Breakthrough EU budget deal a ‘triumph’

Flurry of deals on EU programmes supporting research and innovation follow budget agreement

Research, innovation and higher education leaders have expressed relief after politicians achieved a breakthrough on the EU’s €1 trillion 2021-27 budget in December, enabling them to pass legislation for the bloc’s programme for the period, including its R&D and academic exchange programmes, Horizon Europe and Erasmus+.

On 10 December, national leaders in the European Council compromised on objections from the Hungarian and Polish governments over links between disbursement of EU funds and respect for the rule of law, which were also threatening to delay the start of programmes on space, digitisation and defence R&D.