Troubled EU budget talks spark fears of cuts and delays

Commission president raises prospect of Horizon Europe starting two years late

Fears of cuts and interruptions to EU research funding are growing after an unproductive meeting of national leaders led the European Commission president to raise the prospect of a major delay to the EU’s next R&D programme.

Discussion of the bloc’s overall 2021-27 budget at a meeting of the European Council on 18 October ended with the Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker announcing there had been “no new element, no guidance, nothing” from the leaders.