Members of the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee have endorsed a set of measures aimed at bolstering the EU’s scientific base under the Horizon Europe programme, the Parliament announced on Monday.
What Parliament is doing
The ITRE committee adopted recommendations that focus on three priorities: strengthening scientific excellence across the EU, empowering expert scientific advice, and improving the links between research and the EU’s competitiveness. The committee’s text outlines a desire to reinforce the quality and impact of EU-funded research, enhance mechanisms for independent scientific input into policy, and better connect research outcomes with industrial and competitive objectives.
The measures were agreed within ITRE, which handles research and innovation files in Parliament. The committee’s work forms part of Parliament’s input into the ongoing governance and implementation of Horizon Europe.
Why it matters
Horizon Europe is the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme. By prioritising scientific excellence, expert advice and stronger ties between research and competitiveness, the committee signals a focus on ensuring EU research not only advances knowledge but also supports policy-making and industrial performance. Strengthening expert advice could influence how research evidence is used across EU institutions, while tighter links to competitiveness aim to promote the translation of research into economic value.
What happens next
The committee’s recommendations will feed into Parliament’s broader position on the governance and priorities of Horizon Europe. Further steps typically include internal Parliament negotiations, potential plenary debate and vote, and engagement with the European Commission and member states as part of programme oversight and implementation discussions. The ITRE committee’s text represents Parliament’s stance as those processes continue.
Source: European Parliament press release
