EU presidency proposes €2.6bn cut to Horizon Europe

Proposal, which has already attracted criticism, would also slash defence R&D fund in half

The Finnish presidency of the Council of the EU has suggested that national governments should seek to cut the proposed budget for the bloc’s 2021-27 R&D programme by €2.6 billion.

In a proposal it presented on 2 December, the presidency suggested a Horizon Europe budget of €84bn in 2018 prices. This contrasts with the European Commission’s suggested budget of €86.6bn, and with the European Parliament’s push for €120bn.