A self-standing FP10 and a strong territorial role confirmed in the next EU long-term budget
Just weeks ahead of the Commission’s proposal for the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered long-awaited clarity during the EU Annual Budget Conference on 20 May 2025:
Our framework programme Horizon Europe will stay as a self-standing programme. It is an outstanding brand – the most renowned research programme worldwide,” von der Leyen stated, putting to rest months of uncertainty.
This reassurance comes after months of uncertainty about the future of FP10, including several leaked versions of the budget drafts suggesting that it might be absorbed into the new Competitiveness Fund. ERRIN, alongside the wider EU R&I community, have worked tirelessly to ensure that the next FP10 builds on the successes of the of Horizon Europe, with a strong, inclusive and autonomous R&I funding post-2027. President von der Leyen's recognition of FP10’s strategic importance confirms that these efforts are being heard.
However, von der Leyen also announced that FP10 will be “tightly connected” to the Competitiveness Fund, but did not offer further details on how that would be implemented, still raising concerns about its independence, structure and political steering.
In parallel, President von der Leyen underlined the importance of cities and regions in the next EU budget. She stressed that the new structure will be based on national and regional partnerships, acknowledging that each territory brings unique insights and solutions:
[...]local authorities must be deeply involved in designing reforms and investments.[...] Every territory has a unique set of circumstances and knows best how to address them. So, we need to listen to our regions – instead of having a single recipe for all.
This aligns strongly with ERRIN’s long-standing advocacy for a place-based approach to R&I policy and funding. Yet, further work is needed to ensure robust support for connecting and strengthening territorial R&I ecosystems across the EU in the next long-term budget, unlocking the diverse potential of Europe’s regions and cities to lead the green and social transitions and contribute effectively to Europe’s competitiveness.
Based on insights gathered from the 120 regional ecosystems in our network, ERRIN has developed 10 key messages for how the EU can create the right conditions for R&I to thrive post-2027. We encourage all local and regional stakeholders to stay engaged and work with us to amplify these messages, ensuring that the territorial dimension is also fully integrated into the directly managed FP10 and Competitiveness Fund.