The Warsaw Declaration, released during the informal meeting of research ministers held on 10 and 11 March 2025 under the Polish presidency of the Council, contains the recommendations for the negotiations of the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. Key points include the recognition of the long-standing importance of framework programmes as tools for fostering excellent science, technological development and innovation in the EU. The last two programmes also worked to expand transnational science and innovation cooperation within Europe and with like-minded countries.
The new FP10 should be designed so to provide long-term orientation to address the Union’s key challenges, secure a stable and predictable framework for the R&I community and strengthen the European Research Area. The Declaration recalls the pivotal role played by the European Research Council (ERC) and the European Innovation Council (EIC) and calls upon the Commission to preserve their independence and expand their role. EU research ministries also recall the provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, highlighting that the FP shall establish the scientific and technological objectives to be achieved, fix the maximum overall amount, and establish the detailed rules for Union financial participation.
The Declaration also underlines that the future FP should support excellent and impactful R&I in an open and fair competition. The request to the Commission is for an adequate budget matching the programme’s strategic role. In particular, none of the future programmes or instruments should be funded at the expense of the FP. Furthermore, funds should be allocated solely to research and innovation to maintain programme continuity and efficiency.