Horizon Europe price tag raises eyebrows in Germany

German science groups have welcomed the €100-billion research funding proposal by the European Commission for 2021-27, but politicians are concerned about the financial burden.

In a joint statement on 2 May, Germany’s foreign minister Heiko Maas and finance minister Olaf Scholz described the Commission’s proposal as an important first step in negotiations. However they pointed out that it would “considerably increase the additional burden on Germany” with the UK out of the picture. Although Germany is “ready to take responsibility for strengthening the EU, this does require fair burden-sharing among member states”, the ministers said.

“Even with an EU budget of 1 per cent of gross national income, Germany would have to pay an average of up to €10bn a year more from 2021 onwards,” they said.