EP rapporteurs present draft report on the ECF

Co-Rapporteurs MEP Christian Ehler (DE/EVP) and MEP Dan Nica (RO/S&D) have published their Draft Report on the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF). The report is due to be presented at the ITRE Committee on 6/7 May 2026 and will be voted on in the EP plenary in autumn.

Amongst other issues, the report addresses the tight connection between the ECF and Horizon Europe, claiming that the implementation of Pillar II of Horizon Europe should not be subjected to the ECF Governance, but should be independent and expert-led, while it should structurally align with ECF by mirroring the policy window structure in order to create the pathways. The Draft Report also stresses the need for a clear differentiation in budget lines between space, defence and security, and Critical Raw Materials within the fourth policy window, thereby emphasising the importance of clearly identifiable budget lines for each of these fields. It also emphasises that competitiveness cannot be restored without a workforce capable of adapting to industrial transformation and technological change, thus calling for skills to be embedded across the policy windows rather than treated as a secondary objective.

For more information:

Science|Business provides a summary of the draft report and the reactions it has received so far in its article 'Parliament shares alternative vision for ECF link with Horizon Europe'.

EP ITRE Committee: Draft Report on the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF).