ERAC meets in Dublin to discuss preparations for FP10

The European Research Area and Innovation Committee (ERAC) met in Dublin on 12/13 October 2026 to discuss crucial processes regarding the preparations for the next Framework Programme 2028-2034.

The Council had reached a Partial General Approach (PGA) on the next Framework Programme, Horizon Europe 2028-2034, in June this year. Negotiations with the European Parliament are still to come, and decisions on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) are still pending. Nonetheless, the focus for the R&I policy community is already on the preparations for the start of the implementation of the next Research Framework Programme, in order to enable a timely start of the programme. The PGA foresees multiannual strategic planning to be carried out in collaboration between the European Commission and the Member States, and ERAC is due to play an important role in the early phase of this planning process.

At the ERAC meeting in Dublin, it was evident that ERAC is fully committed to taking on this role and task, as provided by the PGA. For a better understanding, see the indicative timeline attached below which illustrates the priority-setting process for the first phase of Horizon Europe 2028-2034, including the role of ERAC, the Commission, the (shadow) comitology as well the interface of Horizon Europe and the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF).

In this context, ERAC has decided to set up an Ad-hoc Task Force immediately, in order to prepare early strategic advice on the overall strategic research and innovation orientations and priorities for Horizon Europe, to serve as input to the European Commission for the preparation of a multiannual strategic document. The plan is to have a draft ERAC Opinion ready by early February 2027, to be discussed at the ERAC plenary on 16/17 February 2027 in Brussels, as well as to serve as preliminary input for the European Commission when it starts working on the multiannual strategic document. There is substantial commitment in ERAC to this ambitious endeavour. ERAC delegations emphasised the strategic nature of the document to be prepared, and the need to avoid going into detailed prescriptions. One focus of the Ad-hoc Task Force's work is supposed to be on the priorities of Pillar II of Horizon Europe, including the collaborative R&I activities funded by its ‘Competitiveness’ component which will also be included in a specific dedicated part of the ECF Work Programmes. In addition to this, the Task Force will also deliberate on the three other pillars of Horizon Europe, as well as on its interfaces and alignment with national R&I priorities.

Another important aspect of the future Framework Programme on which ERAC is invited to give advice is the preparation of the portfolio for European Partnerships. Following a discussion at the Partnership Knowledge Hub (PKH) in September, and on the basis of a paper by the European Commission, ERAC delegations provided their opinion on the current status of the preparations for the Partnership portfolio. While ERAC delegations unanimously endorsed the goal of a more selective, strategic and coherent Partnership portfolio, and while their assessment of the draft portfolio was predominantly positive, delegates were still critical of different parts of the draft, asked for more and clearer information on the scope of the different Partnerships, criticised the fact that some Partnerships have a narrow and some others a very broad focus, and generally asked the Commission for more comprehensible explanations regarding the selection process and decisions.

As next steps, the European Commission promised to share further information in early November. A meeting of the PKH is also envisaged for November. Furthermore the Commission proposed an exchange of ministers on Partnerships at the Council Meeting on 4 December 2026.

The Commission also provided an update on other important developments:

- The negotiations on the European Innovation Act and the Council Recommendation on Regulatory Sandboxes are ongoing at the Council Research Working Party. While an adoption of the Council Recommendation is envisaged for the Council meeting on 4 December 2026, the European Innovation Act will require considerably more time, and negotiations will probably continue throughout the year 2027.

- The ERA Act proposal is in its final phase of preparation and is expected to be presented by the beginning of December 2026.

- The preparation of the next ERA Policy Agenda, which under normal circumstances should have been initiated by ERAC by mid 2026, will be discussed by the ERA Forum in January 2027. The proposal for the ERA Act, which is expected to be available by then, will be taken into account, as it will be relevant because of its expected provisions on ERA governance as well as on several ERA priorities.