Competitiveness Fund

Background

The proposed European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) would be part of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) and seeks to streamline multiple EU programmes into an integrated instrument to respond to Europe’s economic and strategic challenges. It targets investment in critical technologies, infrastructure and industrial capacities, including dual-use and clean-tech sectors, while fostering cross-border collaboration and reducing dependencies in key areas such as raw materials, energy and water. The fund is designed to complement private investment, enhance synergies with other EU initiatives and support long-term resilience and security, including in border regions exposed to specific threats.

The EESC considers the ECF a timely and necessary tool for strengthening Europe’s resilience and economic and supply-chain security, and for reducing dependencies. It stresses the need for clear operational definitions, robust monitoring and alignment with social and environmental standards. The Committee also notes that successful implementation will require coordination between the Commission, Member States and stakeholders, including advisory and technical support, to ensure the fund effectively contributes to a competitive, innovative and resilient EU economy.

Key points

In its opinion, the EESC:

• supports the ECF as a cornerstone of the EU budget to drive innovation, resilience and security, stressing that funding must remain firmly aligned with sustainability and the EU’s social market economy;
• calls for merit-based, EU-wide project selection with clear criteria, transparent procedures, equal access for applicants in all Member States and active involvement of social partners and civil society in governance;
• proposes a ‘market referendum’, requiring projects seeking major EU top-ups to mobilise a share of private capital first, which would help validate project quality, reduce politicised funding decisions and strengthen the link between public support and real competitiveness;
• stresses the need for strong risk-assessment and prevention tools, to ensure that ECF resources are channelled only to projects that genuinely enhance Europe’s competitiveness and avoid repeating past shortcomings in EU funding programmes; and
• highlights the importance of supporting SMEs, regional and cross-border innovation ecosystems and investment in skills and decent work, while simplifying procedures and ensuring governance that is transparent, predictable and inclusive.

Read the opinion.

Additional information

Section: Single Market, Production and Consumption

Opinion number: INT/1101

Opinion type: Referral from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU

Rapporteur: Milena Angelova

Reference: (COM(2025) 555 final – 2025/0555 (COD))

Date of adoption by section: 14.11.2025

Result of the vote: 83 in favour / 2 against / 3 abstentions

Date of adoption in plenary: 3.12.2025

Result of the vote in plenary:

Contacts

Press officers: Flavia Badircea and Laura Lui

Tel.: +32 2 546 9189

Email: laurairena.lui@eesc.europa.eu

Administrator: Silvia Staffa

Tel.: +32 2 546 8378

Email: silvia.staffa@eesc.europa.eu