‘Ask us’ before setting up new funds, ministers tell Commission

The Council of Ministers wants to be consulted before the European Commission sets up any new research funding instruments, to avoid duplication. “The Council invites the Commission to consult the member states in a timely manner whenever the Commission considers new instruments,” the Council said. During a meeting on 14 November, member states also said that mergers between instruments could be considered to avoid overlap between schemes. These conclusions are expected to be adopted at a Competitiveness Council meeting on 5 and 6 December.