The next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation is currently referred to as "FP10". Although FP10 is not due to start until January 2028, discussions are in full swing on how the European funding for research and innovation should be shaped. Negotiations at European level are ongoing on the basis of the Commission's proposal published on 16 july 2025.

This infosheet provides an overview of the broader context, the timeline towards the next Framework Programme as well as an overview of position and discussion papers that have been published so far.

Broader context: Multi-Financial Framework (MFF) & European Competetiveness Fund (ECF)

The next EU framework programme for R&I is part of the Union's Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF), a seven-year framework regulating the EU's annual budgets. It is proposed by the Commission and, after negotiations with the Member States and European Parliament, the finalised MFF sets the maximum amounts fo spendings in the EU budget each year for broad policy areas. Mid-july 2025, the Commission unveiled its proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework, a €2 trillion budget designed to strengthen Europe's sovereignty, competitiveness, and resilience. 

Under the next MFF, the Commission proposed the new European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), powering the Union's competetiveness. With it, the EU aims to invest in strategic technologies to benefit the entire single market. The fund aims to simplify and accelerate EU funding and catalyse private and public investment. The Commission conceived the next EU programme for research & innovation in close connection with this new European Competitiveness Fund. Of the proposed budget of €175 billion for the next EU programme for R&I (from 2028 until 2034), the Commission envisages a €68 billion chunk covering collaborative research to be managed by the European Competitiveness Fund.

Timeline towards next EU framework for Research & Innovation

FP10: latest state of play

• On 2 June 2026, the webinar “Shaping FP10: State of Play & Preparation by the European Commission” was co-organised by a number of European associations. Pauline Rouch, Director of the Common Policy Centre & overseeing the implementation of FP10, presented the state of play from the perspective of the European Commission on Horizon Europe 2028-34. Rewatch the webinar here. 
• On 16 June 2026, Member States agreed on a partial negotiating position on the new European Competitiveness Fund (ECF). The Member States' position confirms the fund’s role as a central pillar of the next MFF, aiming to reduce fragmentation. It also confirms that the ECF's links with Horizon Europe and joint priority-setting remains a key issue to follow.
• On 26 June 2026, Member States agreed on a partial negotiating position on the next EU framework programme for R&I. The Member States' position is partial because budgetary and horizontal MFF issues are still handled in the broader MFF negotiations. Substantively, Member States want stronger involvement in priority-setting, clearer links with the ECF, more strategic European Partnerships, simplification, research-security safeguards and provisions on dual-use/defence-related innovation.
• Before negotiations between the co-legislators can start, the European Parliament is yet to adopt an agreed position (expected for October 2026). The Parliament’s emphasis is likely to be on autonomy, excellence, simplification and sufficient budget. Parliament’s earlier position supports a stand-alone FP10, a substantially higher budget, simplification, strengthened ERC/EIC autonomy and protection of fundamental and blue-sky research.

Reports commissioned by the EU institutions

- The European Council invited Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta to provide a report on the single market, which was published in April 2024. In his report, ‘Much More Than a Market', Letta outlined a “fifth freedom”: the freedom of knowledge, which would allow the free movement of researchers and research outputs in the single market.

- The European Commission tasked Mario Draghi, former European Central Bank President, to prepare a report of his personal vision on the future of European competitiveness. The Draghi report, published in September 2024, highlights the innovation gap between the EU and its main competitors. It presents a set of recommendations to make the EU more competitive on a global scale, incentivise breakthrough innovation, and improve commercialisation of R&I.

- The European Commission had tasked a High Level Expert Group, chaired by former Portuguese Minister for Research, Manuel Heitor, to provide advice on the future Framework Programme by November 2024. The High Level Expert Group's report sets out 12 specific recommendations to ensure the robustness and excellence of the programme, as well as its capacity to respond to current/future challenges Europe faces.

- In January 2025, the Commission published its policy paper 'Competitiveness Compass for the EU', outlining strategies for boosting the EU’s competitiveness, including a focused approach towards R&I.

- The  interim evaluation of Horizon Europe – which delivers valuable insights into the implementation of the current Framework Programme (Horizon Europe) – has been published on 30 April 2025.

- The Report on the assessment of the implementation of Horizon Europe adopted by the European Parliament in March 2025 suggests improvements for future EU research & innovation funding programmes. The report urges the Commission to ensure FP10 remains an independent Programme and insists on a budget of 220 billion euros for FP10, in line with the target of 3% of GDP spending on R&D. 

Position papers by the EU Member States

- Numerous Member States, Associated countries and stakeholder organisations already tabled position/discussion papers (put together in a handy overview by ERA Portal Austria).

- Flanders issued a position paper in September 2023: Flemish reflection paper on the tenth European Framework Programme for R&I. A Belgian reflection paper was issued in February 2025. 

- Member States and EEA countries together delivered their recommendations for FP 10 under the roof of ERAC, the European Research Area and Innovation Committee, in June 2024.

- The EU Research ministers call for independent FP10 in Warsaw Declaration on the strategic role of the future EU R&I framework programme

- ERA Portal Austria has developed an interactive diagram showing the different national positions on certain topics. The graphic representation it has created is based on an approximative assessment of the relevant text passages in the respective corresponding position papers.

Position papers by European associations & organisations

ERA Portal Austria provides a handy overview of the position papers on the next EU Framework Programme issued by numerous European associations and organisations. This overview includes, among others, position papers by Science Europe, EARTO (European Association of Research and Technology Organisations), several networks of universities such as The Guild, LERU and CESEAR, UAS4Europe (network of universities of applied sciences).

ERA LEARN, the support platform for the R&I partnership community, provides a handy overview of discussions on Partnerships in the FP10 negotiations. 

All the above activities form part of the preparatory work for the European Commission's legislative proposal for the 10th Framework Programme. The proposal has been published on 16 July 2025. Next step are the negotiations between the Member States, European Parliament and Commission, with a view to a final agreement and adoption before the end of 2027.