Horizon 2020

The EESC reflects in the opinion its view on a package of four Commission proposals: COM(2011) 809 final – 2011/0401 (COD), COM(2011) 810 final – 2011/0399 (COD), COM(2011) 811 final – 2011/0402 (COD) and COM(2011) 812 final – 2011/0400 (NLE).

Key points

The EESC welcomes and endorses the Commission's proposals and their integrated approach as key elements of the Europe 2020 strategy. It also commends the Commission's wish to give more emphasis to research and innovation. It notes that considerable progress has been made in the documents, also in line with its previous recommendations, but sees a need for additions, clarification and correction in some points.

In the Commission proposals (Framework Programme, rules for participation, Euratom Programme) where a regulation is now recommended as the legal form, a decision should be retained as the instrument, unless the Commission can provide a convincing justification for the change.

Potential inconsistencies should be identified between the objectives of a science-driven research policy and an innovation-friendly industrial and competition policy, and apt solutions found in each case.

Earlier EESC opinions on Research and development and Innovation

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