The debate on the shape of the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation – FP10 – is gaining momentum in 2026. The political calendar is moving quickly. In the European Parliament, draft reports on FP10 and on the new Competitiveness Fund are expected to be published during the spring, outlining Parliament’s position on these initiatives. At the same time, the Council of the EU is aiming to reach a so-called partial general approach on the proposal for FP10 by the end of June 2026 – that is, a political agreement among Member States on the main parameters of the programme.
Into this debate comes a new European publication, “Horizon Europe’s Legal, Financial & Administrative Rules – A Report on Their Practical Use”, prepared by the community of National Contact Points (NCPs) within the Horizon Academy project. The study is based on a large-scale survey among beneficiaries of the Horizon Europe programme and provides a systematic analysis of how the programme’s rules function in the day-to-day practice of project management.