Press Horizon 2020: Europe must take competitiveness seriously. Maria Da Graça Carvalho MEP and Christian Ehler MEP (EPP)

The Industry and Research Committee of the European Parliament has called on the European Council to stand firm on competitiveness and take its previous commitments seriously. MEPs today adopted their position on the upcoming Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon 2020). "Last week's failed effort of the Heads of State and Government to agree on the EU budget 2014-2020 created a second chance for a convincingly innovation-based budget. Europe must not fall behind its international competitors", said EPP Group MEPs Maria Da Graça Carvalho and Christian Ehler who are European Parliament Rapporteurs for the specific implementing and participation rules for Horizon 2020.

"A reduction of the European budget for competitiveness as in the latest drafts by the Cypriot EU Presidency and Council President Van Rompuy equal an abandonment of the Europe 2020 Strategy. The goals of the Strategy will never be met if no substantial increase of the investments in research and innovation is made at this point of the economic crisis in Europe", they said.

"Advancements in science are equally crucial to the improvement of our quality of life, as they will cover areas such as good health, air and water quality. We cannot achieve these goals without a properly weighted budget that promotes the distinct advantages of research at European level", said Maria Da Graça Cavalho. "It would be a terrible sign to the international financial markets if the EU committed to spending 1000 billion Euros over the coming years while dedicating less than a 10th of this to sustainable economic growth", continued Christian Ehler.

The European Parliament and the European Council have to agree on the EU budget 2014-2020 including the programme on research and innovation. "To receive the consent of the European Parliament, Council will have to develop its current position substantially", they concluded.

In the image: Christian Ehler MEP, Pilar del Castillo MEP and Maria da Graça Carvalho MEP during the ITRE meeting today.