial policy to translate the Union’s research excellence into Union industrial strength and productivity on global markets, and incentivising innovative companies to remain and grow in the Union, therefore strengthening its industrial competitiveness and manufacturing base;

Or. en

Amendment 71

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 Union cross-border and critical infrastructure key to the Union’s competitiveness, in particular for energy, digital and space infrastructure as well as social infrastructure and related data and services;

Or. en

Amendment 72

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point g

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 which are active within the policy windows and their ability to grow and scale up, in particular by improving their access to finance, including private investment and 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;

Or. en

Amendment 73

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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) addressing skills shortages essential for the quality employment which is necessary for Union competitiveness by supporting upskilling and reskilling in sectors within the policy windows through sector-specific and targeted skills activities to ensure the availability of capabilities for current and emerging technologies, and accompanying, where relevant, investments in competitiveness with dedicated skills development measures;

Or. en

Amendment 74

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point i

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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) fostering the integration of the Single Market by supporting the buildup of supply chains spanning across Member States with positive spill-over effects for the Single Market;

Or. en

Amendment 75

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point j

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(j) supporting actions for the development, implementation, and monitoring of relevant Union legislation and policy;deleted

Or. en

Amendment 76

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point k

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(k) ensuring a just transition to a sustainable, decarbonised and digital economy that is fair and supporting workers and communities.(k) ensuring a just transition to a sustainable, decarbonised and digital economy that is fair and supports workers and communities.

Or. en

Amendment 77

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 2 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. Under the general objectives set out in paragraph 1, the ECF shall in particular pursue the following specific objectives:2. Under the general objectives set out in paragraph 1, the ECF shall advance the competitiveness of the Union through the following specific objectives:

Or. en

Amendment 78

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) For support to Clean Transition and Industrial Decarbonisation, the specific objectives of support to decarbonisation of European industry, including SMEs and energy intensive industries, clean tech manufacturing and its supply chains, and contributing to the shift towards a sustainable, circular, energy-, water- and resource-efficient, climate-neutral and resilient economy. This includes the uptake by industries of decarbonisation technologies and other solutions for their industrial processes and activities, as well as the decarbonisation of energy supply, promotion of energy efficiency, the uptake of renewable and clean energy solutions, the development of energy system flexibility, the uptake of lead markets for clean products , the development, resilience, integration and digitalisation of the energy and transport infrastructures and systems, boosting smart mobility and sustainable alternative fuels, as well as boosting the sustainable blue economy, the development of innovative nature-based business models and demand side solutions for clean and decarbonised buildings, transport and industry, and production ramp up contributing to Europe’s strategic autonomy.(a) For support to Energy Infrastructure, Industrial Decarbonisation and Clean Technology, the specific objectives of:
- the development, integration, resilience, protection, security and digitalisation of the energy infrastructures and systems;
- the decarbonisation of energy supply, the promotion of energy efficiency, the uptake of renewable and clean energy solutions, the development of energy system flexibility;
- support to the decarbonisation of European industry, including SMEs and energy intensive industries, by taking a technology-neutral approach;
- support to clean technology manufacturing and its supply chains as well as deployment thereof.

Or. en

Justification

To ensure directionality and added value of this policy window under the ECF, it should be streamlined to focus on Energy Infrastructure, Clean Technology, and Industrial Decarbonisation. Other objectives and activities from this window are moved to the „Sustainable Prosperity" Section under the second policy window.

Amendment 79

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) For support to Health, Biotechnology, Agriculture and Bioeconomy:(b) For support to Health, Biotechnology and Sustainable Prosperity:

Or. en

Amendment 80

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b – point 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(1) For support to health, the specific objectives of fostering innovation and competitiveness of the health sector while ensuring supply security and the industrial capacity and capability to manage future serious cross-border threats to health; improving and protecting public and population health, by prioritising health promotion and disease prevention across the life span through a health-in-all and One Health policies approach, and by strengthening innovation and resilience of health systems.(1) For support to health, the specific objectives of fostering competitiveness and digitalisation of the health sector, and strengthening innovation and resilience of health systems.

Or. en

Amendment 81

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b – point 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(2) For support to biotechnology, the specific objectives of contributing to the development and scalable production and uptake, availability and accessibility of medicinal products, medical devices, diagnostics and other medical countermeasures.(2) For support to biotechnology and biomanufacturing the specific objectives of contributing to the development, deployment and scalable production and uptake of cross-sectoral biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovations, products and processes, including support to SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups.

Or. en

Justification

Biotechnology has much wider applications than just health biotechnology. Thereby it should be regarded as a horizontal enabling technology.

Amendment 82

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b – point 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(3) For support to bioeconomy policy, the specific objectives of fostering an innovative and competitive bioeconomy in the Union, including in the areas of biobased materials and products, biomanufacturing, innovative food products and biochemicals; including support to SMEs, start ups and scaleups, contribute to the development and scalable production and uptake, availability and accessibility of bioeconomy innovations, including those based on cross-sectoral cutting-edge biotechnology; strengthen supply chains and increase their resilience.(3) For support to sustainable prosperity, the specific objectives of:
- fostering an innovative and competitive bioeconomy in the Union, including support to SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups,
- contributing to the development and scalable production and uptake, availability and accessibility of bioeconomy innovations,
- fostering the technological competitiveness of the agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture and forestry sectors and rural and coastal areas through the development, deployment and scaling of advanced technologies and innovation,
- boosting smart mobility, boosting the sustainable blue economy, the development of innovative nature-based business models,
- contributing to the shift towards a sustainable, circular, energy-, water- and resource-efficient, climate-neutral and resilient economy,
- support to cultural and creative industries, complementing the AgoraEU programme,
- support to the New European Bauhaus, including through decarbonised, sustainable and energy efficient housing.

Or. en

Justification

Specific objectives such as smart mobility, blue economy, sustainable and resource-efficient economy, and cultural and creative industries moved here from policy windows 1 and 3.

Amendment 83

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b – point 4

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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.deleted

Or. en

Justification

It should be clarified what would concretely boost the competitiveness of these sectors, in this case it is proposed to link it to the deployment of advanced technologies, such as drones (see point 3). The ECF should not serve as a compensation fund for potentially lower Common Agricultural Policy budgets.

Amendment 84

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 Infrastructure and Agile Digital Leadership policy, the specific objectives of:
- connecting the Union’s businesses, citizens and administration through physical and digital infrastructure in the digital area;
- creating an environment of technology infrastructures for the Union’s businesses to grow and scale technologies and business cases;
- achieving technological sovereignty by building resilient digital infrastructures and ensuring a high-level of cybersecurity in the Union;
- creating and reinforcing an interoperable digital public administration;
- fostering uptake of EU Digital Identity Wallets and trust services and the European Business Wallets;
- building competitive digital ecosystems by supporting the entire value- and supply chains of digital technologies and fostering their scaling and deployment.

Or. en

Amendment 85

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(d) For support to ‘Resilience and Security, Defence Industry and Space’ policy, respectively the specific objectives of:(d) For support to Critical Raw Materials, Security, Defence Industry and Space’ policy, respectively the specific objectives of:

Or. en

Amendment 86

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d – point 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 Critical Raw Materials policy, the specific objectives of: reinforcing Europe’s resilience by strengthening the Union capacity in exploration, extraction, processing and recycling of critical raw materials and diversifying supply sources and markets, and improving the timely availability of such materials, including through the reduction of their delivery lead time, reservation of manufacturing slots or stockpiling of critical raw materials, products or intermediate products containing critical raw materials.

Or. en

Justification

The ECF should deliver a dedicated budget envelope on Critical Raw Materials.

Amendment 87

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d – point 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(2) For support to EU defence industry. the specific objectives of promoting defence industrial readiness of the Union and its Member States through the strengthening of the competitiveness, responsiveness and ability of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), including support to start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs, fostering an innovative EU defence ecosystem; Collaborative research and development of defence products and technologies, including disruptive technologies for defence; Cooperation throughout the life-cycle of defence equipment, in particular in defence procurement and for the development of European defence projects of common interest; Adjustment of industry to structural changes.(2) For support to EU defence industry, the specific objectives of: promoting defence industrial readiness of the Union and its Member States through the strengthening of the competitiveness, responsiveness and ability of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), including support to start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs, fostering an innovative EU defence ecosystem; Collaborative research and development of defence products and technologies, including disruptive technologies for defence; Cooperation throughout the life-cycle of defence equipment, in particular in defence procurement and for the development of European defence projects of common interest;

Or. en

Amendment 88

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The indicative financial envelope for the implementation of the ECF for the period from 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034 shall be EUR 234 300 000 000 in current prices.1. The financial envelope for the implementation of the ECF for the period from 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034 shall be EUR 257 730 000 000 in current prices.

Or. en

Amendment 89

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The indicative distribution of the amount referred to in paragraph 1 shall be as follows:2. The distribution of the amount referred to in paragraph 1 shall be as follows:

Or. en

Amendment 90

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point a

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) EUR 11 000 000 000 for activities contributing to the general objectives referred to Article 3, as implemented in particular through cross-cutting activities such as non-thematic support of the ECF InvestEU Instrument, referred to in Chapter II, Section 2; Project Advisory, SME Collaboration, skills development and Access to Funding, referred to in Chapter III;(a) EUR 40 000 000 000 for activities in support of the policy windows implemented through the ECF InvestEU Instrument referred to in Chapter II, Section 2:
(i) of which, at least EUR 15 000 000 000 for support to the Policy Window "Energy Infrastructure, Industrial Decarbonisation and Clean Technology";
(ii) of which, at least EUR 5 000 000 000 for support to the Policy Window "Health, Biotechnology and Sustainable Prosperity";
(iii) of which, at least EUR 15 000 000 000 for support to the Policy Window "Digital Infrastructure and Agile Digital Leadership";
(iv) of which, at least EUR 5 000 000 000 for support to the Policy Window "Critical Raw Materials, Security, Defence Industry, and Space".

Or. en

Amendment 91

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(aa) EUR 1 000 000 000 for Project Advisory, SME Collaboration, the EU4Business Network, and Access to Funding, referred to in Chapter III;

Or. en

Amendment 92

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) EUR 26 210 000 000 for the specific objectives referred to in Article 3(2), point (a);(b) EUR 14 730 000 000 for the specific activities referred to in Chapter IV, Section 1;

Or. en

Justification

Budget Line for the Section on „Energy Infrastructure“.

Amendment 93

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(ba) EUR 10 000 000 000 for the specific activities referred to in Chapter IV, Section 2;

Or. en

Justification

Budget Line for the Section on „Industrial Decarbonisation and Clean Technology“.

Amendment 94

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point c

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(c) EUR 20 393 000 000 for the specific objectives referred to in Article 3(2), point (b);(c) EUR 4 000 000 000 for the specific activities referred to in Chapter V, Section 1;

Or. en

Justification

Budget Line for the Section on „Health“.

Amendment 95

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(ca) EUR 3 000 000 000 for the specific activities referred to in Chapter V, Section 2;

Or. en

Justification

Budget Line for the Section on „Biotechnology”.

Amendment 96

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point c b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(cb) EUR 3 000 000 000 for the specific activities referred to in Chapter V, Section 3;

Or. en

Justification

Budget Line for the Section on „Sustainable Prosperity”.

Amendment 97

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(d) EUR 51 493 000 000 for the specific objectives referred to in Article 3(2), point (c);(d) EUR 15 000 000 000 the specific activities referred to in Chapter VI, Section 1;

Or. en

Justification

Budget Line for the Section on „Connectivity and Digital Public Infrastructure”.

Amendment 98

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(da) EUR 14 000 000 000 for the specific activities referred to in Chapter VI, Section 2;

Or. en

Justification

Budget Line for the Section on „Technology Infrastructure”.

Amendment 99

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(db) EUR 10 000 000 000 for the specific activities referred to in Chapter VI, Section 3;

Or. en

Justification

Budget Line for the Section on „Agile Digital Leadership”.

Amendment 100

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(e) EUR 125 204 000 000 for the specific objectives referred to in Article 3(2), point (d);(e) EUR 10 000 000 000 for the specific activities referred to in Chapter VII, Section 1;

Or. en

Justification

Budget Line for the Section on „Critical Raw Materials”.

Amendment 101

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(ea) EUR 54 000 000 000 for the specific activities referred to in Chapter VII, Sections 2 and 4, with the exception of Articles 46 to 46e;

Or. en

Justification

Budget Line for the Sections on „Defence Industry“ and „Security“.

Amendment 102

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(eb) EUR 13 000 000 000 for the specific activities referred to in Articles 46 to 46e;

Or. en

Justification

Budget Line for the Articles on „Defence Research & Innovation“.

Amendment 103

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e c (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(ec) EUR 50 000 000 000 for the specific activities referred to in Chapter VII, Section 3;

Or. en

Justification

Budget Line for the Section on „Space”.

Amendment 104

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e d (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(ed) EUR 16 000 000 000 as a flexibility reserve to be used to top up any of the budget lines referred to in points (a) to (ec);

Or. en

Amendment 105

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e e (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(ee) 3% of the total of all amounts under points a) to ed) shall target measures supporting skills development as described in the corresponding activities in the policy windows.

Or. en

Amendment 106

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2a. The Commission may reallocate funds between the categories of expenditure referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, up to a ceiling of 5 % of the category of expenditure that receives the funds or the category that provides the funds. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, reallocate funds between the categories of expenditure referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article when that reallocation exceeds a cumulative amount greater than 5 % of the amount allocated to the category of expenditure that receives the funds or the category that provides the funds. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(3).

Or. en

Amendment 107

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 5

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
5. The financial envelope referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article and the additional resources referred to in Article 5 may also be used for technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the ECF, such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, corporate information technology systems and platforms, information and communication activities, including corporate communication on the political priorities of the Union, and all other technical and administrative assistance or staff-related expenses incurred by the Commission for the management of the ECF.5. The financial envelope referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article and the additional resources referred to in Article 5 may also be used for technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the ECF, such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, corporate information technology systems and platforms, information and communication activities as regards the visibility of specific projects supported by the ECF, and other technical and administrative assistance or staff-related expenses incurred directly by the Commission for the management of the ECF.

Or. en

Amendment 108

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 5 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
5a. Article 30(1) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 shall not apply to chapters of the budget relating to the ECF.

Or. en

Justification

Given that so many budget lines are merged and the Commission foresees only one Chapter in the Nomenclature for the entirety of the ECF, autonomous transfers should not be possible, since this would enable reallocation of committed funds at the expense of budgetary control. However, under new paragraph 2a above, reallocation of up to 5% of funds should be possible.

Amendment 109

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 4a
Nomenclature
The Budgetary Nomenclature for the European Competitiveness Fund in the Annual Budgetary Procedure shall be as follows:
1. Chapter: Energy Infrastructure, Industrial Decarbonisation and Clean Technology
(a) Article: Energy Infrastructure
(b) Article: Industrial Decarbonisation and Clean Technology
2. Chapter: Biotechnology, Health and Sustainable Prosperity
(a) Article: Health
(b) Article: Biotechnology
(c) Article: Sustainable Prosperity
3. Chapter: Digital Infrastructure and Agile Digital Leadership
(a) Article: Connectivity and Digital Public Infrastructure
(b) Article: Technology Infrastructure
(c) Article: Agile Digital Leadership
4. Chapter: Security, Critical Raw Materials, Defence and Space
(a) Article: Security
(b) Article: Critical Raw Materials
(c) Article: Defence
(d) Article: Defence Research and Innovation
(e) Article: Space

Or. en

Amendment 110

Proposal for a regulation

Article 5 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. Any revenues generated by activities and components under Chapter VII, section 3 of this Regulation, shall constitute external assigned revenue within the meaning of Article 21(5) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 to the ECF or its successor.3. Any revenues generated by activities and components under Chapter VII, section 3 of this Regulation, shall constitute external assigned revenue within the meaning of Article 21(5) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 to Chapter VII, Section 3, of the ECF or its successor.

Or. en

Justification

Reflows from the Space components should be used again for the Space components.

Amendment 111

Proposal for a regulation

Article 5 – paragraph 5 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
5a. Funds from the EU Facility established under Regulation [XXXX/XXXX] (NRPPs) may be committed to the ECF to be spent on support to actions under Article 22a “Housing and Social Investments” through the ECF InvestEU Instrument. The budget provided for in Article 4 of this Regulation shall not be used to finance or support those actions.

Or. en

Amendment 112

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The Commission shall ensure the consistent implementation of the European Competitiveness Fund, the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation and the Innovation Fund.1. The Commission shall ensure the consistent implementation of the European Competitiveness Fund, the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, the Connecting Europe Facility and the Innovation Fund and, where relevant, the EU Facility.

Or. en

Amendment 113

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. The ECF will be implemented in synergy with other Union funds, including the Global Europe Fund, in particular to support global competitiveness, ensure diversified supply sources, and strengthen export potential and opportunities of European companies.deleted

Or. en

Justification

This paragraph seems to have no legal value, as it is a statement of fact. Thereby this paragraph is proposed to be deleted.

Amendment 114

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph -1 (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
-1. The Competitiveness Seal shall serve as a tool to reduce administrative burden for applicants and to simplify their access to financial support.

Or. en

Amendment 115

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. A Competitiveness Seal may be awarded to high-quality actions which shall comply at least with the following conditions:1. Where a proposal submitted under any window or instrument of the ECF complies with the eligibility and award criteria laid down in this Regulation and demonstrates a high contribution to the objectives set out in Article 3, the Commission may award it a Competitiveness Seal.
(a) they have been assessed in an award procedure under the ECF;
(b) they comply with the minimum quality requirements of that award procedure;

Or. en

Amendment 116

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1a. The Competitiveness Seal shall serve as certification that the project:
(a) contributes substantially to one or more of the objectives referred to in Article 3;
(b) meets the applicable eligibility, selection and award criteria under this Regulation;
(c) has successfully undergone a quality evaluation in accordance with the procedures applicable to the relevant policy window or instrument.

Or. en

Amendment 117

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 1 b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1b. The Competitiveness Seal shall constitute a recognised quality label within the architecture of the ECF and shall aim to maximise Union added value by facilitating:
(a) cumulative or complementary funding from other policy windows or instruments of the ECF, where synergies are identified;
(b) support from other Union programmes, in accordance with the Financial Regulation and the respective basic acts;
(c) additional financial contributions from Member States, including through shared management funds, national promotional banks, or national budgetary resources;
(d) support through financial instruments, blending operations or other forms of Union financial support.

Or. en

Amendment 118

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The work programme or the documents related to the award procedure may set out additional conditions.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 119

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2a. For the purposes of paragraph 1a, other Union programmes and Member States may rely on the evaluation carried out under this Regulation, provided that:
(a) the action complies with the rules of the respective funding source;
(b) double funding of the same costs is avoided;
(c) the cumulative support does not exceed the total eligible costs of the action; and
(d) State aid rules, where applicable, are respected.

Or. en

Amendment 120

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
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).deleted

Or. en

Amendment 121

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3a. The Commission shall ensure coherence, transparency, and operational interoperability within the ECF to enable the effective use of the Competitiveness Seal as a tool for strategic alignment, resource mobilisation and simplification.

Or. en

Amendment 122

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 4

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4. Strategic projects under CRMA, NZIA, CMA and other strategic projects identified in Union legislation that fulfil the conditions in paragraph 1, will be directly granted the Competitiveness Seal.4. Strategic projects recognised in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Net-Zero Industry Act and the Critical Raw Materials Act that fall within the scope of Article 3 of this Regulation and that receive a contribution under the ECF may also receive a contribution from any other Union programme, including funds under shared management, provided that those contributions do not cover the same costs. The rules of the relevant Union programme shall apply to the corresponding contribution to the strategic project. The cumulative funding shall not exceed the total eligible costs of the strategic project. The support from the different Union programmes may be calculated on a pro rata basis in accordance with the documents setting out the conditions for support.

Or. en

Amendment 123

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 4 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4a. The Commission may decide to award any project that has received funding under Regulation [XXXX/XXXX] (HEU21-27) or [XXXX/XXXX] (HEU28-34) or that is a Horizon Europe Pathway Action as referred to in Article 14d and that contributes to one or more of the objectives referred to in Article 3(2) the Competitiveness Seal. Projects that have been awarded funding under Horizon Europe or its predecessor programmes and that have reached a high level of technological maturity, corresponding to Technology Readiness Level 7 or higher, shall be eligible for a fast-track procedure for the award of the Competitiveness Seal. Under this procedure, the Commission may rely, to the extent appropriate, on the results of prior evaluations and technical assessments carried out under those programmes, with a view to accelerating the award decision while ensuring compliance with the objectives and requirements of this Regulation.

Or. en

Amendment 124

Proposal for a regulation

Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point d

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(d) other entities established in non-associated third countries where the funding of such entities is essential for implementing the action and contributes to the objectives set out in Article 3.(d) other entities established in non-associated third countries where the funding of such entities is essential for the Union’s resilience, security, economic security or to reduce strategic dependencies and contributes to the objectives set out in Article 3(2).

Or. en

Amendment 125

Proposal for a regulation

Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Legal entities in non-associated third countries which are not eligible to receive funding under point (d) shall be eligible for participation in consortia and shall bear the cost of their participation.

Or. en

Justification

Mirroring the eligibility criteria in place in the current Horizon Europe programme, it should be possible for entities in non-associated countries to be part of consortia (notwithstanding any applicable security restrictions) when they bear their own cost of participation. At the same time, ECF funds should only go to entities in non-associated third countries where it is essential to achieve the ECF objectives.

Amendment 126

Proposal for a regulation

Article 9 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. In addition to Article 168(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, associated third countries referred to in Article 11(1) of this Regulation and international organisations may, where relevant, participate in and benefit from any procurement mechanisms set Article 168(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. Rules applicable to Member States pursuant to Article 168 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 shall be applied, mutatis mutandis, to participating associated third countries and international organisations.3. In addition to Article 168(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, associated third countries referred to in Article 11(1) of this Regulation and international organisations may, where relevant, participate in and benefit from procurement mechanisms. Rules applicable to Member States pursuant to Article 168 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 shall be applied, mutatis mutandis, to participating associated third countries and international organisations.

Or. en

Justification

Drafting error.

Amendment 127

Proposal for a regulation

Article 9 – paragraph 6

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
6. Representatives of third countries or international organisations shall not be present in deliberations on eligibility/award criteria.6. Representatives of associated third countries shall be granted observer status in deliberations on eligibility/award criteria concerning parts of the ECF they are associated to.

Or. en

Justification

For parts of the ECF, notably some space constellations, collaboration with partner countries remains essential. Thereby, associated countries should be granted observer status in discussions on eligibility and award criteria.

Amendment 128

Proposal for a regulation

Article 9 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 9a
Award criteria
1. Where relevant and appropriate depending on the nature of the award procedure, award criteria set out in the work programmes referred to in Article 15 shall take into account the following principles:
(a) an assessment of the quality of the proposals submitted on competitiveness in the light of the objectives set out in Article 3(2);
(b) an assessment of the expected results of the proposals and their impact on achieving the objectives set out in Article 3(2);
(c) the ability of the proposals to support specific activities in Chapters III, IV, V, VI and VII, considering the nature of the activities.

Or. en

Amendment 129

Proposal for a regulation

Article 10 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
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 award procedures may apply any of the conditions set out in paragraph 2 to protect the essential interests of the Union’s security, economic security or manufacturing capacity for critical technologies, in accordance with paragraphs 4, 5 and 6.

Or. en

Amendment 130

Proposal for a regulation

Article 10 – paragraph 2 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
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 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 and entities in countries that are associated to the relevant part of the ECF, while limiting distortion of the single market. Those eligibility conditions may take the form of:

Or. en

Amendment 131

Proposal for a regulation

Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point b

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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) 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 user 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;

Or. en

Amendment 132

Proposal for a regulation

Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point c

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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) 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. Estimated cost differences above 25 %, based on objective and transparent data, may be presumed unreasonable;

Or. en

Amendment 133

Proposal for a regulation

Article 10 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3a. An award procedure shall be deemed to be in the essential interest of the Union’s security when it concerns technologies or infrastructures essential to defence and security.

Or. en

Amendment 134

Proposal for a regulation

Article 10 – paragraph 3 b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3b. An award procedure shall be deemed to be in the essential interest of the Union’s economic security when it concerns technologies or areas referred to in Annex I of Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/2113.

Or. en

Amendment 135

Proposal for a regulation

Article 10 – paragraph 3 c (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3c. An award procedure shall be deemed to be in the essential interest of the Union’s manufacturing capacity for critical technology when it contributes to scaling EU manufacturing capacities in Net-Zero technologies as defined in Regulation (EU) 2024/1735 (Net-Zero Industry Act), or digital technologies, and when more than 50 % of the supply of a technology originates in a single third country.

Or. en

Amendment 136

Proposal for a regulation

Article 11 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The ECF may be opened to the participation of the following third countries through full or partial association, in accordance with the objectives laid down in Article 3 and in accordance with the relevant international agreements or any decisions adopted under the framework of those agreements and applicable to:1. The ECF may be opened to the participation of the following third countries through full or partial association including to specific parts of the programme, such as individual space constellations, in accordance with the objectives laid down in Article 3 and in accordance with the relevant international agreements or any decisions adopted under the framework of those agreements and applicable to:

Or. en

Amendment 137

Proposal for a regulation

Article 11 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Any international agreement that provides for the possibility of a third country to participate in Union Programmes shall include a list of all Union Programmes to which the third country is associated, including the scope of each association. Those international agreements shall be considered to fall within the scope of Article 218(6)a of the TFEU and any amendments to that list shall require the consent of the Parliament.

Or. en

Amendment 138

Proposal for a regulation

Article 12 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. Award procedures implemented under the ECF, shall comply with the general provisions of the ECF as set out in Chapters I and II of this Regulation, which, in case of conflict, shall prevail over any other rules pertaining to the activities or subsequent implementing acts.3. Award procedures implemented under the ECF, shall comply with the general provisions of the ECF as set out in Chapters I and II of this Regulation.

Or. en

Justification

To avoid legal uncertainty on the hierarchy of Union legislation.

Amendment 139

Proposal for a regulation

Article 12 – paragraph 4

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4. Where award procedures concern more than one specific objective laid down in Article 3(2), the work programme may specify that the award procedure is implemented under a single set of rules by applying directly Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, complemented by the general rules set out in Chapter I and II, or by applying the rules of one of the concerned specific objectives.4. Where award procedures concern more than one specific objective laid down in Article 3(2), the work programme may specify that the award procedure is implemented under a single set of rules by applying directly Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, complemented by the general rules set out in Chapter I and II, or by applying the rules of one of the concerned specific objectives. A call for proposals may take place under more than one policy window, combining funds from relevant policy windows to contribute to a call for proposals which contributes to the specific objectives of more than one policy window, as set out in Article 3(2).

Or. en

Amendment 140

Proposal for a regulation

Article 12 – paragraph 5

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
5. In certain duly substantiated circumstances, Union funding may be granted without a call for proposals in accordance with Article 198 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, including with point (e).5. In certain duly substantiated and exceptional circumstances, for funds implemented under Section 3 of Chapter VI, Union funding may be granted without a call for proposals in accordance with Article 198 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. Such award decision shall be duly justified and substantiated. By derogation from Article 198 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509), direct awards shall not be permitted under all other Chapters and Sections of the ECF.

Or. en

Amendment 141

Proposal for a regulation

Article 12 – paragraph 9

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
9. In accordance with Article 153(3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, for actions implementing research and innovation activities, the evaluation committee may be composed partially or fully of independent external experts.9. In accordance with Article 153(3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, the evaluation committee may be composed partially or fully of independent external experts.

Or. en

Amendment 142

Proposal for a regulation

Article 12 – paragraph 11

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
11. Where necessary to achieve the objectives set out in Article 3, parts of the ECF may be implemented through Public-Private or Public-public Partnerships established under the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, in particular by entrusting budget implementation tasks, in accordance with Article 62(1), point (c) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, to joint undertakings established pursuant to 187 TFEU. Support from the ECF shall be conditional upon efficient use of Union financing, a proportionate financial contribution from other partners at least matching the Union contribution and voting rights for the Union in the governing bodies ensuring protection of the interests of the Union in the partnership. For that purpose, joint undertakings shall be established through a single establishing act ensuring centralised administrative functions.11. Where necessary to achieve the objectives set out in Article 3, parts of the ECF may be implemented through Public-Private or Public-public Partnerships established under the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, in particular by entrusting budget implementation tasks, in accordance with Article 62(1), point (c) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, to joint undertakings established pursuant to 187 TFEU. Support from the ECF shall be conditional upon efficient use of Union financing, a proportionate financial or in-kind contribution from other partners at least matching the Union contribution and voting rights for the Union in the governing bodies ensuring protection of the interests of the Union in the partnership. For that purpose, joint undertakings shall be established through a single establishing act ensuring centralised administrative functions.

Or. en

Amendment 143

Proposal for a regulation

Article 12 – paragraph 12

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
12. In addition to the grounds set out in Article 132 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, award procedures and resulting legal commitments shall allow for termination where the objectives of the action are unlikely to be achieved at all or within the set timelines, or the action has lost its policy relevance12. In addition to the grounds set out in Article 132 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, award procedures and resulting legal commitments shall allow for termination where the objectives of the action are unlikely to be achieved at all or within the set timelines.

Or. en

Amendment 144

Proposal for a regulation

Article 14

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
[...]deleted

Or. en

(Replaced by Article 14a, 14b and 14c.)

Amendment 145

Proposal for a regulation

Article 14 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 14a
Economic and Technological Advisory Council
1. An Economic and Technological Advisory Council (the ‘Advisory Council’) is established.
2. The members of the Advisory Council shall be appointed by the Commission, following an open call for nominations and an open call for expressions of interest. The term of members of the Advisory Council shall be limited to four years, renewable once. Members of the Advisory Council shall act with integrity and probity. There shall be maximum fifteen members at any given point in time.
3. Members of the Advisory Council shall be selected based on their expertise in economics, innovation and technology development, especially in sectors covered by the ECF.
4. The Advisory Council shall have the following tasks:
(a) advise the Commission on economic developments of the Union;
(b) advise the Commission on technological and innovation developments within the sectors covered by the ECF;
(c) advise the Commission on areas of market failure and suboptimal investment situations that could be addressed in the implementation of the ECF;
(d) advise the Commission on the identification of strategic portfolios across sectors covered by the ECF.
The Advisory Council shall have no role as regards the sectors of security and defence, as well as the activities for those sectors funded under the ECF.
5. The Advisory Council shall publish each year in September an annual report containing an outlook on the European economy for the following years. The report shall include recommendations to the Commission for the implementation of the ECF in relation to the Advisory Councils’ tasks pursuant to paragraph 4, as well as the underlying analysis.
6. The Commission, during the implementation of this Regulation, shall be guided by and take due account of the recommendations and analysis from the annual report referred to in paragraph 4.
7. The Advisory Council shall act independently from the Commission. In the performance of their tasks, the members of the Advisory Council shall neither seek nor take instructions from Union institutions or bodies, or any other natural or legal person.
8. The Commission shall provide the Advisory Council with adequate resources and staff to conduct their tasks according to this Regulation. The staff allocated to the Advisory Council shall take instructions only from the Advisory Council. The Advisory Council shall be given access to relevant Commission-internal expertise.
9. The Advisory Council, based on a proposal by the Commission, shall establish the detailed rules on rules of procedure, conflicts of interest and confidentiality for the Advisory Council. Members of the Advisory Council shall be bound by these terms.

Or. en

Justification

The role of the Economic and Technological Advisory Council is to advise the EU Commission and has no decision power. Therefore, it should be able to perform its task autonomously without any interference.

Amendment 146

Proposal for a regulation

Article 14 b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 14b
Stakeholder Group
1. A Stakeholder Group shall be established.
2. The task of the Stakeholder Group shall be to support the Commission in the preparation and design of calls for proposals under this Regulation. It shall provide non-binding advice to the Commission at an early stage of call preparation, with a view to ensuring that funding conditions, eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, and administrative procedures are proportionate, clear, and aligned with market realities.
3. The Stakeholder Group shall comprise representatives of relevant industry sectors, small and medium-sized enterprises, financial institutions, investors, research and technology organisations, social partners, representatives of regional and local authorities, and other relevant market actors, selected on the basis of expertise, balance, and transparency.
4. The Commission shall ensure that the consultation of the Stakeholder Group contributes to simplifying participation, enhancing business uptake, and strengthening the impact and effectiveness of actions supported under this Regulation.
5. The Stakeholder Group may meet in sub-configurations relevant to the policy windows.
6. For the purposes of this Regulation, the Council for European Competitiveness Research established by Horizon Europe Regulation shall be considered a sub-configuration of the Stakeholder Group. It shall provide advice to the Commission on the calls for proposals related to Horizon Europe Pathway actions.

Or. en

Amendment 147

Proposal for a regulation

Article 14 c (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 14c
Investment Committee for the ECF InvestEU Instrument
1. A fully independent Investment Committee shall be established under the ECF InvestEU Instrument (the ‘Investment Committee’).
2. The composition of the Investment Committee shall ensure that it has a wide knowledge of the sectors covered by the ECF and a wide knowledge of the geographic markets in the Union, and shall ensure that the Investment Committee as a whole is gender-balanced.
3. The Investment Committee shall examine the proposals for financing and investment operations submitted by implementing partners for coverage under the Union guarantee and verify the compliance with the applicable rules of the proposals for financing under the ECF InvestEU Instrument.
4. The Advisory Board on ECF InvestEU Instrument shall be composed of one representative of each implementing partner and one representative of each Member State. The Advisory Board on ECF InvestEU Instrument shall provide advice on the design of financial products and on the strategic and operational direction in its area of competence. It shall also provide advice on the coordination with the EIC to ensure complementarity with other Union funding or private investments. The Advisory Board shall be chaired by a representative of the Commission.
5. The Commission shall establish the detailed rules on selection and composition, remuneration, rules of procedure, conflicts of interest and confidentiality for the Investment Committee and the Advisory Board on ECF InvestEU Instrument.
6. The Commission and Implementing partners shall establish regular Policy Review Dialogues to discuss progress with the implementation of the financial products and engage on relevant policy developments.
7. To ensure coherence between the different parts of the ECF, the Investment Committee shall take account of the findings of the Advisory Council established in Article 14a as regards market failures and suboptimal investment situations.

Or. en

(Paragraphs 1-7 correspond, with modifications, to paragraphs 5-11 of Article 14 of the Commission proposal.)

Amendment 148

Proposal for a regulation

Article 14 d (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 14d
Horizon Europe Pathway actions
1. In order to create dedicated pathways from innovation to competitiveness, the ECF Policy Windows shall, through calls in a dedicated part of the Work Programmes, offer support to Horizon Europe Pathway actions.
2. Horizon Europe Pathway actions shall provide support for the deployment, commercialisation, scaling, licensing, standardisation or other forms of translation into real-world use of results from projects funded under [Horizon Europe Regulation] or any of the preceding European Framework Programmes which contribute to the achievement of one or more of the objectives set out in Article 3(2) of this Regulation. This may also include support for the establishment or upgrading of technology infrastructures.
3. The Work Programmes shall specify which ECF objective(s) are pursued by each dedicated call. The Work Programme shall also specify for each call which market failure or failures are preventing the deployment, commercialisation, scaling, licensing, standardisation and/or other forms of translation into real-world use of the targeted results from the Framework Programme projects as well as how the intervention of the call addresses that market failure(s). For the identification of high potential Horizon Europe results to be targeted by the calls for Horizon Europe Pathway actions, the Commission shall consult the Council for European Competitiveness Research established by [Horizon Europe Regulation].
4. The Horizon Europe Pathway actions may be implemented through any form of Union support allowed under Article 12 of this Regulation. Actions for which a significant participation from not-for-profit research organisations is expected shall be implemented through grants, except in duly justified cases.

Or. en

(Article 14d is inserted in Chapter II, Section 1, before Article 15.)

Amendment 149

Proposal for a regulation

Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point g

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(g) actions to which specific rules apply, in particular on ownership, exploitation and dissemination, transfer and licensing as well as access rights to results;(g) actions to which specific rules from this Regulation apply, in particular on ownership, exploitation and dissemination, transfer and licensing as well as access rights to results;

Or. en

Amendment 150

Proposal for a regulation

Article 15 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The work programmes under this Regulation shall integrate in a specific dedicated part collaborative research and innovation activities and their dedicated budget.2. The work programmes under this Regulation shall integrate in a specific dedicated part Horizon Europe Pathway actions as referred to in Article 14d and their dedicated budget.

Or. en

Amendment 151

Proposal for a regulation

Article 15 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, adopt the work programmes implementing the specific objectives referred to in Article 3(2), points (a), (b), (c) and (d) and for the horizontal activities in Chapter III. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 83(2).3. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 84 concerning the adoption of the work programmes implementing the specific objectives referred to in Article 3(2), points (a), (b), (c) and (d) and for the horizontal activities in Chapter III.

Or. en

Amendment 152

Proposal for a regulation

Article 15 – paragraph 4

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, adopt the work programmes implementing the specific objectives referred to in Article 3(2), point (d) (2), (3) and (4). Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 83(3).4. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 84 concerning the adoption of the work programmes implementing the specific objectives referred to in Article 3(2), point (d) (2), (3) and (4).

Or. en

Amendment 153

Proposal for a regulation

Article 15 – paragraph 5

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
5. On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency relating to the fact that a work programme has not been adopted by October 1 of the year preceding the year of budget implementation, the Commission shall adopt the work programme by means of immediately applicable implementing acts in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 83(4) and not later than October 15 of the year preceding the year of budget implementation. Those implementing acts shall remain in force for the period of budget implementation.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 154

Proposal for a regulation

Article 15 – paragraph 6

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
6. On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency relating to the need for an immediate reaction to a crisis or other similar exceptional and duly substantiated emergencies, the Commission may adopt a work programme by means of immediately applicable implementing acts in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 83(4).6. On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency relating to the need for an immediate reaction to a crisis or exceptional and duly substantiated emergency, the Commission may adopt a work programme by means of immediately applicable implementing acts in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 83(4).

Or. en

Amendment 155

Proposal for a regulation

Article 15 – paragraph 6 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
6a. Work Programmes implementing the activities under Chapter VI, Section 2, may only set out the areas of intervention, objectives, and the budgetary amount allocated for activities in the given budgetary period.

Or. en

Amendment 156

Proposal for a regulation

Article 16 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1a. Support under paragraph 1 shall be conditional on the project promoter demonstrating that adequate arrangements are in place or credibly in prospect to ensure the offtake of products or services resulting from the supported value chain. Such arrangements may include binding offtake agreements, framework contracts, public procurement commitments, letters of intent from anchor customers, or equivalent instruments demonstrating sufficient demand. Where full offtake arrangements cannot be demonstrated at the time of the award decision, the Commission may require that the beneficiary concludes such arrangements within a specified period as a condition for the disbursement of support and may provide for the partial or full recovery of Union support where offtake arrangements fail to materialise within that period.

Or. en

Amendment 157

Proposal for a regulation

Article 16 – paragraph 1 b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1b. The evaluation of proposals to such calls shall include an assessment of Member State co-funding, with a lower co-funding rate by the Union resulting in a higher score.

Or. en

Amendment 158

Proposal for a regulation

Article 16 – paragraph 1 c (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1c. For proposals selected for funding, the Commission shall undertake efforts to increase the co-funding by Member States.

Or. en

Amendment 159

Proposal for a regulation

Article 16 – paragraph 1 d (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1d. The Commission shall support the project promoter in securing such adequate arrangements for the offtake of products or services resulting from the supported value chain.

Or. en

Amendment 160

Proposal for a regulation

Article 17 – title

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
EU Tech frontrunnersECF Contribution to EU Tech frontrunners

Or. en

Amendment 161

Proposal for a regulation

Article 17 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
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 contribute funds to support EU Tech frontrunners identified under Article XX of Regulation [XXXX/XXXX] (HEU28-34), to support the deployment, diffusion, commercialisation and scaling of the results thereof.

Or. en

Amendment 162

Proposal for a regulation

Article 17 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. At the first stage, an open call for expression of interest for goods, works or services that might contribute to Union competitiveness in general, or in a specified sector, may be published without specification of the kind of activities or the instrument of budget implementation to be used.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 163

Proposal for a regulation

Article 17 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. At the second stage, analysis and crowding in of additional public and private capital shall be supported.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 164

Proposal for a regulation

Article 17 – paragraph 4

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4. Proposals and offers shall be evaluated and ranked based on common award criteria such as their comparative contribution to Union competitiveness.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 165

Proposal for a regulation

Article 17 – paragraph 5

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
5. The evaluation committee shall determine the most appropriate instrument of budget implementation, as well as propose the maximum amount and form of the Union contribution.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 166

Proposal for a regulation

Article 21 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. As a horizontal delivery tool for Union internal policies, the ECF InvestEU Instrument shall contain the budgetary guarantee and financial instruments, including when combined with non-repayable support in a blending operation, for the purpose of contributing to the general and specific objectives set out in Article 3, and may be implemented in synergy with other Union or national activities, including through compartments for Member States.1. As a horizontal delivery tool for Union internal policies, the ECF InvestEU Instrument shall contain the budgetary guarantee and financial instruments, including when combined with non-repayable support in a blending operation, for the purpose of contributing to the specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), and may be implemented in synergy with other Union or national activities, including through compartments for Member States.

Or. en

Amendment 167

Proposal for a regulation

Article 21 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Contributions to the ECF InvestEU Instrument originating from the budget of the ECF shall be used exclusively as support to the activities of the policy windows. Contributions from other Union programmes to the ECF InvestEU instruments may be used in support of the objectives of the programme from which the contribution originates, and in support of the general objectives of the ECF.

Or. en

Amendment 168

Proposal for a regulation

Article 21 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The ECF InvestEU Instrument shall address market failures or suboptimal investment situations. The ECF InvestEU Instrument may in particular provide loans, guarantees, counter-guarantees, capital market instruments, any other form of funding or credit enhancement, including subordinated debt, or equity or quasi-equity investments, provided directly or indirectly through financial intermediaries, funds, investment platforms or other vehicles to be channelled to final recipients.2. The ECF InvestEU Instrument shall address market failures or suboptimal investment situations. The ECF InvestEU Instrument may in particular provide loans, guarantees, counter-guarantees, capital market instruments, any other form of funding or credit enhancement, including subordinated debt, or equity or quasi-equity investments, provided through financial intermediaries that have expressed their interest, funds, investment platforms or other vehicles to be channelled to final recipients.

Or. en

Amendment 169

Proposal for a regulation

Article 21 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. The maximum amount of the budgetary guarantee under the EU Compartment of the ECF InvestEU Instrument shall be EUR 70 000 000 000 in current prices. It shall be provisioned at the rate of 50 %.3. The maximum amount of the budgetary guarantee under the EU Compartment of the ECF InvestEU Instrument shall be EUR 120 000 000 000 in current prices. It shall be provisioned at the rate of 50 %.

Or. en

Amendment 170

Proposal for a regulation

Article 21 – paragraph 4

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4. The minimum amount of the Union support from ECF delivered through ECF InvestEU Instrument shall be EUR 17 000 000 000, to be used in support of the general and specific objectives set out in Article 3. This minimum amount shall be increased by the contributions from the work programmes set out in Article 15. The contributions shall be a favoured means of implementation under the ECF and used for provisioning of the budgetary guarantee or financing of the financial instruments.4. The minimum amount referred to in Article 4(2), point (a), shall be increased by the contributions from the work programmes set out in Article 15. The ECF InvestEU Instrument shall be a favoured means of implementation under the ECF, and used for provisioning of the budgetary guarantee or financing of the financial instruments. The Commission shall duly justify all spending under the ECF that is not done via the ECF InvestEU Instrument.

Or. en

Amendment 171

Proposal for a regulation

Article 21 – paragraph 5

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
5. The investment guidelines set out by the Commission shall define in more detail the scope of intervention in support of the general and specific objectives set out in Article 3. The investment guidelines shall be prepared in close dialogue with the potential implementing partners.5. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 84 to set out the investment guidelines. Those investment guidelines shall define in more detail the scope of intervention implementing the specific activities set out in every Policy Window. Those investment guidelines shall be prepared in close dialogue with the potential implementing partners.

Or. en

Amendment 172

Proposal for a regulation

Article 22 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The Commission shall in particular develop a Scale-up facility in cooperation with the EIB Group, other international financial institutions and National Promotional Banks. The facility shall provide in a coordinated and consistent manner, a comprehensive set of financing tools tailored to the unique needs of scale-ups, including indirect and direct equity and quasi-equity, venture debt, loans, guarantees and blended finance, with a view to attract private investors in supporting scale up financing and facilitate exit options. The facility shall target SMEs and small mid-cap companies and Mid-cap companies.2. The Commission shall in particular develop a Scale-up facility in cooperation with the EIB Group, other international financial institutions and National Promotional Banks. The facility shall provide in a coordinated and consistent manner, a comprehensive set of financing tools tailored to the unique needs of scale-ups, including indirect and direct equity and quasi-equity, venture debt, loans, guarantees and blended finance, with a view to attract private investors in supporting scale up financing and facilitate exit options. The facility shall target SMEs and small mid-cap companies and Mid-cap companies active in the policy windows of the ECF.

Or. en

Amendment 173

Proposal for a regulation

Article 22 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 22a
Housing and Social Investments
The ECF InvestEU instrument may support the following activities using funds from the EU Facility established under Regulation [XXXX/XXXX] (NRPPs):
Support to social investments, which comprises microfinance, social enterprise finance, social economy and measures to promote gender equality, skills, education, training and related services, social infrastructure, including health and educational infrastructure and social and student housing, social innovation, health and long-term care, inclusion and accessibility, cultural and creative activities with a social goal, and the integration of vulnerable people, including third country nationals.

Or. en

Amendment 174

Proposal for a regulation

Article 23 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. During the period of the MFF 2028-2034, budgetary guarantees, financial instruments, or financial instruments directly implemented by the Commission in accordance with Article 219 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 to support policy objectives on the territory of the Union shall solely be established under this Section.1. During the period of the MFF 2028-2034, budgetary guarantees, financial instruments, or financial instruments directly implemented by the Commission in accordance with Article 219 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 to support policy objectives on the territory of the Union shall exclusively be established under this Section, with the exception of those established under the European Innovation Council in Regulation [XXXX/XXXX] (HEU28-34).

Or. en

Amendment 175

Proposal for a regulation

Article 23 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The budgetary guarantee, within its maximum amount referred to in Article 21(3), and financial instruments, including when combined with non-repayable support in a blending operation, may be used to provide support under other Union programmes, including the EU ETS Innovation Fund and other Union programmes financed from sources other than the Union budget, in accordance with the objectives set out in those programmes.2. The budgetary guarantee, within its maximum amount referred to in Article 21(3), and financial instruments, including when combined with non-repayable support in a blending operation, shall be used to implement the specific objectives established in Article 3(2). Additional contributions from other Union programmes shall be used to provide support under those programmes and shall also contribute to the objectives under Article 3, including the EU ETS Innovation Fund and other Union programmes financed from sources other than the Union budget, in accordance with the objectives set out in those programmes.

Or. en

Amendment 176

Proposal for a regulation

Article 25 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. By way of derogation from Article 211(5) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, and subject to Article 12 of this Regulation, the implementation of a budgetary guarantee or financial instrument, including when combined with non-repayable support in a blending operation, may be entrusted to any entity referred to in Article 62(1), first subparagraph, point (c), of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.2. By way of derogation from Article 211(5) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, and subject to Article 12 of this Regulation, the implementation of a budgetary guarantee or financial instrument, including when combined with non-repayable support in a blending operation, may be entrusted to any pillar-assessed entity referred to in Article 62(1), first subparagraph, point (c), of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.

Or. en

Amendment 177

Proposal for a regulation

Article 25 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. In addition to entities referred to in Article 62(1), first subparagraph, point (c), and Article 211(5) of Regulation (EU Euratom) 2024/2029, bodies established in a Member State, governed by the private law of a Member State or Union law may also be exceptionally entrusted, following a positive pillar assessment, with the implementation of a budgetary guarantee or financial instrument, including when combined with non-repayable support in a blending operation, to the extent that such bodies are provided with adequate financial guarantees which may be, for each action, limited to the maximum amount of the Union support. Those bodies governed by private law shall be selected with due account to the nature of the financial instrument or budgetary guarantee to be implemented, the experience and the financial and operational capacity, and their rules and procedures for verifying the economic viability of projects of final recipients. The selection shall be transparent, justified on objective grounds and shall not give rise to a conflict of interests.3. In addition to entities referred to in Article 62(1), first subparagraph, point (c), and Article 211(5) of Regulation (EU Euratom) 2024/2029, bodies established in a Member State, governed by the private law of a Member State or Union law may also be entrusted, following a positive pillar assessment, with the implementation of a budgetary guarantee or financial instrument, including when combined with non-repayable support in a blending operation, to the extent that such bodies are provided with adequate financial guarantees which may be, for each action, limited to the maximum amount of the Union support. Those bodies governed by private law shall be selected with due account to the nature of the financial instrument or budgetary guarantee to be implemented, the experience and the financial and operational capacity, and their rules and procedures for verifying the economic viability of projects of final recipients. The selection shall be transparent, justified on objective grounds and shall not give rise to a conflict of interests.

Or. en

Amendment 178

Proposal for a regulation

Article 25 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3a. 50 % of the EU guarantee of the EU compartment shall be granted to the EIB Group.

Or. en

Amendment 179

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 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, and supporting efforts to protect their research and innovation investments by obtaining intellectual property titles, such as patents;

Or. en

Amendment 180

Proposal for a regulation

Article 26 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
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 development of potential investment projects under the ECF InvestEU Instrument and contribute to their further development. The Project advisory shall also cooperate with industrial alliances and European clusters. The Project advisory shall be available under each policy window established under this Regulation, covering sectors under that window. In addition, advisory support may cover cross-cutting actions.

Or. en

Amendment 181

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
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. “EU for Business” Network shall be established as a successor to the Enterprise Europe Network to help Union businesses become more competitive and innovate, grow and scale in the Single Market and beyond, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, start-ups, scale-ups 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.

Or. en

Amendment 182

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1a. The EU for Business Network shall provide integrated support services to Union businesses, in particular to SMEs, start-ups, scale-ups and small mid-cap companies, with the objective of enhancing their competitiveness, innovation capacity, growth and scaling potential within the Single Market and beyond. The EU for Business Network shall:
(a) deliver business advisory and support services, including the provision of information and guidance on Union legislation, standards and programmes relevant to businesses, as well as tailored advisory services, business diagnostics and mentoring aimed at identifying growth opportunities, improving business models and supporting strategic development;
(b) facilitate access to finance by providing information and guidance on Union, national and regional funding opportunities, supporting businesses in developing investment readiness, and fostering connections between businesses and financial intermediaries, including venture capital investors, business angels, banks and other financing providers;
(c) support innovation and technology uptake by assisting businesses in the adoption and deployment of advanced technologies and innovative solutions, facilitating cooperation with research organisations, universities and innovation ecosystems, and providing guidance on the protection, management and commercialisation of intellectual property rights;
(d) support market access and internationalisation, including by providing information on regulatory requirements and standards in the Single Market and third countries, supporting export readiness, and facilitating business partnerships, trade missions and matchmaking activities;
(e) contribute to skills development and capacity building for entrepreneurs, managers and employees of SMEs and start-ups, including through training programmes, workshops and knowledge-sharing activities related to digitalisation, innovation management, sustainable business practices and business scaling strategies;
(f) support the development of start-up and scale-up ecosystems by facilitating collaboration between start-ups, scale-ups, established companies, investors, research organisations and public authorities, including through incubation, acceleration and innovation partnership initiatives;
(g) contribute to the digital and green transition of businesses, including by providing technical assistance, information and advisory services on digital transformation, sustainable business practices, energy efficiency, circular economy models and compliance with relevant Union policies and objectives;
(h) promote balanced regional participation, including by ensuring targeted outreach and support for businesses located in less developed regions and the outermost regions of the Union, and by facilitating cross-regional cooperation, knowledge exchange and the strengthening of regional innovation ecosystems; and
(i) facilitate the dissemination of information and best practices, including through digital platforms, publications, events and peer-learning activities, and shall collect feedback from businesses on barriers and opportunities within the Single Market, contributing to evidence-based policymaking at Union level.

Or. en

Amendment 183

Proposal for a regulation

Article 27 – paragraph 1 b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1b. The activities of the EU for Business Network shall be implemented in a coordinated and complementary manner with existing Union, national and regional support initiatives for businesses in order to maximise impact and avoid duplication.

Or. en

Amendment 184

Proposal for a regulation

Article 29 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Each window shall support dedicated, sector-specific actions targeting start-ups, SMEs and small mid-cap companies or calls for SMEs in strategic sectors with a view to fostering innovation, business acceleration, commercialisation and scaling-up.1. Each policy window and the ECF InvestEU Instrument shall support dedicated, sector-specific actions targeting start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs and small mid-cap companies in the ECF policy windows with a view to fostering innovation, business acceleration, commercialisation and scaling up. This includes actions to improve access of SMEs to technology capabilities and infrastructures.

Or. en

Amendment 185

Proposal for a regulation

Article 30

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 30deleted
Support for skills development
1. The ECF shall finance activities in support of skills development, in particular in the strategic sectors, building strong links between higher education, vocational education and training providers, applied research and businesses for an agile, innovative and competitive economy. This shall include support for a European Skills Guarantee to support value chain transitions in favour of strategic growth sectors or occupations across the labour market through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and Vocational Education and Training (VET) partnerships to strengthen cooperation between VET providers and businesses, especially SMEs and connecting them with regional industrial ecosystems.

Or. en

Amendment 186

Proposal for a regulation

Article 31 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The ECF may support any additional activities to facilitate and accelerate access to Union funding, and other funding, financing and investments, as well as to ensure valorisation and uptake of results through tools and instruments such as proof of concept, deployment grants, advisory and business support services, and any dedicated platform.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 187

Proposal for a regulation

Chapter IV – title

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Support for Clean Transition and Industrial DecarbonisationSupport for Energy Infrastructure, Industrial Decarbonisation and Clean Technology

Or. en

Amendment 188

Proposal for a regulation

Article 32 – title

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Subject matterSpecific provisions for support to Energy Infrastructure, Industrial Decarbonisation and Clean Technology

Or. en

Amendment 189

Proposal for a regulation

Article 32 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. Support for actions under this chapter shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4 and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.2. Support for actions under Section 1 shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point (b), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.

Or. en

Amendment 190

Proposal for a regulation

Article 32 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2a. Support for actions under Section 2 shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point (ba), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.

Or. en

Amendment 191

Proposal for a regulation

Chapter IV – Section 1 (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
SECTION 1
SUPPORT FOR ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE

Or. en

Amendment 192

Proposal for a regulation

Article 32 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 32a
Specific activities to support Energy Infrastructure policies
1. Support for the Energy Infrastructure window shall be implemented through the following activities:
(a) domestic transmission and distribution grids, energy storage, renewable and clean energy, offshore energy, digitalisation of energy systems, heating and cooling solutions and systems, Energy efficiency, demand-response;
(b) carbon capture, transport, storage and utilisation (CCS/CCU) technology and infrastructure;
(c) sourcing, production, storage, distribution, transport and uptake of sustainable fuels, including for Hydrogen and Sustainable Aviation Fuels;
(d) alternative Fuels Infrastructure;
(e) protection, security, and resilience of critical energy infrastructure for Projects of Common Interest that received funding under Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 of the European Parliament and of the Council1a;
(f) targeted activities of upskilling and reskilling to develop specialised technical skills necessary for the effective implementation of projects supported under this Chapter. Those activities shall lead to the award of professional qualifications that are officially recognised at regional or national level in line with national law and practice. Priority shall be given to qualifications that could be mutually recognised by Member States.
2. Support provided through the activities referred to in paragraph 1 may be provided in any form, including through Horizon Europe pathway actions as referred to in Article 14d and identified in a specific dedicated part of the work programme.
1a Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1316/2013 and (EU) No 283/2014 (OJ L 249, 14.7.2021, p. 38).

Or. en

Amendment 193

Proposal for a regulation

Chapter IV – Section 2 (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
SECTION 2
SUPPORT FOR INDUSTRIAL DECARBONISATION AND CLEAN TECHNOLOGY

Or. en

Amendment 194

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – title

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Specific activities to support clean transition and industrial decarbonisation policiesSpecific activities to support industrial decarbonisation and clean technology policies

Or. en

Amendment 195

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Support for clean transition, and industrial decarbonisation window shall be implemented in particular through the following activities:1. Support for industrial decarbonisation and clean technology window shall be implemented through the following activities:

Or. en

Amendment 196

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) ”LIFE activities”: providing support to bottom-up projects for the demonstration, testing and market uptake of innovative solutions and best practices in clean transition and industrial decarbonisation and awareness raising on climate and environment to relevant governance levels.deleted

Or. en

Justification

Moved to Section on „Sustainable Prosperity”.

Amendment 197

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point b

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) Energy efficiency, energy storage, demand-response, domestic transmission and distribution grids, digitalisation of energy systems, integrated renewable energy, energy renovations, and heating and cooling solutions, systems and services.deleted

Or. en

Justification

Moved to Section on „Energy Infrastructure“.

Amendment 198

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(c) Clean energy and decarbonisation solutions in industry, including electrification of energy intensive industries and carbon capture, storage and utilisation (CCS/CCU), and in cities, in particular for energy, transport and buildings.(c) Clean energy and decarbonisation solutions in industry, including electrification of energy intensive industries and plant-level carbon capture, storage and utilisation (CCS/CCU).

Or. en

Amendment 199

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point d

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(d) Sourcing, production, storage, distribution and uptake of sustainable fuels, facilitating decarbonisation of mobility.deleted

Or. en

Justification

Moved to Section on „Energy Infrastructure“.

Amendment 200

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point e

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(e) Clean, multimodal and digitalised, safe transport and mobility solutions, including mobile assets (e.g. vehicles, vessels including fishing vessels, aircrafts, rolling stocks) and infrastructures (among others charging infrastructure, ports or high speed rail), systems and operations.deleted

Or. en

Justification

Moved to Section on „Sustainable Prosperity“.

Amendment 201

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point f

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(f) Supporting the development and deployment of smart mobility, including vehicles, infrastructure, connected and automated mobility, smart traffic management systems and related services.deleted

Or. en

Justification

Moved to Section on „Sustainable Prosperity“.

Amendment 202

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point g

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(g) Clean tech manufacturing and its supply chain, including through financial support to Strategic Projects under Regulation (EU) 2024/1735, scaling up the manufacturing capacity of net-zero technologies and their supply chains, and by ramping up of existing production lines.(g) Clean tech manufacturing and its supply chain, including through financial support to Strategic Projects under Regulation (EU) 2024/1735, scaling up the manufacturing capacity of net-zero technologies and their supply chains as well as the deployment of net-zero technologies, and by ramping up of existing production lines.

Or. en

Amendment 203

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(ga) Support to Net-Zero Acceleration Valleys under Regulation (EU) 2024/1735 and Industrial Acceleration Areas under Regulation (EU) [XXXX/XXXX] (Industrial Accelerator Act).

Or. en

Amendment 204

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point i

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(i) Circular economy, water efficiency, ocean health and environmental policy, including solutions to protect, restore and improve the quality of the environment, including the air, water, marine and soil, and to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and to tackle the degradation of ecosystem, sustainable solutions for climate action in agri-food and forestry supply chains.deleted

Or. en

Justification

Moved to Section on „Sustainable Prosperity“.

Amendment 205

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point j

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(j) Climate and water resilience.deleted

Or. en

Justification

Moved to Section on „Sustainable Prosperity“.

Amendment 206

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point k

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(k) Pollution prevention, control and remediation.deleted

Or. en

Justification

Moved to Section on „Sustainable Prosperity“.

Amendment 207

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point l

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(l) Investment, innovation, and modernisation in sustainable blue economy sectors such as shipbuilding and shipping, offshore energy, ocean observation technologies, blue tech and preserving ecosystems.deleted

Or. en

Justification

Moved to Section on „Sustainable Prosperity“.

Amendment 208

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point m

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(m) Sustainability and clean transition of SMEs, including in tourism, construction and other economic sectors.deleted

Or. en

Justification

Moved to Section on „Sustainable Prosperity“.

Amendment 209

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point n

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(n) Market uptake, capacity building and skills development for the clean transition, including clean energy transition and energy demand side activities (for example NetZero Industry Academies) and transition towards sustainable and safe mobility and sustainable tourism in cities, rural areas, communities, and buildings.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 210

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point o

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(o) Support actions for the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of relevant Union legislation and policy. This includes supporting the relevant institutions, the cooperation between national authorities and with stakeholders, studies, the development and deployment of tools and infrastructures, including IT infrastructure and tools.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 211

Proposal for a regulation

Article 33 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. Support provided through the activities referred to in paragraph 1, may be provided in any form, including through collaborative research and innovation activities set out in Regulation (EU) [XXX] [Framework Programme for Research and Innovation] and identified in a specific dedicated part of the Work Programme.2. Support provided through the activities referred to in paragraph 1, may be provided in any form, including through Horizon Europe Pathway Actions as referred to in Article 14d and identified in a specific dedicated part of the Work Programme.

Or. en

Amendment 212

Proposal for a regulation

Article 34 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. For activities supporting Coordination and Support Actions in the area of energy efficiency and clean energy transition, Union support may cover up to 100 % of the eligible costs, without prejudice to the co-financing principle.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 213

Proposal for a regulation

Article 34 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. By way of derogation from Article 184(6) of the Financial Regulation, for activities supporting Coordination and Support Actions in the area of energy efficiency and clean energy transition and LIFE activities referred to in Article 34, paragraph 1, point (a), the authorising officer responsible may authorise or impose, in the form of flat-rates, funding of the beneficiary’s indirect costs up to a maximum of 25 % total eligible direct costs, excluding direct eligible costs for subcontracting, financial support to third parties and any unit costs or lump sums which include indirect costs.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 214

Proposal for a regulation

Article 34 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. Work programmes shall ensure coherence with the types of actions planned to be implemented under the Fund referred to in Article 10a(8) of Directive 2003/87/EC and coherence and complementarity with the Regulation (EU)[XXX] [Connecting Europe Facility]3. Work programmes under this Chapter shall ensure coherence with the types of actions planned to be implemented under the Fund referred to in Article 10a(8) of Directive 2003/87/EC and coherence and complementarity with the Regulation (EU)[XXX] [Connecting Europe Facility]

Or. en

Amendment 215

Proposal for a regulation

Article 34 – paragraph 4

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4. Work programmes adopted in accordance with the rules of this Regulation under this chapter shall integrate in a specific dedicated part and ensure coherence with the Competitiveness and Society activities supported under the Regulation (EU) [XXX] [Horizon Europe Framework programme for Research and Innovation]4. Work programmes adopted in accordance with the rules of this Regulation under this chapter shall integrate in a specific dedicated part Horizon Europe pathway actions as referred to in Article 14d and their dedicated budget.

Or. en

Amendment 216

Proposal for a regulation

Article 35 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Award procedures under this chapter may take the form of competitive bidding. That includes contracts for difference, carbon contracts for difference, or fixed premium contracts to support decarbonisation investment, provided that the financial interests of the Union are protected and the exposure of the budget remains limited to a maximum contribution. Competitive bidding procedures may be implemented through, and in accordance with, any of the budget implementation instruments set out in Article 12.1. Award procedures under this chapter may take the form of competitive bidding. That includes contracts for difference, carbon contracts for difference, double-sided auctions, or fixed premium contracts to support decarbonisation investment, provided that the financial interests of the Union are protected and the exposure of the budget remains limited to a maximum contribution. Competitive bidding procedures may be implemented through, and in accordance with, any of the budget implementation instruments set out in Article 12 as well as Article 6 for cases where funding from the ECF is combined with funding from other programmes.

Or. en

Amendment 217

Proposal for a regulation

Chapter V – title

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
SUPPORT FOR HEALTH, BIOTECH, AGRICULTURE AND BIOECONOMYSUPPORT FOR HEALTH, BIOTECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE PROSPERITY

Or. en

Amendment 218

Proposal for a regulation

Article 36 – title

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Specific provisions for support to health, biotech, agriculture and bioeconomy policiesSpecific provisions for support to health, biotechnology and sustainable prosperity policies

Or. en

Amendment 219

Proposal for a regulation

Article 36 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. Support for actions under this chapter shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2) , and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.2. Support for actions under Section 1 shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point (c), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.

Or. en

Amendment 220

Proposal for a regulation

Article 36 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2a. Support for actions under Section 2 shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point (ca), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.

Or. en

Amendment 221

Proposal for a regulation

Article 36 – paragraph 2 b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2b. Support for actions under Section 3 shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point (cb), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.

Or. en

Amendment 222

Proposal for a regulation

Chapter V – Section 1 (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
SECTION 1
SUPPORT TO HEALTH POLICY

Or. en

Amendment 223

Proposal for a regulation

Article 37 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Support for Health, Biotech, Agriculture and Bioeconomy policy shall be implemented in particular through the following activities:1. Support for Health policy shall be implemented in particular through the following activities:

Or. en

Amendment 224

Proposal for a regulation

Article 37 – paragraph 1 – point a

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) Improving and protecting health, including cross-border health, by prioritising health promotion and disease prevention across the life course through a health-in-all and One Health policies approach, with a special emphasis on communicable and non-communicable diseases, including mental health, degenerative health, autism, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other non-communicable diseases, including those related to pollution, sexual and reproductive health and enhancing international health initiatives and cooperation.(a) Strengthening the competitiveness, innovation capacity and resilience of the health-related industrial ecosystem, including the health biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical technology and veterinary sectors, by advancing solutions based on a One Health approach that recognises the interconnection between human, animal and environmental health, and by supporting the development, production and deployment of technologies, products and services addressing communicable and non-communicable diseases, including those linked to environmental factors, while fostering cross-sector collaboration and international cooperation.

Or. en

Amendment 225

Proposal for a regulation

Article 37 – paragraph 1 – point b

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) Strengthening the efficiency and resilience of health systems by reinforcing access, use and re-use of health data and digital tools, infrastructures and services, including to support the European Health Data Space, deployment of Artificial Intelligence and robotics based solutions in healthcare, advancing the digital transformation of healthcare, enhancing access to healthcare services, with particular focus on public health and healthcare workforce, developing and implementing Union health legislation, also by use of digital technologies, promoting evidence-based decision-making, (including by supporting Health technology Assessment), providing digital solutions for monitoring and coordinating and encouraging integrated work among national health systems to ensure coherence and efficiency across the Union.(b) Strengthening the efficiency and resilience of health systems by reinforcing access, use and re-use of health data and digital tools, infrastructures and services, including to support the European Health Data Space, deployment of Artificial Intelligence and robotics based solutions in healthcare, advancing the digital transformation of healthcare, promoting evidence-based decision-making, (including by supporting Health technology Assessment), providing digital solutions for monitoring and coordinating and encouraging integrated work among national health systems to ensure coherence and efficiency across the Union.

Or. en

Amendment 226

Proposal for a regulation

Article 37 – paragraph 1 – point c

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(c) Fostering the development, production capacity, manufacturing and industrial deployment of health and bioeconomy technologies, to increase the competitiveness of the sector, and ensure availability of Union medicinal products, medical devices, digital solutions and medical countermeasures relevant for preparedness and response to cross-border threats to health, as well as the competitiveness and resilience of the sectors by ensuring that such products are innovative, safe, accessible, available, and affordable, thereby promoting equitable access across the Union.(c) Fostering the development, trialling, production capacity, manufacturing and industrial deployment of health and pharmaceutical technologies and products.

Or. en

Amendment 227

Proposal for a regulation

Article 37 – paragraph 1 – point d

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(d) Supporting the discovery, development, derisking, demonstration, piloting and use, and scaling-up of biotechnology innovations, accelerating the market introduction and market uptake of biotechnology solutions, strengthening emerging value chains and providing access to finance and other support for SMEs, startups, scale ups and innovators.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 228

Proposal for a regulation

Article 37 – paragraph 1 – point e

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(e) Protecting people by supporting the development, implementation and monitoring of health security policies, in cooperation with Member States authorities and stakeholders, as well as coordinating Union and national prevention, preparedness and response plans.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 229

Proposal for a regulation

Article 37 – paragraph 1 – point f

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(f) Fostering an innovative and competitive bioeconomy sector in the Union, including in the areas of health biotech, biobased materials and products, valorising farm and forest residues, carbon negative products, biomanufacturing and biochemicals, in particular by supporting the discovery, development, derisking, demonstration, piloting, and scaling-up of bioeconomy innovations; by accelerating the market introduction and market uptake of bio-based materials from agriculture and forestry and bioeconomy solutions; by strengthening emerging value chains; by building a skilled workforce, by providing access to finance and other support for SMEs, startups, scale ups and innovators.deleted

Or. en

Justification

Moved to Section on „Sustainable Prosperity“.

Amendment 230

Proposal for a regulation

Article 37 – paragraph 1 – point g

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(g) Fostering the competitiveness, the sustainability, the resilience and fairness of agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, forestry sectors and rural and coastal areas, and contribute to long term food security in the Union.deleted

Or. en

Justification

Moved to Section on „Sustainable Prosperity“.

Amendment 231

Proposal for a regulation

Article 37 – paragraph 1 – point h

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(h) Supporting actions for the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of relevant Union legislation and policy. This includes supporting the relevant institutions, the cooperation between national authorities and with stakeholders, studies, the development and deployment of tools and infrastructures, including IT infrastructure and tools.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 232

Proposal for a regulation

Article 37 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. Work programmes adopted in accordance with the rules of this Regulation under this chapter shall integrate in a specific dedicated part and ensure coherence with [Competitiveness and Society activities supported under the Regulation (EU) [XXX] [Horizon Europe Framework programme for Research and Innovation2. Work programmes adopted in accordance with the rules of this Regulation under this chapter shall integrate in a specific dedicated part Horizon Europe Pathway Actions as referred to in Article 14d and their dedicated budget.

Or. en

Amendment 233

Proposal for a regulation

Chapter V – Section 2 (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
SECTION 2
SUPPORT FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOMANUFACTURING POLICY

Or. en

Amendment 234

Proposal for a regulation

Article 37 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 37a
Specific Activities
1. Support for Biotechnology and biomanufacturing policy shall be implemented in particular through the following activities:
(a) supporting the discovery, development, derisking, demonstration, piloting and use, deployment, and scaling up of biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovations, accelerating the market introduction and market uptake of biotechnology solutions, strengthening emerging value chains; and
(b) providing and facilitating access to finance and other support for SMEs, start-ups, scale-ups and innovators advancing biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovations.
2. Support provided through the activities referred to in paragraph 1 may be provided in any form, including through Horizon Europe Pathway actions as referred to in Article 14d and identified in a specific dedicated part of the Work Programme.

Or. en

Amendment 235

Proposal for a regulation

Chapter V – Section 3 (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
SECTION 3
SUPPORT FOR SUSTAINABLE PROSPERITY POLICY

Or. en

Amendment 236

Proposal for a regulation

Article 37 b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 37b
Specific Activities
1. Support for Sustainable Prosperity policy shall be implemented in particular through the following activities:
(a) ”LIFE activities”: providing support to bottom-up projects for the demonstration, testing and market uptake of innovative solutions and best practices in clean transition and industrial decarbonisation and awareness raising on climate and environment to relevant governance levels, but specifically excluding any lobbying of the European institutions or national governments;
(b) circular economy, water efficiency, ocean health and environmental policy, including solutions to protect, restore and improve the quality of the environment, including the air, water, marine and soil, and to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and to tackle the degradation of ecosystem, sustainable solutions for climate action in agri-food and forestry supply chains;
(c) climate and water resilience;
(d) pollution prevention, control and remediation;
(e) investment, innovation, and modernisation in sustainable blue economy sectors such as shipbuilding and shipping, ocean observation technologies, blue tech and preserving ecosystems;
(f) sustainability and clean transition of SMEs, including in tourism, construction and other economic sectors;
(g) clean, multimodal and digitalised, safe transport and mobility solutions, including mobile assets (e. g. vehicles, vessels including fishing vessels, aircrafts, rolling stocks) and infrastructures (among others charging infrastructure, ports or high speed rail), systems and operations;
(h) supporting the development and deployment of smart mobility, including vehicles, infrastructure, connected and automated mobility, smart traffic management systems and related services;
(i) transition towards sustainable and safe mobility and sustainable tourism in cities, rural areas, communities, and buildings;
(j) fostering an innovative and competitive bioeconomy sector in the Union, including in the areas of biotech, biobased materials and products, valorising farm and forest residues, carbon negative products, biomanufacturing and biochemicals, in particular by supporting the discovery, development, derisking, demonstration, piloting, and scaling up of bioeconomy innovations; by accelerating the market introduction and market uptake of bio-based materials from agriculture and forestry and bioeconomy solutions; by strengthening emerging value chains; by building a skilled workforce, by providing access to finance and other support for SMEs, start-ups, scale-ups and innovators;
(k) fostering the technological competitiveness of the agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture and forestry sectors and rural and coastal areas through the development, deployment and scaling of advanced technologies and innovation;
(l) support to cultural and creative industries, complementing the AgoraEU programme;
(m) support to the New European Bauhaus, in particular through: Scaling up the New European Bauhaus Academy, re- and upskilling of actors in the construction ecosystem, knowledge valorisation and transfer, technical assistance to NEB projects, support to innovative community-driven solutions, embracing a new sustainable construction culture including market uptake of innovative materials, products, and services, digital solutions for fostering human-centred regeneration of neighbourhoods and NEB solutions for the built environment, decarbonised, sustainable and energy efficient housing, promotion of the use of sustainable, bio-based, circular and low-carbon materials; and
(n) targeted activities of upskilling and reskilling to develop specialised technical skills necessary for the effective implementation of projects supported under this Chapter. Those activities shall lead to the award of professional qualifications that are officially recognised at regional or national level in line with national law and practice. Priority shall be given to qualifications that could be mutually recognised by Member States.
2. Support provided through the activities referred to in paragraph 1 may be provided in any form, including through Horizon Europe Pathway Actions as referred to in Article 14d and identified in a specific dedicated part of the Work Programme.

Or. en

Amendment 237

Proposal for a regulation

Chapter VI – title

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
SUPPORT FOR DIGITAL LEADERSHIPSUPPORT FOR DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND AGILE DIGITAL LEADERSHIP

Or. en

Amendment 238

Proposal for a regulation

Article 38 – title

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Specific provisions for support to digital leadership policySpecific provisions for support to digital infrastructure and agile digital leadership policy

Or. en

Amendment 239

Proposal for a regulation

Article 38 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. Support for actions under this chapter shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point (d), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.2. Support for actions under Section 1 shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point (d), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.

Or. en

Amendment 240

Proposal for a regulation

Article 38 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2a. Support for actions under Section 2 shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point (da), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.

Or. en

Amendment 241

Proposal for a regulation

Article 38 – paragraph 2 b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2b. Support for actions under Section 3 shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point (db), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.

Or. en

Amendment 242

Proposal for a regulation

Chapter VI – Section 1 (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
SECTION 1
SUPPORT FOR CONNECTIVITY AND DIGITAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE

Or. en

Amendment 243

Proposal for a regulation

Article 38 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 38a
Specific activities to support connectivity and digital public infrastructure policy
1. Support for connectivity and digital public infrastructure policies shall address the Union’s digital infrastructure needs. It shall include the following kinds of infrastructure:
(a) network and digital public infrastructure: infrastructure for data transmission, connectivity services, and public digital services, including
- Advanced Connectivity, including 5G and 6G Networks,
- Telco-Edge and Cloud Technologies,
- Communication Networks, including Submarine Cables and Non-Terrestrial Networks,
- Cybersecurity and Network Resilience Technologies,
- Union digital identity and business wallets,
- Trust technologies,
- Web infrastructures.
2. Support for connectivity and digital public infrastructure shall be implemented through the following activities:
(a) construction, maintenance and operation of physical infrastructure facilities;
(b) development, maintenance, certification, deployment and diffusion of digital infrastructures, cybersecurity schemes and services;
(c) standardisation;
(d) development, maintenance, certification, deployment and diffusion of digital public infrastructures that contribute to interoperability of the solutions used in public administration across the Union; and
(e) targeted activities of upskilling and reskilling to develop specialised technical skills necessary for the effective implementation of projects supported under this Chapter. Those activities shall lead to the award of professional qualifications that are officially recognised at regional or national level in line with national law and practice. Priority shall be given to qualifications that could be mutually recognised by Member States.
2. Activities under this Section 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.
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 and digital supply chains, develop a Union situational picture of the threat landscape as well as improve detection capacities and incident response capabilities; support the competitiveness of the Union cybersecurity industrial base, cybersecurity skills development together with the cyber maturity of the European industrial basis, including SMEs.

Or. en

Amendment 244

Proposal for a regulation

Chapter VI – Section 2 (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
SECTION 2
SUPPORT TO TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE

Or. en

Amendment 245

Proposal for a regulation

Article 38 b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 38b
Specific activities to support technology infrastructure policy
1. Support for technology infrastructure policies shall address the Union’s technology infrastructure needs. It shall include the following facilities, equipment, capabilities and resources needed to upscale and diffuse technology to advance from research results to industrial deployment:
- AI Factories and Gigafactories,
- High Performance Computing,
- Quantum Computing, Communication, Sensing and Encryption,
- Semiconductors, Photonics and Quantum Chips,
- Augmented Reality and Virtual Worlds,
- Digital Twins,
- Data centres, technologies and data spaces, and
- Advanced digital skills.
2. Support for technology infrastructure shall be implemented through the following activities:
(a) construction, maintenance and operation of physical infrastructure facilities;
(b) development, maintenance, certification, deployment and diffusion of digital infrastructures, cybersecurity schemes and services; and
(c) standardisation.
2. Activities under this Section 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.
3. Support provided through the activities referred to in paragraph 1 may be provided in any form, including through Horizon Europe Pathway actions as referred to in Article 14d and identified in a specific dedicated part of the work programme.

Or. en

Amendment 246

Proposal for a regulation

Chapter VI – Section 3 (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
SECTION 3
SUPPORT TO AGILE DIGITAL LEADERSHIP

Or. en

Amendment 247

Proposal for a regulation

Article 38 c (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 38c
1. Activities under this Section shall be implemented by teams of Programme Managers operating in a portfolio approach. They shall in particular be responsible for the design of the award procedures including the call documents and the relevant criteria set out therein.
2. Programme Managers shall review the activities and calls as well as the outcomes thereof against the following Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) regularly during the implementation period:
- leverage effect of the Union funds in incentivising private contributions,
- expected and actual progress in achieving the objectives,
- performance of result indicators,
- error and irregularity rates.
3. If the Programme Managers find that an activity or call is not on track to achieve its objectives or deliver on the KPIs from paragraph 2, they may decide to continue, reorient or terminate the activity or call during the implementation period. Budget decommitments from such terminated activities or calls shall be used to support other activities under this Chapter.

Or. en

Amendment 248

Proposal for a regulation

Article 38 d (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 38d
Programme Managers
1. For the purpose of implementing this Section, the Commission shall appoint teams of five programme managers. The Programme Managers shall be appointed for a term of 42 months, renewable once.
2. The Commission shall launch an open call for nominations and applications for Programme Managers. The Programme Managers shall have a scientific, technical or technological background and be selected based on their expertise in the digital technologies referred to in Article 39 as well as their expertise in innovation management. The Commission shall ensure that there is no conflict of interest, nor breach of confidentiality, of programme managers in the execution of all their tasks.
3. Programme Managers shall develop together with relevant stakeholders a common vision and a common strategic approach for Union agile digital leadership, within the scope of this Section, to inform their tasks under Article 38c.
4. Programme Managers shall, during the implementation of the funds, aim to exploit synergies between this Section and actions financed under Sections 1 and 2 of this Chapter.

Or. en

Amendment 249

Proposal for a regulation

Article 39 – title

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Specific activities to support digital leadership policySpecific activities to support agile digital leadership policy

Or. en

Amendment 250

Proposal for a regulation

Article 39 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
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 agile digital leadership shall address, in a comprehensive and coherent manner, the entire value chain of digital technologies, including those with dual-use potential. This shall include in particular:
- Artificial Intelligence,
- quantum technologies,
- photonics,
- robotics,
- sensing technologies,
- Software and software engineering,
- augmented reality and virtual worlds,
- digital twins,
- data technologies and data spaces,
and any other existing or emerging digital technology that contributes to the achievement of the objectives of this programme.

Or. en

Amendment 251

Proposal for a regulation

Article 39 – paragraph 2 – point a

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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) developing, manufacturing, deploying, diffusing and shaping core digital technologies, products and services;

Or. en

Amendment 252

Proposal for a regulation

Article 39 – paragraph 2 – point b

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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 digital ecosystems;
(ba) supporting Union companies in scaling up innovative digital technologies, products and services, expanding their markets, and contributing to the Union’s digital sovereignty;
(bb) standardisation of technologies, products and services.

Or. en

Amendment 253

Proposal for a regulation

Article 39 – paragraph 2 – point c

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 254

Proposal for a regulation

Article 39 – paragraph 2 – point d

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(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.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 255

Proposal for a regulation

Article 39 – paragraph 2 – point e

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(e) Support actions for the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of relevant Union legislation and policy. This includes supporting the relevant institutions, the cooperation between national authorities and with stakeholders, studies, the development and deployment of tools and infrastructures, including IT infrastructure and tools.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 256

Proposal for a regulation

Article 39 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
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.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 257

Proposal for a regulation

Article 39 – paragraph 4

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4. Work programmes adopted in accordance with the rules of this Regulation under this chapter shall integrate in a specific dedicated part and ensure coherence with Competitiveness and Society activities under the Regulation (EU) [XXX] [Horizon Europe Framework programme for Research and Innovation4. Work programmes adopted in accordance with the rules of this Regulation under this chapter shall integrate in a specific dedicated part Horizon Europe Pathway Actions as referred to in Article 14d and their dedicated budget.

Or. en

Amendment 258

Proposal for a regulation

Chapter VII – title

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
SUPPORT FOR RESILIENCE AND SECURITY, DEFENCE INDUSTRY AND SPACESUPPORT FOR CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS, SECURITY, DEFENCE INDUSTRY AND SPACE

Or. en

Amendment 259

Proposal for a regulation

Article 40 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. Support for actions under this section shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point (e), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.2. Support for actions under Section 1 shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point (e), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.

Or. en

Amendment 260

Proposal for a regulation

Article 40 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2a. Support for actions under Section 2 and 4, with the exception of Articles 46 to 46e, shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point (ea), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.

Or. en

Amendment 261

Proposal for a regulation

Article 40 – paragraph 2 b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2b. Support for actions under Articles 46 to 46e shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point (eb), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.

Or. en

Amendment 262

Proposal for a regulation

Article 40 – paragraph 2 c (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2c. Support for actions under Section 3 shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point (ec), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.

Or. en

Amendment 263

Proposal for a regulation

Article 41 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. A Space and Defence Advisory Board is set up and may advice the Commission on the coordination and complementarity between space and defence activities as laid down Article 3(2)(d), sub-points (1) and (2) and related financial tools to increase efficiency of investments and effectiveness of results. The members of the Advisory Board referred to in paragraph 1 shall be appointed by Member States1. A Space and Defence Advisory Board is set up and may advice the Commission on the coordination and complementarity between space and defence activities as laid down Article 3(2)(d), sub-points (2) and (3) and related financial tools to increase efficiency of investments and effectiveness of results. The members of the Advisory Board referred to in paragraph 1 shall be appointed by Member States. The European Space Agency shall be granted observer status.

Or. en

Amendment 264

Proposal for a regulation

Chapter VII – Section 1 – title

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Support for resilience policySupport for critical raw materials policy

Or. en

Amendment 265

Proposal for a regulation

Article 42 – title

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Specific activities to support resilience policiesSpecific activities to support critical raw materials policies

Or. en

Amendment 266

Proposal for a regulation

Article 42 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Support to Resilience policy shall reinforce the strategic autonomy, economic security and the resilience of the Union industry by strengthening the different stages of the raw materials value chain, including through diversification of the supply of critical raw materials from third countries.1. Support to Critical Raw Materials policy shall reinforce the strategic autonomy, economic security and the resilience of the Union industry by strengthening the different stages of the critical raw materials value chain, including through diversification of the supply of critical raw materials from third countries.

Or. en

Amendment 267

Proposal for a regulation

Article 42 – paragraph 2 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. Support for resilience policy shall be implemented in particular through the following activities:2. Support for Critical Raw Materials policy shall be implemented by entrusting the implementation of the budget for Critical Raw Materials, as set out in Article 4(2), point (d), to the Critical Raw Materials Centre established by Regulation [XXXX/XXXX] (CRM Centre Regulation), in accordance with Article 62(1), point (a), of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. The implementation shall be carried out through the following activities:

Or. en

Amendment 268

Proposal for a regulation

Article 42 – paragraph 2 – point a

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) support for the strengthening of the EU capacity in exploration, extraction, processing and recycling of raw materials;(a) support for the strengthening of the EU capacity in resource intelligence and exploration, extraction, processing and refining, intermediate manufacturing, substitution and recycling of critical raw materials;

Or. en

Amendment 269

Proposal for a regulation

Article 42 – paragraph 2 – point b

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) purchasing of raw materials, in line with economic security needs and the green and digital transition objectives, in order to reduce the risk of supply disruptions for companies in the EU, including for establishing and managing stockpiles of critical raw materials in coordination with Member States and industry;(b) purchasing and long-term offtake of critical raw materials, in line with economic security needs and the green and digital transition objectives, in order to reduce the risk of supply disruptions for companies in the EU, including for establishing and managing stockpiles of critical raw materials in coordination with Member States and industry;

Or. en

Amendment 270

Proposal for a regulation

Article 42 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(ca) Contracts for Difference and Production-Linked Incentives for critical raw materials;

Or. en

Amendment 271

Proposal for a regulation

Article 42 – paragraph 2 – point c b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(cb) creating a European market and pricing infrastructure for critical raw materials.

Or. en

Amendment 272

Proposal for a regulation

Article 42 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. support provided through the activities referred to in paragraph 2, may be provided in any form, including through collaborative research and innovation activities set out in the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation [REF] and identified in a specific dedicated part of the Work Programme.3. support provided through the activities referred to in paragraph 2, may be provided in any form, including through Horizon Europe Pathway Actions as referred to in Article 14d and identified in a specific dedicated part of the Work Programme.

Or. en

Amendment 273

Proposal for a regulation

Article 42 – paragraph 4

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4. Work programmes adopted in accordance with the rules of this Regulation under this chapter shall integrate in a specific dedicated part and ensure coherence with Competitiveness and Society activities under the Regulation (EU) [XXX][Horizon Europe Framework programme for Research and Innovation]4. Work programmes adopted in accordance with the rules of this Regulation under this chapter shall integrate in a specific dedicated part Horizon Europe Pathway Actions as referred to in Article 14d and their dedicated budget.

Or. en

Amendment 274

Proposal for a regulation

Article 43

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 43deleted
Complementary rules
1. Strategic projects under CRMA and strategic projects foreseen in relevant sectoral legislation may apply the rules in Article 20.

Or. en

Justification

Redundant.

Amendment 275

Proposal for a regulation

Article 44 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Support for defence industry policy shall be implemented in particular through the following components:1. Support for defence industry policy shall be implemented through the following activities:

Or. en

Amendment 276

Proposal for a regulation

Article 44 – paragraph 1 – point a

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) Support to the deployment of European Defence Projects of Common Interest as referred to in Article 45 of this Regulation.(a) Support to the deployment of European Defence Projects of Common Interest as referred to in Article 35 of Regulation (EU) 2025/2643 of the European Parliament and of the Council1a;
1a Regulation (EU) 2025/2643 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2025 establishing the European Defence Industry Programme and a framework of measures to ensure the timely availability and supply of defence products (‘EDIP Regulation’) (OJ L, 2025/2643, 29.12.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/2643/oj).

Or. en

Amendment 277

Proposal for a regulation

Article 44 – paragraph 1 – point b

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) Support to Defence R&D, Innovation and Technological Superiority as referred to in Article 46;(b) support to Horizon Europe specific programme for defence research and innovation as referred to in Article 46;

Or. en

Amendment 278

Proposal for a regulation

Article 44 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(ba) Support to Vanguard Programme for Early Research in European Defence (‘VPERED’), as referred to in Article 46a;

Or. en

Amendment 279

Proposal for a regulation

Article 44 – paragraph 1 – point b b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(bb) Support to the Programme for Scaling High-Impact Innovation for European Leadership in Defence (‘SHIELD’), as referred to in Article 46d;

Or. en

Amendment 280

Proposal for a regulation

Article 44 – paragraph 1 – point b c (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(bc) Support to the Programme for Defence-Oriented Breakthrough Research for Europe (‘DOBRE’), as referred to in Article 46e;

Or. en

Amendment 281

Proposal for a regulation

Article 44 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. Support to new entrants, innovative start-ups, SMEs and scale-ups will be tailormade across the activities listed in the first paragraph to ensure speed, flexibility and agility. It will take the form of a dedicated programme EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS), that will include innovative and scalable activities, including in support to disruptive technologies and to single entities, such as: matchmaking events and business coaching for innovators, agile funding mechanisms, challenges, hackathons, support to innovative procurement, iterative upgrade procurement models for rapidly evolving systems and any other actions for faster innovation cycles and technology integration, validation and experimentation.2. Support to new entrants, innovative start-ups, SMEs and scale-ups will be tailormade across the activities listed in the first paragraph to ensure speed, flexibility and agility. It will take the form of a dedicated programme EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS), that will include innovative and scalable activities, including in support to disruptive technologies and to single entities.

Or. en

Amendment 282

Proposal for a regulation

Article 45

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
[...]deleted

Or. en

(Article 45 ‘European Defence Projects of Common Interest’ deleted as a whole.)

Justification

Covered by Article 44.1(a).

Amendment 283

Proposal for a regulation

Article 46 – title

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Collaborative Defence Research & Development, Innovation and Technological SuperiorityHorizon Europe specific programme for defence research and innovation

Or. en

Amendment 284

Proposal for a regulation

Article 46 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Activities supporting Defence R&D, Innovation and Technological Superiority may cover, in particular:1. The specific programme for defence research and innovation referred to in Regulation (EU) [XXXX/XXXX] (Horizon Europe Regulation) shall be established. The specific programme shall consist of the following three programmes and actions:

Or. en

Amendment 285

Proposal for a regulation

Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point a

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) collaborative research actions for defence, from basic to applied research, focusing on jointly agreed capability priorities;(a) Vanguard Programme for Early Research in European Defence (VPERED), as referred to in Articles 46a to 46c, which shall be an agile European defence research programme implemented by Programme Managers. It shall support high risk, high reward technologies and knowledge with defence potential;

Or. en

Amendment 286

Proposal for a regulation

Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point b

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) collaborative development actions for new defence products and technologies, including at least system prototyping, testing, qualification, or certification;(b) Programme for Scaling High-Impact Innovation for European Leadership in Defence (SHIELD), as referred to in Article 46d, which shall provide support to European defence start-ups through financial instruments, in particular equity. This instrument shall be implemented through a dedicated compartment in the EIC Fund;

Or. en

Amendment 287

Proposal for a regulation

Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point c

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(c) actions to support disruptive technologies for defence;(c) Programme for Defence-Oriented Breakthrough Research for Europe (DOBRE), as referred to in Article 46e, which shall fund collaborative applied research actions for defence, focusing on jointly agreed capability priorities;

Or. en

Amendment 288

Proposal for a regulation

Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point d

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(d) actions to support faster innovation cycles and technology integration, including continuous research and development and technological challenges;deleted

Or. en

Amendment 289

Proposal for a regulation

Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point e

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(e) spin-in actions to adapt civilian technologies for defence.(e) spin-in actions to adapt civilian technologies for defence, which shall provide support to Horizon Europe projects in the pursuit of a defence application of the civil technology or knowledge developed under a Horizon call. The support shall be provided by VPERED, SHIELD or DOBRE, whichever programme is most appropriate.

Or. en

Amendment 290

Proposal for a regulation

Article 46 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1a. Those programmes shall be funded exclusively by the budget made available under this Regulation for the specific programme for defence research and innovation.

Or. en

Amendment 291

Proposal for a regulation

Article 46 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 46a
Vanguard Programme for Early Research in European Defence
1. The Commission shall establish the Vanguard Programme for Early Research in European Defence (VPERED) to support early research in high risk, high reward technologies and knowledge with defence potential.
2. VPERED shall identify, develop and mature radical and collaborative defence research. It shall be implemented exclusively through targeted 'Challenge' calls drafted and managed by VPERED Programme Managers, as provided for in Article 46d, covering two research instruments:
(a) VPERED Frontier, supporting early-stage radical and high-risk research into transformative defence technologies;
(b) VPERED Transition, supporting the maturation and collaborative development of research results towards deployment-ready capabilities.
3. VPERED shall operate in accordance with its core principles of strategic ambition, agility, ability to take risk, autonomy, efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability, subject to applicable security requirements. It shall continuously develop and experiment with approaches to radical and applied defence research in order to address evolving security needs and technological developments.
4. Only legal entities established in a Member State or in an associated country shall be eligible to participate in and receive funding under VPERED actions, unless the call documents for a specific Challenge explicitly provide otherwise. Where the call documents allow for the participation of legal entities established in third countries other than associated countries, such participation shall be subject to the security conditions established in the applicable security arrangements, and shall in no case extend to entities over which a third-country government exercises control in a manner incompatible with the security interests of the Union and its Member States.
5. VPERED shall be implemented by the independent VPERED Board provided for in Article 46b and the DOBRE dedicated implementation structure provided for in Article 46c. These implementation bodies shall be autonomous in their operations with a view to providing agile and dynamic support.
6. The VPERED Board shall have a Chair (' VPERED Chair') who shall be a high-profile public figure with recognised expertise in defence research and disruptive technology development, with a solid understanding of translating radical scientific research into operational defence capabilities.
7. The VPERED Chair shall be appointed by the Commission following a transparent recruitment process involving an independent dedicated search committee as well as a hearing by the European Parliament. The recruitment process and the candidate selected shall have the approval of the VPERED Board. The term of office of the VPERED Chair shall be limited to four years, extendable once for up to four years.
8. The VPERED Chair shall chair the VPERED Board, prepare its meetings, assign tasks to members and may establish dedicated sub-groups. The VPERED Chair shall ensure the leadership of the VPERED Board and its liaison with the VPERED dedicated implementation structure, and shall represent the VPERED Board in the European defence research and innovation community as well as in interactions with the Union institutions.
9. The VPERED Chair shall devote in principle at least 80% of their working time to VPERED business. Their place of work shall be in Brussels and they shall be remunerated at a level commensurate with the remuneration of the Commission's senior officials. The VPERED dedicated implementation structure shall provide the VPERED Chair with the necessary support to carry out their functions.

Or. en

Amendment 292

Proposal for a regulation

Article 46 b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 46b
The VPERED Board
1. The VPERED Board shall advise the Commission on the following:
(a) the overall strategy for VPERED, taking into account complementarities with SHIELD and DOBRE;
(b) a recommendation to the Commission on the draft work programme for the implementation of VPERED actions, including criteria for the assessment of proposals and the appropriate balance between the VPERED Frontier and VPERED Transition instruments;
(c) the profile and terms of employment of VPERED Programme Managers;
(d) European defence research and innovation policy, including long-term scientific and technological priorities for European defence;
(e) measures to strengthen Europe's defence research ecosystem, including through collaboration with Member State defence research establishments, universities and industry.
2. The VPERED Board shall act in the interest of achieving the objectives of VPERED. It shall act with integrity and probity and carry out its work efficiently and transparently, subject to applicable security requirements. There shall be no constraints on the ability of its members to communicate with the European defence research and innovation community, Member States, all Union institutions, and any other relevant persons or entities, within the limits of their security obligations.
3. The VPERED Board shall be composed of 15 to 20 independent high-level individuals drawn from various parts of Europe's defence research and innovation ecosystem, including scientists, engineers, defence technology experts, security and defence policy experts, procurement specialists and representatives of the defence industry. The VPERED Board shall contribute to outreach actions and its members shall strive to enhance the prestige and visibility of VPERED.
4. The members of the VPERED Board shall be appointed by the Commission following an open call for nominations or for expressions of interest, taking into account the need for balance in expertise, gender, age and geographical distribution. All members of the VPERED Board shall hold, or shall obtain prior to taking up their functions, a personal security clearance to at least the EU SECRET level. Their term of office shall be limited to two years, renewable twice, with a rolling appointments system so that members are appointed every two years.
5. The Commission shall, taking into consideration the views of the VPERED Board, establish a VPERED Board code of conduct addressing, in particular, the avoidance of conflicts of interest, breaches of confidentiality and the protection of classified and security-sensitive information. The members of the VPERED Board shall agree to abide by the code of conduct upon assuming office.
6. The VPERED Board shall elect from amongst its members three Vice-Chairs who shall assist the VPERED Chair in its representation and the organisation of its work. They shall hold the title of VPERED Vice-Chair.
7. The members of the VPERED Board shall be compensated for the tasks they perform by means of an honorarium and, where appropriate, reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses.

Or. en

Amendment 293

Proposal for a regulation

Article 46 c (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 46c
VPERED Programme Managers
1. VPERED Programme Managers shall be responsible for the development, launch and management of VPERED Challenges. VPERED Programme Managers shall have significant responsibilities and discretion in selecting and managing individual projects within a VPERED Challenge Portfolio, subject to oversight by the VPERED Board.
2. VPERED Programme Managers shall be recruited through a competitive and transparent process based on world-class expertise in defence-relevant scientific and technological fields. Their terms of employment shall be set to attract highly qualified individuals from research institutions, the defence industry, national defence research agencies and armed forces. VPERED Programme Managers shall be employed for a fixed term not exceeding three years, which may be renewed once. VPERED Programme Managers may be integrated in the dedicated implementation structure for the European Innovation Council established by [reference Horizon article]. All VPERED Programme Managers shall hold, or shall obtain prior to taking up their functions, a personal security clearance at least equivalent to that required for access to the classified information relevant to their portfolio.
3. For VPERED Frontier Challenges, VPERED Programme Managers shall have complete autonomy in the identification of research areas, the design of Challenge calls and the management of their portfolios, subject to the strategic direction set by the VPERED Board and the approved VPERED work programme.
4. For VPERED Transition Challenges, which involve the maturation of research results towards deployment-relevant capabilities, VPERED Programme Managers shall consult and seek the agreement of the relevant national Ministries of Defence of at least three Member States on the capability direction and priorities of the portfolio prior to the launch of a Challenge call. This requirement is designed to ensure that VPERED Transition activities correspond with identified and validated operational capability needs. The agreement of Ministries of Defence shall pertain to the direction of the portfolio as a whole and shall not extend to the selection of individual projects or to the management of individual grants, which shall remain under the full responsibility of the VPERED Programme Manager.
5. VPERED Transition actions may be awarded without a call for proposals for the purpose of follow-up funding for results generated by VPERED Frontier actions, where the VPERED Programme Manager considers such follow-up essential to the coherence and progress of the Challenge Portfolio.
6. The VPERED Board shall establish a framework for structured engagement between VPERED Programme Managers and national Ministries of Defence for the purposes of paragraph 4, including a dedicated advisory forum bringing together representatives of national Ministries of Defence. This forum shall have an advisory function only and shall not participate in project selection or grant management decisions.

Or. en

Amendment 294

Proposal for a regulation

Article 46 d (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 46d
Scaling High-Impact Innovation for European Leadership in Defence Programme
1. The Commission shall establish the Scaling High-Impact Innovation for European Leadership in Defence Programme ('SHIELD').
2. SHIELD shall provide blended finance support — combining grant funding and equity or quasi-equity investment — or equity-only support to early- and growth-stage companies developing disruptive technologies with transformative potential for European defence and security. It shall complement VPERED by supporting the commercialisation and scaling of breakthrough defence technologies, including technologies arising from VPERED Frontier and VPERED Transition actions.
3. SHIELD shall primarily be implemented through open bottom-up calls for proposals. When duly justified, SHIELD can be implemented by Challenge-based calls designed by the VPERED Programme Managers.
4. The equity or quasi-equity support shall be provided by a dedicated compartment in the EIC Fund (the SHIELD compartment). The SHIELD compartment shall be funded exclusively from the defence research budget established in [reference to the ECF Defence Research Specific Programme] and it shall be managed separately from the civilian compartments of the EIC Fund.
5. For SHIELD actions, the evaluation criteria shall assess the following: the degree of disruptiveness and transformative potential of the technology; the viability and scalability of the applicant's business model; the strategic relevance of the technology to identified European defence capability needs; and the security of supply and ownership considerations.
6. SHIELD shall support only single beneficiaries and single investees who are start-ups, SMEs or small mid-caps established in a Member State or in an associated country. Proposals for SHIELD actions may be submitted by one or more legal entities intending to establish or support a potential recipient company, with the prior agreement of that recipient. If selected for funding, the grant and investment agreement shall be signed only with that recipient. In the case of blended finance actions, the beneficiary and the investee may differ in the sense that the investee may be the holding or parent company of the beneficiary.

Or. en

Amendment 295

Proposal for a regulation

Article 46 e (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 46e
Defence-Oriented Breakthrough Research for Europe
1. The Commission shall establish the Defence-Oriented Breakthrough Research for Europe programme (‘DOBRE’) to fund collaborative applied research actions contributing to jointly agreed European defence capability priorities. DOBRE shall be complementary to VPERED and SHIELD by offering support to known technological developments identified by the capacity planning for the armed forces of the Union.
2. DOBRE shall fund applied research activities, including studies, experiments, design, testing and validation of technology components or prototypes in a laboratory or simulated environment, up to Technology Readiness Level 6. DOBRE shall support collaborative applied research actions which: (a) are oriented towards defined and validated European defence capability priorities; (b) involve substantial cross-border collaboration among entities from Member States and associated countries; (c) generate knowledge, products, processes or technologies which contribute to the technological and industrial base of European defence.
3. DOBRE shall be implemented through competitive calls for proposals. Each call shall be linked to one or more jointly agreed capability priority areas. The DOBRE work programme shall set out the scope, eligibility conditions and evaluation criteria for each call.
4. DOBRE actions shall involve at least three legal entities from three different Member States or associated countries. The DOBRE work programme may set out additional eligibility criteria for a call, where duly justified based on the objectives of the call.

Or. en

Amendment 296

Proposal for a regulation

Article 47 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Activities related to the enhancement of the Responsiveness, Industrial Scale-Up, and Resilience: to enhance responsiveness and resilience of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, enabling it to develop, produce, and sustain critical defence production capacity/capabilities at the necessary scale and speed, including through supporting the industrial scale-up of innovative companies and by supporting skills development; may cover in particular:1. Activities related to the enhancement of the Responsiveness, Industrial Scale-Up, and Resilience: to enhance responsiveness and resilience of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, enabling it to develop, produce, and sustain critical defence production capacity/capabilities at the necessary scale and speed, including through supporting the industrial scale-up of innovative companies; may cover:

Or. en

Amendment 297

Proposal for a regulation

Article 49 – paragraph 1 – point g

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(g) Support actions for the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of relevant Union legislation and policy. This includes supporting the relevant institutions, the cooperation between national authorities and with stakeholders, studies, the development and deployment of tools and infrastructures, including IT infrastructure and tools.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 298

Proposal for a regulation

Article 51 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. Recipients shall have their executive management structures in the Union or in an associated country and shall not be subject to control by a non-associated third country or by a non-associated third-country entity.2. Recipients of Union funding shall be established in and have their executive management structures in the Union or in an associated country and shall not be subject to control by a non-associated third country or by a non-associated third-country entity.

Or. en

Justification

Alignment with EDIP provisions.

Amendment 299

Proposal for a regulation

Article 51 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. By derogation from paragraph 2 a legal entity established in the Union or in an associated country and controlled by a non-associated third country or a non-associated third country entity shall be eligible to be a recipient of Union funding if guarantees approved in accordance with the national procedures of a Member State or associated country in which it is established; including adequate measures pursuant to screenings, as set out in Article 2, point (3), of Regulation (EU) 2019/452 are made available to the Commission.3. By derogation from paragraph 2 a legal entity established in the Union or in an associated country and controlled by a non-associated third country or a non-associated third country entity shall be eligible to be a recipient of Union funding if guarantees approved in accordance with the national procedures of a Member State or associated country in which it is established, such as adequate measures pursuant to screenings, as set out in Article 2, point (3), of Regulation (EU) 2019/452 are made available to the Commission.

Or. en

Justification

Alignment with EDIP provisions.

Amendment 300

Proposal for a regulation

Article 51 – paragraph 4

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4. These guarantees measures shall provide assurances that the involvement in an action of a legal entity as referred to in that subparagraph would not contravene the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States as established in the framework of the CFSP pursuant to Title V of the TUEU.4. These guarantees measures shall provide assurances that the involvement in an action of a legal entity as referred to in that subparagraph would not contravene the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States as established in the framework of the CFSP pursuant to Title V of the TEU, including respect for the principle of good neighbourly relations, or the objectives set out in Article 44 of this Regulation.

Or. en

Amendment 301

Proposal for a regulation

Article 51 – paragraph 5 – point b

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) access by a non-associated third country or by a non-associated third-country entity to sensitive information relating to the action is prevented and the employees or other persons involved in the action have national security clearance issued by a Member State or an associated country, where appropriate;(b) access by a non-associated third country or by a non-associated third-country entity to classified or sensitive information relating to the action is prevented and the employees or other persons involved in the action have national security clearance issued by a Member State or an associated country, where appropriate, in accordance with national laws and regulations;

Or. en

Amendment 302

Proposal for a regulation

Article 51 – paragraph 12

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
12. For actions referred to in Article 44(1), points (a), (c) and (d), the estimated cost of components originating in the Union shall not be lower than 65 % of the estimated cost of the end product. No components shall be sourced from third countries that contravene the security and defence interests of the Union and the Member States, including respect for the principle of good neighbourly relations.12. For actions referred to in Article 44(1), points (a), (c) and (d), the estimated cost of components originating outside the Union and associated countries shall not be higher than 35 % of the estimated cost of the components of the end product. No components shall be sourced from third countries that contravene the security and defence interests of the Union and the Member States, including respect for the principle of good neighbourly relations. Article 10 shall not apply to those actions.

Or. en

Amendment 303

Proposal for a regulation

Article 51 – paragraph 15 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
15. Except for actions referred to in Article 44, paragraph 2 or unless specified otherwise in the work programmes, Union support shall only be granted to actions carried out by:15. Except for actions referred to in Article 44, paragraph 2, Article 46, or unless specified otherwise in the work programmes, Union support shall only be granted to actions carried out by:

Or. en

Amendment 304

Proposal for a regulation

Article 53 – paragraph 1 – point -a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(-a) contribution to excellence in the defence domain,

Or. en

Justification

Alignment with the Parliament's mandate to the Defence omnibus (Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending Regulations (EC) No 1907/2006, (EC) No 1272/2008, (EU) No 528/2012, (EU) 2019/1021 and (EU) 2021/697 as regards defence readiness and facilitating defence investments and conditions for defence industry.

Amendment 305

Proposal for a regulation

Article 53 – paragraph 1 – point b

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) The objectives, priorities and the expected results set for the relevant action, in particular trough the evaluation of one or more of the following criteria as specified in the work programmes: (i) contribution to excellence in the defence domain, (ii) innovation capacities, (iii) cross-border cooperation, in particular with SMEs and mid-caps that bring substantial added-value to the action, (iv) competitiveness, (v) increase in production capacities and availability, (vi) reduction of lead production time, (v) increase in interoperability, (vii) increase in interchangeability and (viii) security of supply throughout the Union in response to identified risks, including in particular high exposure to the risk of materialisation of conventional military threats.(b) The objectives, priorities and the expected results set for the relevant action, in particular trough the evaluation of one or more of the following criteria as specified in the work programmes: (i) innovation capacities, (ii) cross-border cooperation, in particular with SMEs and mid-caps that bring substantial added-value to the action, (iii) competitiveness, (iv) increase in production capacities and availability, (v) reduction of lead production time, (vi) increase in interoperability, (vii) increase in interchangeability and (viii) security of supply throughout the Union in response to identified risks, including in particular high exposure to the risk of materialisation of conventional military threats.

Or. en

Amendment 306

Proposal for a regulation

Article 54 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Where Union support is provided in the form of a grant, Union institutions, bodies, offices or agencies as well as granting authorities shall enjoy upon request royalty-free access rights to results for the purpose of developing, implementing and monitoring existing Union policies or programmes in the fields of its competence and the right to grant, or to require the recipients to grant, non-exclusive licenses to third parties to exploit the results under fair and reasonable conditions to be set out in the contractual relationships between the interested parties without any right to sublicense unless otherwise specified in the grant agreement.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 307

Proposal for a regulation

Article 54 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1a. The results of research actions that are supported by the Fund shall be owned by the recipients generating them. Where legal entities generate results jointly and where their respective contributions cannot be ascertained, or where it is not possible to separate such joint results, the legal entities shall have joint ownership of the results. Joint owners shall enter into an agreement regarding the allocation of their shares and the terms of exercise of their joint ownership in accordance with their obligations under the grant agreement.

Or. en

Justification

Alignment with EDF Article 20(1) and (3).

Amendment 308

Proposal for a regulation

Article 54 – paragraph 1 b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1b. The results of research actions supported by the Fund shall not be subject to any control or restriction by a non- associated third country or by a non-associated third-country entity, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediate legal entities, including in terms of technology transfer.

Or. en

Justification

Alignment with EDF Article 20(1) and (3).

Amendment 309

Proposal for a regulation

Article 54 – paragraph 2 – point a

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) The national authorities of Member States and associated countries shall enjoy access rights to the special reports of activities funded under Article 44 paragraph 1, point (b). Such access rights shall be granted on a royalty-free basis and transferred by the Commission to the Member States and associated countries after the Commission has ensured that appropriate confidentiality obligations are in place.(a) The national authorities of Member States and associated countries shall enjoy access rights to the special reports of activities funded under Article 46a. Such access rights shall be granted on a royalty-free basis and transferred by the Commission to the Member States and associated countries after the Commission has ensured that appropriate confidentiality obligations are in place.

Or. en

Amendment 310

Proposal for a regulation

Article 54 – paragraph 2 – point c

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(c) Where two or more Member States or associated countries have, multilaterally or within the framework of the Union, jointly concluded one or several contracts with one or more recipients to further develop together results of activities supported by the Fund under Article 45 paragraph 1, point (b), they shall enjoy access rights to those results insofar as they are owned by such recipients and are necessary for the execution of the contract or contracts. Such access rights shall be granted on a royalty-free basis and under specific conditions aiming to ensure that those rights are used only for the purposes of the contract or contracts and that appropriate confidentiality obligations are put in place.(c) Where two or more Member States or associated countries have, multilaterally or within the framework of the Union, jointly concluded one or several contracts with one or more recipients to further develop together results of activities supported by the Fund under Article 46a, they shall enjoy access rights to those results insofar as they are owned by such recipients and are necessary for the execution of the contract or contracts. Such access rights shall be granted on a royalty-free basis and under specific conditions aiming to ensure that those rights are used only for the purposes of the contract or contracts and that appropriate confidentiality obligations are put in place.

Or. en

Amendment 311

Proposal for a regulation

Article 54 – paragraph 2 – point d

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(d) For actions supporting development of defence technologies and capabilities, access rights to the results of development actions shall be granted to the national authorities co-financing the action under fair and reasonable conditions to be agreed upon with the recipients generating those results. Terms and conditions for the exercise of such access rights shall be set out in the contractual relationship between the recipients and the national authorities co-financing the action.deleted

Or. en

Justification

Alignment with the Parliament's mandate to the Defence omnibus (Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending Regulations (EC) No 1907/2006, (EC) No 1272/2008, (EU) No 528/2012, (EU) 2019/1021 and (EU) 2021/697 as regards defence readiness and facilitating defence investments and conditions for defence industry.) The final agreement will, where relevant, be considered.

Amendment 312

Proposal for a regulation

Article 54 – paragraph 2 – point g

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(g) Such access rights shall include the right to authorise other legal entities established in the Union or associated countries to use the results on their behalf, under conditions of confidentiality where appropriate.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 313

Proposal for a regulation

Article 54 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. Any transfer of ownership of results, or the granting of exclusive licences for results, generated with support to legal entities established in non-associated third countries or to non-associated third-country entities shall be subject to prior notification and approval by the Commission or the relevant Member State or associated country authorities, which takes place within 3 years after the final payment of the action, under conditions ensuring the protection of the Union’s security and defence interests.3. Any transfer of ownership of results, or the granting of exclusive licences for results, generated with support to legal entities established in non-associated third countries or to non-associated third-country entities shall be subject to the express consent of the holder of intellectual property rights on elements of the results, and prior notification and approval by the Commission or the relevant Member State or associated country authorities, which takes place within 3 years after the final payment of the action, under conditions ensuring the protection of the Union’s security and defence interests.

Or. en

Amendment 314

Proposal for a regulation

Article 57 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Activities supported under this section shall contribute to the general objectives set out in Article 3(1) and the specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), point (e).1. Activities supported under this section shall contribute to the general objectives set out in Article 3(1) and the specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), point (X).

Or. en

Amendment 315

Proposal for a regulation

Article 57 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. Support for activities under this section shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point (e), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 6.2. Support for activities under this section shall be financed from the budget set out in Article 4(2), point (X), and any additional contributions assigned in accordance with Article 5.

Or. en

Amendment 316

Proposal for a regulation

Article 58 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Work programmes adopted in accordance with the rules of this Regulation under this section shall integrate in a specific dedicated part and ensure coherence with the Competitiveness and Society activities supported under the Regulation (EU) [XXX][Framework programme Horizon Europe] and taking into account the specific rules under this Section.Work programmes adopted in accordance with the rules of this Regulation under this section shall integrate in a specific dedicated part Horizon Europe Pathway Actions as referred to in Article 14d and their dedicated budget.

Or. en

Amendment 317

Proposal for a regulation

Article 62 – paragraph 1 – point a

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) the establishment, development and operation of a network of sensors of the Member States, be selected by architecture studies, comprising ground-based and space-based SST sensors of the Member States, be selected by architecture study, including sensors developed through the European Space Agency, of Union commercial sector, and of Union sensors aiming to survey and track space objects and produce an autonomous European catalogue of space objects;(a) the establishment, development and operation of a network of sensors of the Member States, be selected by architecture studies, comprising ground-based and space-based SST sensors operating within Member States, be selected by architecture study, including sensors and multinational assets developed through the European Space Agency, of Union commercial sector, and of Union sensors aiming to survey and track space objects and produce an autonomous European catalogue of space objects;

Or. en

Amendment 318

Proposal for a regulation

Article 62 – paragraph 5 – point d

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(d) the development of activities related to space debris mitigation in order to reduce their generation, space debris remediation, the monitoring of launch after injection, specific services for constellations, the establishment of a marketplace for SST services, preparation of the system to Cislunar operations, support to in-space operations and services, and to dark and quiet sky.(d) the development of activities related to space debris mitigation in order to reduce their generation, space debris remediation, the monitoring of launch after injection, specific services for constellations, the establishment of a marketplace for SST services, preparation of the system to Cislunar operations in collaboration with the European Space Agency, support to in-space operations and services, and to dark and quiet sky.

Or. en

Amendment 319

Proposal for a regulation

Article 64 – paragraph 1

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. The objective of the SWE is to monitor and assess natural changes related to space weather events, such as solar winds and solar flares.1. The objective of the SWE is to monitor and assess natural changes related to space weather events, such as solar winds and solar flares, to assess the risks they may cause to critical infrastructure and human activity on the ground and in space, and to provide a public service supporting mitigation of such risks.

Or. en

Amendment 320

Proposal for a regulation

Article 64 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. Eligible activities under SWE shall encompass all the activities required to provide space weather services, including research and development activities supporting the evolution of the SWE, as well as its services and downstream R&D for applications and user technology for the uptake of SWE services.2. Eligible activities under SWE shall encompass all the activities required to provide operational space weather services, including development, replacement and operation of necessary data acquisition systems, purchasing of data from commercial sources, research and development activities supporting the evolution of the SWE, as well as its services and downstream R&D for applications and user technology for the uptake of SWE services.

Or. en

Amendment 321

Proposal for a regulation

Article 64 – paragraph 3 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. SWE services shall aim to be available at any time without interruption and shall in particular comprise:3. SWE services shall aim to be available at any time under free access and based on free, full and open data policy without interruption and shall in particular comprise:

Or. en

Amendment 322

Proposal for a regulation

Article 64 – paragraph 3 – point d a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(da) all other domains relevant to the safety of European critical infrastructure and space activities.

Or. en

Amendment 323

Proposal for a regulation

Article 65 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The Union shall foster an autonomous and resilient access to space, by supporting European reliable and cost-efficient launch services together with a cohesive European approach, taking into account the essential security interests of the Union and its Member-States.2. The Union shall foster an autonomous and resilient access to space, by supporting European reliable and cost-efficient access to space services together with a cohesive European approach, taking into account the essential security interests of the Union and its Member-States.

Or. en

Amendment 324

Proposal for a regulation

Article 65 – paragraph 3 – point a

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) procurement and aggregation of launch services for the needs of the Union and, at their request, aggregation and joint procurement of launch services for the needs of Member States, international organisations, and other public entities;(a) procurement and aggregation of launch services for the needs of the Union and, at their request, aggregation and joint procurement of launch services for the needs of Member States in coordination with the European Space Agency, international organisations, and other public entities;

Or. en

Amendment 325

Proposal for a regulation

Article 66 – paragraph 2 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. This component shall include the following eligible activities:2. This component shall include the following eligible activities, which may be entrusted to the European Space Agency for implementation:

Or. en

Amendment 326

Proposal for a regulation

Article 67 – paragraph 2 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The component shall include the following eligible activities:2. The component shall include the following eligible activities, which shall be delegated to ESA for implementation where it concerns ESA’s field of expertise:

Or. en

Amendment 327

Proposal for a regulation

Article 67 – paragraph 2 – point a

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) activities related to Union’s technological sovereignty, such as research, development, and uptake of critical space technologies, including those directly responding to the EU Observatory of Critical Technologies, (OTC) and implementation of related OCT roadmaps that reduce Union dependencies and enhance competitiveness of the Union space ecosystem;(a) activities related to Union’s technological sovereignty as regards critical space technologies, such as research, development, and uptake of such technologies, including those directly responding to the EU Observatory of Critical Technologies, (OTC) and implementation of related OCT roadmaps that reduce Union dependencies and enhance competitiveness of the Union space ecosystem;

Or. en

Amendment 328

Proposal for a regulation

Article 69 – paragraph 5 – point a

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) for specific technologies, goods or services needed for the activities referred to in paragraph 1 no substitutes are readily available in the Member States;(a) for specific technologies, goods or services needed for the activities referred to in paragraph 1 no substitutes are readily available in the Member States, EEA or EFTA countries or third countries which have concluded an international agreement with the Union as referred to in Article 11;

Or. en

Amendment 329

Proposal for a regulation

Article 69 – paragraph 5 – point b

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) the legal entity is established in a country which is a member of the EEA or EFTA and which has concluded an international agreement with the Union as referred to in Article 11, its executive management structures are established in that country and the activities linked to the procurement, grant or prize are carried out in that country or in one or more such countries; and(b) the legal entity is established in a country which is a member of the EEA or EFTA or in a third country and which has concluded an international agreement with the Union as referred to in Article 11, its executive management structures are established in that country and the activities linked to the procurement, grant or prize are carried out in that country or in one or more such countries; and

Or. en

Amendment 330

Proposal for a regulation

Article 70 – paragraph 2 – point c

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(c) the activities relate to PRS receivers developed by Member States.(c) the activities relate to PRS receivers developed by Member States, or

Or. en

Amendment 331

Proposal for a regulation

Article 70 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(ca) where the activities are research and development activities, or

Or. en

Amendment 332

Proposal for a regulation

Article 70 – paragraph 2 – point c b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(cb) where the activities are service contracts.

Or. en

Amendment 333

Proposal for a regulation

Article 75 – paragraph 7 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
7. Provided that the interests of the Union are protected, ESA may be entrusted with the following tasks:7. Provided that the interests of the Union are protected, ESA shall be entrusted with the following tasks:

Or. en

Amendment 334

Proposal for a regulation

Article 75 – paragraph 7 – point a

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(a) as regards PNT: major systems evolution and design and development of parts of the ground segment, and of satellites, including testing and validation;(a) as regards PNT: systems evolution and design and development of parts of the ground segment, the PNT architecture including LEO-PNT and of satellites, including testing and validation;

Or. en

Amendment 335

Proposal for a regulation

Article 75 – paragraph 7 – point d

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(d) as regards : (i) IRIS²: the supervision of the development, of the validation and of the related deployment activities relating to the definition, design, development, validation and deployment phases for the governmental services and of the development and evolution necessary for the provision of governmental services, ensuring coordination between the tasks and budget entrusted to ESA and possible contribution by ESA, excluding pooling and sharing related actions referred to in Article 47, paragraph 2, point a; (ii) the provision of its technical expertise, including during the implementation of the components;(d) as regards Secure Connectivity: (i) IRIS²: the supervision of the development, of the validation and of the related deployment activities relating to the definition, design, development, validation and deployment phases for the governmental services and of the development and evolution necessary for the provision of governmental services including systems evolution, scalability and interoperability, ensuring coordination between the tasks and budget entrusted to ESA and possible contribution by ESA, excluding pooling and sharing related actions referred to in Article 47, paragraph 2, point a; (ii) EuroQCI: design, development and qualification of the segment; (iii) the provision of its technical expertise, including during the implementation of the components;

Or. en

Amendment 336

Proposal for a regulation

Article 75 – paragraph 7 – point d a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(da) as regards technological sovereignty, research and innovation: upstream research and development activities in ESA’s fields of expertise;

Or. en

Amendment 337

Proposal for a regulation

Article 75 – paragraph 7 – point d b (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(db) as regards NEO and SWE:
(i) coordination, implementation and evolution of the component;
(ii) design, development and construction of the operational Space Weather infrastructure, as well as execution of the operations of that infrastructure and procurement procedures that are not entrusted to other entities;
(iii) transition and execution of service operations;
(iv) provisions of access to third-party data;

Or. en

Amendment 338

Proposal for a regulation

Article 75 – paragraph 7 – point d c (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(dc) as regards access to space: the implementation of activities conducted pursuant to Article 65(3).

Or. en

Amendment 339

Proposal for a regulation

Article 80 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1. Support for civil security industry policy shall address in particular the following application areas:1. Support for civil security industry policy shall address the following application areas:

Or. en

Amendment 340

Proposal for a regulation

Article 80 – paragraph 1 – point d

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(d) Civil preparedness against security threats, whether natural or human-made, accidental or intentional.(d) Civil preparedness and resilience against security threats, whether natural or human-made, accidental or intentional;

Or. en

Amendment 341

Proposal for a regulation

Article 80 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(da) Targeted activities of upskilling and reskilling to develop specialised technical skills necessary for the effective implementation of projects supported under this Chapter. These activities shall lead to the award of professional qualifications that are officially recognised at regional or national level in line with national law and practice. Priority shall be given to qualifications that could be mutually recognised by Member States.

Or. en

Amendment 342

Proposal for a regulation

Article 80 – paragraph 2 – point d

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(d) Support actions for the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of relevant Union legislation and policydeleted

Or. en

Amendment 343

Proposal for a regulation

Article 80 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. Support provided through the activities referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, may be provided in any form, including through collaborative research and innovation activities set out in Regulation (EU) [XXX][Framework Programme for Research and Innovation] and identified in a specific dedicated part of the Work Programme.3. Support provided through the activities referred to in paragraph 1, may be provided in any form, including through Horizon Europe Pathway Actions as referred to in Article 14d and identified in a specific dedicated part of the Work Programme.

Or. en

Amendment 344

Proposal for a regulation

Article 80 – paragraph 4

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
4. Work programmes adopted in accordance with the rules of this Regulation under this section shall integrate in a specific dedicated part and ensure coherence with Competitiveness and Society activities supported under the Regulation (EU) [XXX] [Horizon Europe Framework programme for Research and Innovation.deleted

Or. en

Amendment 345

Proposal for a regulation

Article 81 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. Where Union support is provided in the form of a grant, Union institutions, bodies, offices or agencies shall enjoy upon request royalty-free access rights to results for the purpose of developing, implementing and monitoring existing Union policies or programmes in the fields of its competence and the right to grant, or to require the recipients to grant, non-exclusive licenses to third parties to exploit the results under fair and reasonable conditions without any right to sublicense unless otherwise specified in the grant agreement.deleted

Or. en

Justification

Alignment with same provisions of the defence section.

Amendment 346

Proposal for a regulation

Article 81 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. Any transfer of ownership of results, or the granting of exclusive licences for results, generated with support to legal entities established in non-associated third countries or to non-associated third-country entities shall be subject to prior notification and approval by the Commission or the relevant Member State or associated country authorities, which takes place within 3 years after the final payment of the action, under conditions ensuring the protection of the Union’s security interests.deleted

Or. en

Justification

Alignment with the same provisions of the defence section.

Amendment 347

Proposal for a regulation

Article 83 – paragraph 1 – point b

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(b) Clean Transition Committee for matters concerning specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), point (a);(b) Energy Infrastructure, Industrial Decarbonisation and Clean Technology Committee for matters concerning specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), point (a);

Or. en

Amendment 348

Proposal for a regulation

Article 83 – paragraph 1 – point c

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(c) Health, Biotech, Agriculture and Bioeconomy Committee for matters concerning specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), point (b);(c) Health, Biotechnology and Sustainable Prosperity Committee for matters concerning specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), point (b);

Or. en

Amendment 349

Proposal for a regulation

Article 83 – paragraph 1 – point d

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(d) Digital Committee for matters concerning specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), point (c);(d) Digital Infrastructure and Agile Digital Leadership Committee for matters concerning specific objectives set out in Article 3(2), point (c);

Or. en

Amendment 350

Proposal for a regulation

Article 83 – paragraph 1 – point f

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(f) Resilience Committee for matters concerning specific objectives set out in Article 3 (2), point (d) ;(f) Critical Raw Materials Committee for matters concerning specific objectives set out in Article 3 (2), point (d);

Or. en

Amendment 351

Proposal for a regulation

Article 83 – paragraph 7

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
7. In accordance with international agreements concluded by the Union, representatives of third countries, international organisations or other European Union institutions, bodies and agencies may be invited as observers in the meetings of the committee configurations under the conditions laid down in their rules of procedure, taking into account security and public order interests of the Union. Representatives of third countries or international organisations shall not be present in deliberations on matters related to eligibility, including deliberations related to Articles 9 and 10 of this Regulation.7. In accordance with international agreements concluded by the Union, representatives of third countries, international organisations or other European Union institutions, bodies and agencies may be invited as observers in the meetings of the committee configurations under the conditions laid down in their rules of procedure, taking into account security and public order interests of the Union.

Or. en

Amendment 352

Proposal for a regulation

Article 84 – paragraph 2

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in this Regulation shall be conferred on the Commission for the period from the date of enter into force of this Regulation until 31 December 2035.2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 15(3) and (4), Article 21(5) and (7), Article 60(6) and Article 62(4) and (7) shall be conferred on the Commission for the period from the date of enter into force of this Regulation until 31 December 2035.

Or. en

Amendment 353

Proposal for a regulation

Article 84 – paragraph 3

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
3. The delegation of power referred to in this Regulation may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 15(3) and (4), Article 21(5) and (7), Article 60(6) and Article 62(4) and (7) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

Or. en

Amendment 354

Proposal for a regulation

Article 84 a (new)

Amendment: Text proposed by the Commission and Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
Article 84a
Programme evaluation
1. By way of derogation from Article 1(1) of [Performance Framework Regulation], the evaluation of the Programme shall be performed in accordance with Article 84a of this Regulation.
2. Programme evaluations shall be carried out in a timely manner to feed into the decision-making process of the Programme, a possible successor programme to the ECF and other initiatives relevant to competitiveness.
3. The interim evaluation of the Programme shall be carried out with the assistance of independent experts selected on the basis of a transparent process once there is sufficient information available about the implementation of the Programme, but no later than four years after entry into force of this Regulation. The evaluation shall form the basis for Commission proposals to adjust or re-orientate the Programme, as appropriate. It shall assess the Programme's effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence, and Union added value.
4. At the end of the implementation of the Programme, but no later than four years after the end of the period specified in Article 1, a final evaluation of the Programme shall be completed by the Commission. It shall include an assessment of the long-term impact of previous framework programmes.
5. The Commission shall publish and communicate the conclusions of the evaluations accompanied by its observations and shall present them to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

Or. en

Back matter, 2

Parts that accompany the text rather than belong to it: explanatory statement, annexes, opinions appended by other committees. Collapsed.

Explanatory statement 13 blocks

Europe cannot restore its competitiveness unless it creates the necessary conditions for industry to produce, invest and innovate in Europe, while creating quality jobs and new employment opportunities across the Union. That is the starting point of the report on the European Competitiveness Fund.

We have approached the Fund not as a political label, but as a practical instrument that must respond to the structural weaknesses that are undermining Europe’s economic base. If we want stronger competitiveness, we need a framework that is more focused, more coherent and more credible for those who are expected to invest. This requires the mobilisation of private investment to be at the centre of our ambitions, ensuring that public support acts as a catalyst rather than a substitute. This is why we have worked to sharpen the priorities of the Fund and to address the current challenges while reinforcing the areas where European action can make the greatest difference.

The proposal for a “Competitiveness” Fund must first and foremost include a definition of competitiveness, which is lacking from the Commission proposal. The Draft Report suggests the addition of such a definition focused on productivity as a core anchor of economic realities. It encompasses the ability of European companies to compete successfully in the global market, on a level playing field, while increasing long-term public investments, lowering energy costs and creating a favourable and innovative business environment as well as skilled work force which leads to quality jobs and sustainable growth across the whole Union.

European industry is a central priority. Europe needs a Competitiveness Fund that is clearly anchored in the real economy and capable of supporting innovation, industrial deployment and scaling-up, and of strengthening the capacity of the European industry to compete globally while delivering on the green and digital transitions. Public support cannot be dispersed across an unlimited list of objectives. It must be directed where it can strengthen industrial ecosystems, improve productivity, and help European companies compete under fair conditions globally while decarbonizing. The draft report therefore strengthens the industrial dimension of the Fund and gives greater weight to those actions that can increase Europe’s capacity to ramp-up industrial production, decarbonize, accelerate innovation uptake and retain value creation within the Union.

Energy remains an urgent priority. Without an affordable and secure supply of energy there is no durable industrial competitiveness nor affordable energy bills for households. High and volatile energy prices continue to weaken Europe’s economic position, reduce predictability for investors and place industry at a structural disadvantage. This is not only a short-term challenge, but a long-term structural issue affecting investment decisions, production costs and the future location of industrial activity. At the same time, the energy transition is a core component of Europe’s industrial policy and climate objectives. For this reason, the draft report places stronger emphasis on energy infrastructure, system integration, efficiency and decarbonisation, in order to reduce systemic cost pressures. Europe needs an energy framework that supports security of supply, strengthens the Energy Union, improves efficiency and contributes to lowering the energy costs for industry and citizens alike.

The digital transformation is another key pillar of competitiveness. Europe cannot build competitiveness without mastering the technologies that are shaping today’s global economy. The Fund must support the development and deployment of the digital infrastructure that underpins competitiveness across the economy, from industrial processes and innovation systems to connectivity, public services and strategic technologies. The ECF notably includes the former CEF-Digital, which the Draft Report makes more explicit. At the same time, financing instruments must reflect the speed of technological change. The draft report therefore promotes a more agile approach, especially in areas where innovation cycles are short and rigid programming risks becoming disconnected from market realities. Europe must become faster, more adaptive and more effective in translating technological capabilities into industrial strength. The “Agile Digital Leadership” Section proposes solutions to these bottlenecks.

The report also strengthens the framework for health, biotechnology, and sustainable prosperity (which includes among others agriculture and bioeconomy), recognizing their importance for innovation and competitiveness.

It further reinforces the resilience and security dimension, including defence, space and critical raw materials. Europe cannot seriously address competitiveness without tackling the strategic dependencies that expose it to external shocks. This requires not only internal investment but also a more ambitious and coherent trade policy to secure access to key inputs and technologies. In the space sector in particular, Europe has already demonstrated its capacity to compete globally through flagship programs such as Copernicus and Galileo. Building on these successes, the Union must further strengthen its autonomous capabilities and industrial base in space technologies. For the specific program on Defence Research which is to be implemented through the ECF, we propose a European DARPA as well as the continuation of conventional collaborative Defence research.

The Draft Report also clarifies the need for a clear differentiation in budget lines between space, defence and security, and Critical Raw Materials within the fourth policy window, thereby emphasizing the importance of clearly identifiable budget lines for each of these fields. It is essential to ensure adequate funding for Critical Raw Materials in the forthcoming MFF. Several Member States have already established some funding for this but lack scale to achieve results, and especially smaller Member States cannot solve this challenge alone – the EU has a big role to play in the secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials to the Union, and this should be adequately reflected in the ECF. With a budget of €10bn and implemented through the CRM Centre, this proposal could be a gamechanger in Europe’s critical raw materials independence. The Draft Report lays the groundwork for an operationally independent and well-equipped CRM Centre fit to solve the challenges Europe faces, for which we expect the Commission to present a strong legislative proposal by summer.

The same logic applies horizontally to skills. Competitiveness cannot be restored without a workforce capable of adapting to industrial transformation and technological change. Skills must therefore be embedded across the policy windows rather than treated as a secondary objective. At the same time, the report promotes a more coherent use of grants, guarantees and loans, including a strengthened role for InvestEU aligned with the objectives of each policy window. The broader framework also leaves space for housing and social investment through appropriate Union instruments, while ensuring that the core ECF remains focused on strengthening Europe’s industrial competitiveness.

Another key objective of the report is to improve the coherence of the wider European funding architecture. Research, innovation, industrial deployment and market uptake must be better connected. Europe needs clearer pathways from scientific excellence to industrial application and commercial scale. The report strengthens the tight connection between the Competitiveness Fund and Horizon Europe, enabling the ECF to take up relevant and successful projects from all pillars of Horizon Europe and its predecessors. Building on the work of Mario Draghi, Enrico Letta, Sauli Niinistö and Manuel Heitor as well as Nobel-prize winning economist Philippe Aghion, and as identified in the Commission’s very own “Competitiveness Compass”, this means empowering research and innovation to contribute to and shape industrial policy priorities, creating a dynamic between equal but complementary programmes. With this reformed tight connection, we are encouraging European companies to reap the rewards of European research excellence. Therefore, the implementation of Pillar II of Horizon Europe should not be subjected to the ECF Governance, but rather independent and expert-led, while it should structurally align with ECF by mirroring the policy window structure in order to create the pathways. The objective is straightforward: Europe must become better at converting innovation into scaling up and deployment, and research into real competitive advantage.

The next European budget must be better equipped to respond to changing circumstances, but competitiveness policy cannot become a permanent reserve for ad hoc reallocations. Industrial investments are long-term endeavours and must be treated as such. Infrastructure, industrial transformation, defence, space and digital capacity cannot be built on shifting priorities and uncertain signals. This is why the report promotes a balanced design that combines flexibility with a stable and credible investment framework. To this extent, it is essential to emphasize that the very creation of the ECF already increases the flexibility of the MFF. A bigger financial envelope means more financial firepower, easier reallocations in the annual budgetary procedure, and a simple way towards reacting to unforeseeable emerging challenges: legislative amendments to the ECF basic act. The need for budgetary flexibility does not equal a need for frictionless flexibility at the expense of our competitiveness ambitions.

Overall, the changes proposed aim to make the European Competitiveness Fund a credible and effective instrument to strengthen Europe’s industrial base, support innovation and deployment, and reduce structural disadvantages, in particular energy costs. The objective is clear: to create the conditions for long-term competitiveness, sustainable growth, and quality jobs, and to ensure that Europe can deliver on its industrial and technological ambitions.

Annex: declarations of input 10 blocks

DECLARATION OF INPUT FROM CHRISTIAN EHLER

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he included in his report input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the draft report, prior to the adoption thereof in committee, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:

Table from the text: 1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the
1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register
Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies
Eurocities
Orgalim
France Digitale
Cleantech for Europe
European Investment Bank
Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie
Transport & Environment
Sublime Systems
Latitude Five
Siemens
European Space Agency
BioMed Europe
Rolls Royce
Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales
Climate Strategy
Carbon Gap
EARTO
Confederation of Finnish Industries
Confindustria
Association of European Renewable Energy Research Centres
Tech for Net Zero
Deutscher Städtetag
Elia Group
European Association of Guarantee Institutions
European Association of Public Banks
European Association of Long-Term Investors
Network of European Financial Institutions for SMEs
EQT Group
European Policy Centre
WindEurope
EnergyCities
Deutsche Industrie- und Handelskammer
Climate Action Network Europe
Negative Emissions Platform
European Federation of Journalists
BusinessEurope
DeliveryHero
Shipyards’ & Maritime Equipment Association
Open Search Foundation
Deutsches Institut für Normung
CEN-CENELEC
Eurometaux
Cement Europe
Gesamtverband der Versicherer
Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe
European Defence Research and Innovation Network
Verband deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbauer
EIT RawMaterials
Autodesk
Sustainable Public Affairs
RECHARGE
Logos public affairs
Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions
KREAB
ICEYE
European Centre for the International Political Economy
ENNOH
Diehl Stiftung
Cefic
Vlaamse investeringsmaatschappij
Technology Industries of Finland
Aura Aero
Bundesverband öffentlicher Banken
Wirtschaftsrat der CDU
International Trademark Association
Eurospace
European Metals
MBDA
Hydrogen Europe
Vantage Towers
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
SIEMENS Healthineers
TenneT A
ZVEI
OHB
Evonik Operations
Österreichische Industriellenvereinigung
Die Papierindustrie e.V.
BDLI
Bayer
Robert Bosch GmbH
Schaeffler AG
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Bundesverband der Pharmazeutischen Industrie
BMW Group
Rheinmetall
Verband der Chemischen Industrie
Infineon
PlasticsEurope
Freie Universität Berlin
WWF
European Trade Union Confederation
ÖBB-Holding AG
Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine
Pour Demain
Eurogeographics
Planets for the Future ETP
Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies
Wirtschaftskammer Österreich
European Cancer Organisation
Edison
Euroseeds
VDI Technologiezentrum
EU-LIFE
Bertelsmann Stiftung
European DIGITAL SME Alliance
Coimbra Group
European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
Helmholtz
Culture Action Europe
International Association of Oil & Gas Producers
Artistic Research Alliance
IQM Quantum Computers
Fipra
European Transport Safety Council
European Association of the Rail Supply Industry
Vaeridion
European Waste Management Association
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt
Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership
Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung
European Association of Research and Technology Organizations
Eurogroup for Animals
Safran Group
Vaeridion
Ibec
InnoEnergy
Airbus
ASD-Eurospace
Leonardo
Ecolab
SMEeurope
AVL LIST GmbH
Sploro
SMEunited
International Association of Public Transport
EDF
Ariane Group
Eurochambres
PowerCo
ICLEI
EnergyCities
EuroCities
ACR Plus
Polis Network
Climate Alliance
Fedarene
CCRE CEMR
NRW.Bank
Union des Transports Publics et Ferroviaires
Civil Society Europe
European Sea Ports Organisation
European Association of Innovation Consultants
European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology
SNCF Groupe
EARTO
SaferAI
PEER
Ile de France Europe
Dutch Universities of Applied Science
ONERA
Eurelectric
Lithuanian Railways Group
Occitanie Europe
Verband für Schiffbau und Meerestechnik
Business & Science Poland
Confederación Española de Organizaciones Empresariales – CEOE
Confederação Empresarial de Portugal
Concordia
Danish Industries
Fédération des Entreprises de Belgique – Verbond van Belgische Ondernemingen – FEB-VBO
LEWIATAN
MEDEF
Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise – NHO
Hellenic Federation of Enterprises – SEV
Svenskt Näringsliv – Swedish Enterprise
Vereniging VNO-NCW
Cisco
Equinor
Hitachi
Michelin
Stellantis-CRF
Stora Enso
Volvo Group
ZF Group
DIGITALEUROPE
European Metals
FuelsEurope
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
Einstein Space Consulting
ZENIT GmbH
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies
Mission of Norway to the EU
UK Mission to the EU
Mission of Canada to the EU

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that he 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.

DECLARATION OF INPUT FROM DAN NICA

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he included in his report input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the draft report, prior to the adoption thereof in committee, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:

Table from the text: 1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the
1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register
Eurometaux/European Metals
Digital Europe
European DIGITAL SME Alliance
ASD-Eurospace
Avio S.P.A
Navantia
German Space Agency at DLR
Orgalim – Europe's Technology Industries
Confederazione Generale dell'Industria Italiana – Confindustria
EuropaBio
Eurelectric
HydrogenEurope
PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA
CementEurope
Cleantech for Europe
Iogp
Association européenne du cautionnement
Cassa Depositi e Prestiti s.p.a.
European Association of Long-Term Investors
European Association of Public Banks and Funding agencies AISBL
Rolls-Royce
BusinessEurope
CanEurope
German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Romanian Energy Center
ABIEC
HENRO
INTA
Aerospace, Security & Defence Industries Association of Europe
European Cancer Organisation
FEDERAȚIA PATRONALĂ A ENERGIEI
CIROM
PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA
Concordia Romania
ANIS
CarbonGap
IDDRI
European Federation of Journalists
German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe
European Plant Science Organisation, EPSO
CEFIC
LERU
InnoEnergy
SEA Europe
EFPIA - European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
Solidar Foundation
ERRIN
Michael Culture Association
Federația pentru Inovare și Competitivitate Sustenabilă în IMM-uri (FICSIMM)
IQM Quantum Computers
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft e.V.
Business & Science Poland
Volkswagen
Hitachi
The Guild
LERU
European Investment Bank
COIMBRA
Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres
BID Romania
Culture Action Europe
SolarPowerEurope
Michael Culture Association
Climate Strategy
European Transport Safety Council (ETSC
EDF
Brainport Eindhoven
Bellona
UTPF
Technip Energies
Biomedical Alliance in Europe
SopraSteria
WindEurope
BNS
Romchimica
EARTO
ECA
EESC
European Trade Union Confederation
2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies
None

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that he 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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Permalink
https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/ITRE-PR-784506
Data source
Licensed CC BY 4.0.
Retrieved
25 September 2026

Cite as

European Parliament (2026). “DRAFT REPORT 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, 20 April 2026. docId ITRE-PR-784506. EU Parl Watch Research. https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/ITRE-PR-784506 (retrieved 25 September 2026). Data: EP Open Data API: document record, https://data.europarl.europa.eu/api/v2/documents/ITRE-PR-784506 (CC BY 4.0).
BibTeX 
@misc{epw-text-itre-pr-784506,
  author = {{European Parliament}},
  title = {{DRAFT REPORT 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 = {2026-04-20},
  howpublished = {\url{https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/ITRE-PR-784506}},
  url = {https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/ITRE-PR-784506},
  urldate = {2026-09-25},
  publisher = {EU Parl Watch Research},
  note = {Text. docId ITRE-PR-784506. Data: EP Open Data API: document record (CC BY 4.0)}
}