What’s going on in Europe: 7-20 July

This week: Coalition S, Ukraine support, university alliances and more

Horizon budget

EU member state governments are seeking a €166 million cut to the 2024 budget proposed for the EU’s €95.5 billion research and innovation programme Horizon Europe, including a €20m cut for the European Research Council. The European Commission proposed that the yearly budget for the 2021-27 programme should increase by 3.7 per cent to €12.8 billion. This would be below the current rate of inflation, but the Council of the EU member state governments said it was taking a “prudent approach” in seeking the cut. The Council has tried to cut the proposed Horizon Europe budget every year, but must negotiate with the European Parliament, which often takes an opposing stance.