COM(2025) 759 Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION laying down the measures necessary for the implementation of Protocol No 37 on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty for the Functioning of the European Union

    Resolutsiooni liik: Riigikantselei resolutsioon Viide: Haridus- ja Teadusministeerium /  / ; Riigikantselei /  / 2-5/26-00068

Resolutsiooni teema: Söe- ja teraseühenduse fondi nõukogu otsused 

Adressaat: Haridus- ja Teadusministeerium Ülesanne: Tulenevalt Riigikogu kodu- ja töökorra seaduse § 152` lg 1 p 2 ning Vabariigi Valitsuse reglemendi § 3 lg 4 palun valmistada ette Vabariigi Valitsuse seisukohtade ja otsuste eelnõud järgmiste algatuste kohta, kaasates seejuures olulisi huvigruppe ja osapooli:

- Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION laying down the measures necessary for the implementation of Protocol No 37 on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty for the Functioning of the European Union,COM(2025)759

- Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the adoption of the Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, on the multiannual technical guidelines for this programme, on the multiannual financial guidelines for managing the assets of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, and repealing Decisions 2003/77/EC and 2008/376/EC,COM(2025)760

EISi toimiku nr: 26-0009 Tähtaeg: 23.01.2026

Adressaat: Kliimaministeerium, Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium, Rahandusministeerium Ülesanne: Palun esitada oma sisend Haridus- ja Teadusministeeriumile seisukohtade kujundamiseks antud eelnõude kohta (eelnõude infosüsteemi (EIS) kaudu). Tähtaeg: 19.01.2026

Lisainfo: Eelnõusid on kavas arutada valitsuse 05.02.2026 istungil ja Vabariigi Valitsuse reglemendi § 6 lg 6 kohaselt sellele eelneval nädalal (28.01.2026) EL koordinatsioonikogus. Esialgsed materjalid EL koordinatsioonikoguks palume esitada hiljemalt 23.01.2026. 

Kinnitaja: Merli Vahar, Euroopa Liidu asjade direktori asetäitja Kinnitamise kuupäev: 13.01.2026 Resolutsiooni koostaja: Sandra Metste [email protected],  

.

EN EN

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 10.12.2025

COM(2025) 759 final

2025/0390 (APP)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

laying down the measures necessary for the implementation of Protocol No 37 on the

financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for

Coal and Steel, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty for the

Functioning of the European Union

{SWD(2025) 407 final} - {SWD(2025) 408 final}

EN 1 EN

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

• Reasons for and objectives of the proposal

The purpose of this proposal is to amend the existing legislation of the Research Fund for

Coal and Steel, referred to as ‘RFCS’. This Council decision intends to replace and repeal the

provisions of Council Decision 2003/76/EC1 that was amended by Council Decision

2018/5992 and Council Decision 2021/12083. It will establish the measures necessary for the

implementation of the Protocol No 374, annexed to the Treaty of the European Union and the

Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The proposal takes into account the

observations from the ex-ante evaluation that accompanies this proposal, as well as the advice

of the Coal and Steel Advisory Groups and of the Member States represented in the Coal and

Steel Committee.

The proposal aims to simplify and accelerate investments under the RFCS, including by

increasing its attractiveness and continuing to use the part of the European Coal and Steel

Community (ECSC) in liquidation and, on completion of the liquidation, the assets of the

Research Fund for Coal and Steel (the “assets”), for funding two biannual calls for reaserch

and innovation projects from 2027 until 2030 to enhance impact.

To achieve this, a reform of the RFCS is necessary as the provisions outlined in the amending

Council Decision 2021/1208, which allows the use of part of the assets for dedicated calls,

will expire at the end of 2027.

• Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area

The proposal is part of a legal package revising the RFCS and its Research Programme. It will

be divided into two new proposals for Council Decisions: one establishing the measures

necessary for the implementation of the Protocol No 37, and one laying down the multiannual

financial and technical guidelines for managing the assets.

• Consistency with other Union policies

The EU Competitiveness Compass5, presented by the Commission in January 2025, sets out a

new roadmap of measures for the next years to boost Europe’s dynamism and economic

growth with industrial competitiveness and decarbonisation amongst the transformational

imperatives as identified in the Draghi report. Together with the need to close the innovation

1 Council Decision 2003/76/EC of 1 February 2003 establishing the measures necessary for the

implementation of the Protocol, annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the

financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel

(OJ L 29, 5.2.2003, p. 22, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2003/76(1)/oj). 2 Council Decision (EU) 2018/599 of 16 April 2018 amending Decision 2003/76/EC establishing the

measures necessary for the implementation of the Protocol, annexed to the Treaty establishing the

European Community, on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the

Research Fund for Coal and Steel (OJ L 101, 20.4.2018, p. 1,

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2018/599/oj) 3 Council Decision (EU) 2021/1208 of 19 July 2021 amending Decision 2003/76/EC establishing the

measures necessary for the implementation of the Protocol, annexed to the Treaty establishing the

European Community, on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the

Research Fund for Coal and Steel (OJ L 261, 22.7.2021, p. 54,

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/1208/oj) 4 Protocol (No 37) on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research

Fund for Coal and Steel (OJ C 115, 9.5.2008, p. 327–328). 5 COM(2025) 30 final

EN 2 EN

gap and reducing excessive dependencies and increasing security, decarbonisation is seen as a

powerful driver of growth, which needs to be integrated with industrial, competition,

economic and trade policies.

On 26 February 2025, the Commission followed up by presenting a joint roadmap for

decarbonisation and competitiveness with its Clean Industrial Deal6. It aims at transitioning

Europe to a decarbonised economy by 2050 and providing a framework supporting European

industry with a stronger business case for climate neutral investments in energy-intensive

industries, circularity and clean tech. The Clean Industrial Deal sets out concrete measures for

this purpose and mentions steel among industrial products for which demand can be shaped

significantly through private procurement. It also makes references to the implementation of

the 2024 Net Zero Industry Act7, which aims at reinforcing manufacturing capacity of net

zero technologies in Europe, and the European Green Deal8, which committed to support

clean steel breakthrough technologies leading to a zero-carbon steel making process by 2030.

It was also accompanied by an Action Plan for Affordable Energy9 to strengthen the Energy

Union and proposing actions to secure affordable, efficient and clean energy for all

Europeans.

Additionally, the European Steel and Metals Action Plan10, published by the European

Commission on 19 March 2025, aims at supporting a sustainable and competitive steel

production for the European Union. As part of its focus on de-risking decarbonisation projects

through lead markets and public support, the plan highlights the role of the RFCS to provide

important funding for the steel sector at the innovation stage to support the transition to clean

steel. It further announced already an ‘overall reform of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel,

to simplify and accelerate investments in steel research, including research on defence

applications’.

Finally, the Methane Regulation11, adopted in 2024, aims at reducing methane emissions in

the energy sector, and introduces requirements for reporting and mitigating methane

emissions from coal mines.

The Competitiveness Compass highlighted the need for measures on decarbonisation, to be

further complemented by action on horizontal enablers, such as by simplifying the regulatory

environment, reducing burden and favouring speed and flexibility. This also links to the wider

discussion on simplifying the complex landscape of Union funding programmes to make

Union funding more effective and impactful. In the context of the Commission’s proposal of

16 July 2025 for an ambitious and dynamic Multiannual Financial Framework, emphasis is

placed on providing for more flexibility, for simpler, more streamlined and harmonised

financial programmes, and for a competitiveness boost.

The recent policy developments outlined above are consistent with the RFCS Research

Programme objectives of supporting the coal and steel sectors in their transition. It is

6 COM(2025) 85 7 Regulation (EU) 2024/1735 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on

establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology manufacturing

ecosystem and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724, OJ L, 2024/1735,

28.6.2024).ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1735/oj 8 COM(2019) 640 final 9 COM/2025/79 final 10 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European

Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘A European Steel and Metals

Action Plan’, COM(2025) 125 final 11 Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on the

reduction of methane emissions in the energy sector and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/942 (OJ L,

2024/1787, 15.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1787/oj).

EN 3 EN

necessary to ensure that the RFCS Research Programme is adapted accordingly, and that it

allows the necessary investments to accelerate the decarbonisation for both sectors.

2. LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

• Legal basis

The legal basis is Article 2, paragraph 1, of Protocol No 37 on the financial consequences of

the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, annexed to the

Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

• Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)

The proposed changes to the RFCS can only be made at EU level, through the revision of the

existing legislation.

• Proportionality

The proposal is necessary for establishing the measures necessary for the implementation of

the Protocol No 37.

• Choice of the instrument

Having regard to the first paragraph of Article 2 of the Protocol No 37, this Council Decision

is to be adopted, in accordance with a special legislative procedure, by the Council acting by

qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission and with the consent of the European

Parliament.

3. RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER

CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

• Ex-post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation

The proposal is based on results of the ex-ante evaluation, which carries out a monitoring

exercise of the RFCS Research Programme for the period 2021-2024 and reports from the

Technical Groups for the years 2022 and 2023.

• Stakeholder consultations

The RFCS stakeholders have been involved in several ad-hoc meetings, specific Advisory

Group meetings (of the Coal Advisory Group and Steel Advisory Group), such as in the joint

meetings on 19 September 2025 and 12 May 2025, and the Coal and Steel Committee

(COSCO), last on 23 September 2025. A dedicated, public consultation event was also

carrried out on 19 June 2025.

• Collection and use of expertise

The monitoring of RFCS Research Programme programming period 2021-2024 in the ex-ante

evaluation, carried out in cooperation with the Research Executive Agency, together with

consultations of stakeholders, provided the necessary expertise.

• Impact assessment

An impact assessment is not necessary for the proposed revision.

This Council Decision concerns an amendment to an already existing legislation based on the

Protocol No 37 and only leads to a small impact. In such cases, the Better Regulation

EN 4 EN

toolbox12 clarifies that no impact assessment is required. Moreover, the European Steel and

Metals Action Plan of 19 March 2025 announced a proposal for a reform of the RFCS for the

same year and already determined, based on the analysis conducted for the Action Plan, the

main policy orientation of the reform: “to simplify and further accelerate investments in steel

research, including research on defence applications.” However, the proposed revision is still

supported by the analysis of an ex-ante evaluation, as required by the Article 34 of the

Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.

• Regulatory fitness and simplification

The proposal is based on the results of the ex-ante analysis exercise that accompanies the

proposal. This includes considerations of how to simplify and accelerate the support offered

by the RFCS Research Programme, including ways to increase flexibility and predictability

for potential applicants.

• Fundamental rights

The proposal is in line with the protection of fundamental rights.

4. BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS

The proposal does not create any new liabilities to be charged to the General Budget under the

current MFF.

5. OTHER ELEMENTS

• Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements

A monitoring and assessment of the implementation of the RFCS Research Programme will

be carried out at the end of 2027.

• Explanatory documents (for directives)

Not applicable.

• Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal

This Council Decision will establish the measures necessary for the implementation of the

Protocol No 37.

This Council Decision will establish the measures necessary to use the remaining non-

allocated assets of the ECSC in liquidation, estimated currently at EUR 647 million at the end

of 202613 plus any remaining uncommitted funds from previous RFCS Research Programme

calls, through four annual calls for research and innovation projects foreseen in biannual work

programmes for 2027-2028 and 2029-2030. This decision extends the financial envelope of

the Research Programme to EUR 200 million per year to accelerate R&I investment in sectors

concerned and extend the range of actors involved. The increased budget allows also for an

upward alignment of the funding rates with the EU research funding programmes, through the

parallel Council Decision establishing multiannual financial and technical guidelines allowing

for greater participation of public and academic entities. This will better support industrial

research investment and outputs.

The distribution of funding between coal-related and steel-related research foreseen in Article

4(2) of Council Decision 2003/76/EC will continue to be used by the Commission in the

12 See Tool #7 of the European Commission’s Better Regulation toolbox. 13 Estimation based on a market value as of 31 August 2025.

EN 5 EN

implementation of the RFCS Research Programme. It can nonetheless be altered in the last

year of implementation of the work programme, if necessary to enable the full use of the

assets.

EN 6 EN

2025/0390 (APP)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

laying down the measures necessary for the implementation of Protocol No 37 on the

financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for

Coal and Steel, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty for the

Functioning of the European Union

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to Protocol No 37 on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC

Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, annexed to the Treaty on European

Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular

Article 2, first paragraph, thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament1,

Acting in accordance with a special legislative procedure,

Whereas:

(1) The Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community expired on 23 July

2002 in accordance with Article 97 of that Treaty. All assets and liabilities of the

European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) were transferred to the European

Community on 24 July 2002.

(2) In accordance with Protocol No 37 on the financial consequences of the expiry of the

ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, annexed to the Treaty on

European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘the

Protocol’), the net worth of the assets and liabilities, as they appear in the balance

sheet of the ECSC, is to be considered as assets intended for research in the sectors

related to the coal and steel industry (‘the assets’), referred to as the ‘ECSC in

liquidation’, and, on completion of the liquidation, as the ‘assets of the Research Fund

for Coal and Steel’.

(3) The Protocol also provides that the revenue from those assets, referred to as the

‘Research Fund for Coal and Steel’ Steel’ (RFCS), is to be used exclusively for

research, outside the research framework programme, in the sectors related to the coal

and steel industry in accordance with the provisions of the Protocol and of acts

adopted on the basis thereof.

(4) On 1 February 2003 the Council adopted Decision 2003/76/EC2, which laid down the

rules for implementing the Protocol.

1 OJ C , , p. . 2 Council Decision 2003/76/EC of 1 February 2003 establishing the measures necessary for the

implementation of the Protocol, annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the

EN 7 EN

(5) Already for some years due to the low interest rates, the value of the produced

revenues assigned for the funding of research projects for coal and steel is rapidly

decreasing and the assets are not generating enough revenues to fund the current

annual RFCS allocation of EUR 111 million to calls, established by Decision

2003/76/EC. In consequence, in 2024 and in 2025 calls were entirely financed by the

sale of assets, given that there were losses for 2022 and 2023. For 2026, and possibly

subsequent years, the realised profit will cover a part of the annual allocation, but it is

not expected to be sufficient to allow for a meaningful work programme.

(6) As part of its efforts to strengthen the competitiveness of the Union steel sector and

safeguard the industry's future, the Commission committed in the European Steel and

Metals Action Plan, published on 19 March 20253, to simplify and further accelerate

investments in steel research.

(7) The energy transition away from fossil energy sources, especially coal, currently

represents a challenge, also with regard to the need to ensure a just transition, notably

for industries and workers in coal dependent regions. Further challenges include

mitigating methane emissions from coal mines and contributing to the implementation

of Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 of the European Parliament and of the Council4.

(8) From August 2027 onwards, it is expected that the ECSC in liquidation will have no

liabilities nor receivables, meaning the completion of the liquidation.

(9) The sale of part of the ECSC in liquidation and, on completion of the liquidation, the

assets of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel to finance research projects in the coal

and steel sectors is possible in view of the absence of liabilities of the Fund.

(10) In light of the combined financial changes and policy considerations, the size of the

Research Programme should be set in such a way to ensure that the assets of the Fund

can be used and correctly implemented in accordance with the objectives of the

Protocol and the principles of sound financial management. The need to ensure a

critical mass for the size of the Research Programme cannot be achieved by using only

revenues or a limited part of the remaining assets of the Fund. The amounts needed for

the Research Programme will require the use of all the assets of the RFCS. Therefore,

it should be possible to use the remaining assets of the RFCS to provide meaningful

support for worthwhile collaborative research projects that have the critical mass to

create Union added value, specifically in the sectors of coal and steel outside the

framework programme for research of the Union.

(11) The Clean Industrial Deal Communication5 and the European Steel and Metals Action

Plan support the business case for large investments to happen in the Union in the

coming years, including for the steel industry. Following this political incentive, the

Research Fund for Coal and Steel should contribute to a rapid transition by financing

the part of necessary large research efforts.

financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel

(OJ L 29, 5.2.2003, p. 22, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2003/76(1)/oj). 3 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European

Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘A European Steel and Metals

Action Plan’, COM(2025) 125 final. 4 Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on the

reduction of methane emissions in the energy sector and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/942 (OJ L,

2024/1787, 15.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1787/oj). 5 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European

Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘The Clean Industrial Deal: A joint

roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation’, COM(2025) 85 final.

EN 8 EN

(12) Calls in 2027, 2028 and 2029 of EUR 200 million annually, and in 2030 of an amount

equivalent to the available remaining unallocated assets are expected to leverage

private investment to enhance competitiveness and accelerate industrial transformation

of the coal and steel sectors towards green transition and decarbonisation. Appropriate

annual allocations should therefore be established to enable such calls.

(13) In order to fully assign the net revenue from the investments and to facilitate the

increase of the allocation for 2027 from EUR 111 million to EUR 200 million, it is

appropriate to shorten the delay in allocating it, by making the allocation in year n+1

covered by the balance sheet of the assets for year n for closed balance sheets for the

years 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029, while maintaining the annual allocations already

established by Decision 2003/76/EC.

(14) The current repartition of budget allocations between coal and steel research, of 27.2%

and 72.8% respectively, is supported by both sectors and remains appropriate

considering their respective needs and absorption capacities.

(15) In order to be able to adapt to the possible research funding needs of the coal or steel

sector in case of insufficient absorption of the other sector, the power to adopt acts in

accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union

should be delegated to the Commission to amend this Decision to change the

percentage of funding allocated to coal-related research and to steel-related research in

2030, if necessary, to enable the full use of the assets. It is of particular importance

that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work,

including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with

the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better

Law-Making6. In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of

delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council shall receive all documents at

the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts shall systematically have

access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of

delegated acts.

(16) Decision 2003/76/EC should therefore be replaced. However, until the liquidation of

the ECSC is completed, it is appropriate to maintain the application of Article 1 of that

Decision until the completion of the the financial operations of the ECSC in

liquidation.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Commission is entrusted with laying down the measures necessary for implementing

Protocol No 37 on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the

Research Fund for Coal and Steel, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty

on the Functioning of the European Union.

The Commission is entrusted with managing the financial operations of the ECSC in

liquidation and, on completion of the liquidation, of the assets of the Research Fund for Coal

and Steel(‘the assets’).

6 OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_interinstit/2016/512/oj.

EN 9 EN

Article 2

1. The Commission shall manage the assets in such a manner as to keep an annual allocation

of EUR 200 million for the years 2027, 2028 and 2029 to finance research in the sectors

related to the coal and steel industry. Remaining unallocated assets shall be part of an

allocation for the year 2030 equal to the market value of these assets at the moment of the

transfer to the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, taking into account the market conditions.

This allocation shall be used to finance research in the sectors related to the coal and steel

industry in this and the following years.

2. Research activities shall focus on technologies leading to near-zero-carbon steelmaking and

research projects for managing the just transition of formerly operating coal mines or coal

mines in the process of closure and related infrastructure, including the regions in which they

are located, in accordance with related infrastructure, including the regions in which they are

located, in accordance with Regulations (EU) 2021/5237, (EU) 2021/10568 and (EU)

2021/12299 of the European Parliament and of the Council and in compliance with Article

4(2) of this Decision.

3. The annual allocation of the amount set out in paragraph 1 shall be constituted of the net

revenue from the investments, and the cash amount to be generated by selling part of the

assets.

Article 3

1. Each year a profit-and-loss account, balance sheet and financial report shall be drawn up to

show, separately from the other financial operations of the Union, the investment transactions

and asset management operations under Article 2.

Those financial statements shall be annexed to the financial statements drawn up by the

Commission annually under Article 318 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European

Union (TFEU) and Article 247 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.

2. The powers of the European Parliament, the Council and the Court of Auditors concerning

control and discharge as set out in the TFEU and in Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509

shall apply to the transactions and operations referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

Article 4

1. Net revenue from the investments provided for under Article 2 and the cash amounts to be

generated by selling part of the assets shall constitute revenue in the general budget of the

Union. Those revenue and cash amounts shall be earmarked for the specific purpose of

financing research projects in the sectors related to the coal and steel industry not covered by

the Research Framework Programmes. It shall form the Research Fund for Coal and Steel and

shall be managed by the Commission.

7 Regulation (EU) 2021/523 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 March 2021

establishing the InvestEU Programme and amending Regulation (EU) 2015/1017 (OJ L 107, 26.3.2021,

p. 30, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/523/oj). 8 Regulation (EU) 2021/1056 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 establishing

the Just Transition Fund, (OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 1 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1056/oj). 9 Regulation (EU) 2021/1229 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 July 2021 on the

public sector loan facility under the Just Transition Mechanism, (OJ L 274, 30.7.2021, p. 1, ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1229/oj).

EN 10 EN

2. The revenue and cash amounts referred to in paragraph 1 shall be distributed in work

programmes, with 27,2% allocated to coal-related research and 72,8% allocated to steel-

related research.

The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 7

amending this Decision to change the percentage of funding allocated to coal-related research

and to steel-related research laid down in the first subparagraph in 2030 where necessary to

enable full use of the assets.

3. The revenue and cash amounts earmarked under paragraph 1 and still available on 31

December in any given year, as well as amounts recovered, shall be carried over

automatically to the following year.

4. Budgetary appropriations corresponding to cancellations of commitments shall

automatically lapse at the end of each financial year. Provisions for commitments released as

a result of the cancellations shall be made available to the Research Fund for Coal and Steel.

Article 5

The revenue and cash amounts available to finance research projects for year n+1 shall be

recorded in the balance sheet of the ECSC in liquidation of year n and, on completion of the

liquidation, in the balance sheet of the assets of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel of year

n, until the allocation of the remaining assets in 2029 for 2030.

Article 6

Administrative expenditure resulting from liquidation, investment and management

operations referred to in this Decision, shall be met by the Commission from the general

budget of the Union.

Article 7

1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions

laid down in this Article.

2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 4(2), second subparagraph, shall be

conferred on the Commission for a period of four years from the date of entry into force of

this Decision.

3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 4(2), second subparagraph, may be revoked

at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an

end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day

following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a

later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in

force.

4. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each

Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement

of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.

5. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the

European Parliament and to the Council.

6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 4(2), second subparagraph, shall enter into

force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the

Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament

and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the

EN 11 EN

Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be

extended by one month at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

Article 8

Decision 2003/76/EC is repealed.

However, Article 1 of Decision 2003/76/EC shall continue to apply to the financial operations

of the ECSC in liquidation until the completion of the liquidation of the ECSC in liquidation.

Article 9

This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in

the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

EN 1 EN

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL AND DIGITAL STATEMENT

1. FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE ................................................. 3

1.1. Title of the proposal/initiative ...................................................................................... 3

1.2. Policy area(s) concerned .............................................................................................. 3

1.3. Objective(s) .................................................................................................................. 3

1.3.1. General objective(s) ..................................................................................................... 3

1.3.2. Specific objective(s) ..................................................................................................... 3

1.3.3. Expected result(s) and impact ...................................................................................... 3

1.3.4. Indicators of performance ............................................................................................ 3

1.4. The proposal/initiative relates to: ................................................................................. 4

1.5. Grounds for the proposal/initiative .............................................................................. 4

1.5.1. Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term including a detailed timeline for

roll-out of the implementation of the initiative ............................................................ 4

1.5.2. Added value of EU involvement (it may result from different factors, e.g.

coordination gains, legal certainty, greater effectiveness or complementarities). For

the purposes of this section 'added value of EU involvement' is the value resulting

from EU action, that is additional to the value that would have been otherwise

created by Member States alone. ................................................................................. 4

1.5.3. Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past .................................................. 4

1.5.4. Compatibility with the multiannual financial framework and possible synergies with

other appropriate instruments ....................................................................................... 5

1.5.5. Assessment of the different available financing options, including scope for

redeployment ................................................................................................................ 5

1.6. Duration of the proposal/initiative and of its financial impact .................................... 6

1.7. Method(s) of budget implementation planned ............................................................. 6

2. MANAGEMENT MEASURES................................................................................... 8

2.1. Monitoring and reporting rules .................................................................................... 8

2.2. Management and control system(s) ............................................................................. 8

2.2.1. Justification of the budget implementation method(s), the funding implementation

mechanism(s), the payment modalities and the control strategy proposed .................. 8

2.2.2. Information concerning the risks identified and the internal control system(s) set up

to mitigate them............................................................................................................ 8

2.2.3. Estimation and justification of the cost-effectiveness of the controls (ratio between

the control costs and the value of the related funds managed), and assessment of the

expected levels of risk of error (at payment & at closure) ........................................... 8

2.3. Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities ................................................................ 9

3. ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE ............ 10

3.1. Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s)

affected ....................................................................................................................... 10

EN 2 EN

3.2. Estimated financial impact of the proposal on appropriations ................................... 12

3.2.1. Summary of estimated impact on operational appropriations.................................... 12

3.2.1.1. Appropriations from voted budget ............................................................................. 12

3.2.1.2. Appropriations from external assigned revenues ....................................................... 17

3.2.2. Estimated output funded from operational appropriations......................................... 22

3.2.3. Summary of estimated impact on administrative appropriations ............................... 24

3.2.3.1. Appropriations from voted budget .............................................................................. 24

3.2.3.2. Appropriations from external assigned revenues ....................................................... 24

3.2.3.3. Total appropriations ................................................................................................... 24

3.2.4. Estimated requirements of human resources.............................................................. 25

3.2.4.1. Financed from voted budget....................................................................................... 25

3.2.4.2. Financed from external assigned revenues ................................................................ 26

3.2.4.3. Total requirements of human resources ..................................................................... 26

3.2.5. Overview of estimated impact on digital technology-related investments ................ 28

3.2.6. Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework.............................. 28

3.2.7. Third-party contributions ........................................................................................... 28

3.3. Estimated impact on revenue ..................................................................................... 29

4. DIGITAL DIMENSIONS .......................................................................................... 29

4.1. Requirements of digital relevance .............................................................................. 30

4.2. Data ............................................................................................................................ 30

4.3. Digital solutions ......................................................................................................... 31

4.4. Interoperability assessment ........................................................................................ 31

4.5. Measures to support digital implementation .............................................................. 32

EN 3 EN

1. FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

1.1. Title of the proposal/initiative

Proposal for a Council Decision laying down the measures necessary for the

implementation of Protocol No 37 on the financial consequences of the expiry of the

ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, annexed to the Treaty on

European Union and to the Treaty for the Functioning of the European Union and

repealing Decision 2003/76/EC

1.2. Policy area(s) concerned

Research and Innovation

1.3. Objective(s)

1.3.1. General objective(s)

The Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) is a EU funding programme

supporting research projects in the coal and steel. It co-finances through grants

research and innovation projects in the areas of coal and steel.

In the current legal base, the fund supports projects at universities, research centres,

and private companies. Research activities of the RFCS shall focus on technologies

leading to near-zero-carbon steelmaking and research projects for managing the just

transition of formerly operating coal mines or coal mines in the process of closure

and related infrastructure.

Objectives of the reform

The proposed reform aims to simplify and improve the RFCS functioning, making it

more accessible and attractive to industry, including for SMEs, research centers and

academia. Revised call conditions will help reduce investment risks for industry. The

joint decarbonisation and competitiveness objectives set out in the Competitiveness

Compass and the Clean Industrial Deal (together with the specific targeted sectoral

implementation outlined in the Steel and Metals Action Plan), as well as other

relevant support initiatives targeting the transition of coal and steel sectors, can only

be achieved if private capital is supported by a coherent and coordinated framework

of public funding.

1.3.2. Specific objective(s)

Under the proposed reform of the RFCS, the Research Programme has the objective

to support collaborative research in the coal and steel sectors, including research on

dual use aspects. The Research Programme shall also provide support for clean steel

breakthrough technologies, contributing to the objectives of climate neutrality in

Europe, and reinforcing EU strategic autonomy across the steel value chain. In

addition, the Research Programme shall provide support for research projects for

managing the just transition of formerly operating coal mines or coal mines in the

process of closure and related infrastructure and the regions in which they are

located. The Research Programme also aims at promoting the valorisation of

research outcomes to enhance their market relevance and support their potential for

scalable deployment. The Research Programme aims to be consistent with the

political, scientific, and technological objectives of the Union, and shall complement

the activities carried out in the Member States.

EN 4 EN

1.3.3. Expected result(s) and impact

The expected impacts of the reform are the following:

- The increase of the annual assignments would allow for more ambitious research

projects, which could help reaching climate targets by 2050 while maintaining

competitiveness.

- The reform would also allow to implement the revised funding rates that would

address stakeholders’ recommendations, namely that of private companies,

universities and research centres, and contribute to attract more investments and a

wider participation to the RFCS programme.

- The streamlining of research objectives, more adapted to current realities faced by

the steel and coal sectors, would help to maximise the impact of the programme. The

proposed reform also introduces a requirement to conduct deployment and

commercialisation activities in Europe, to ensure the best impact of research and

innovation projects for EU competitiveness.

1.3.4. Indicators of performance

The implementation of the RFCS programme is currently monitored by the European

Research Executive Agency (REA), which is responsible for executing the

programme, in collaboration with the Commission’s Directorate-General for

Research & Innovation (DG RTD), and reporting to the Commission on its

implementation status. Without prejudging the upcoming Cost-Benefit-Analysis for

the delegation of implementation tasks to Executive Agencies, under the future MFF,

DG RTD envisages to delegate this task to an Executive Agency. This work will

require regular coordination meetings and annual reporting, which provides

structured feedback on how funded projects contribute to broader EU policy

objectives. Reporting will also inform about the attractiveness of the programme, by

providing data on the evolution of number of proposals. Regular discussion with the

advisory committee and the Coal and Steel Committee (COSCO) will also help to

assess how the RFCS reform is addressing R&I needs, and recommendations made

by stakeholders.

The technical progress of specific project portfolios under the RFCS will also

continue to be monitored by the Coal and Steel Technical Groups (‘the Technical

Groups’ or TGs), comprising one group for coal and five for steel. These groups are

composed of recognised high-level experts with substantial experience in their

respective sub-sectors. Information about the Technical Groups – including their

membership, meeting agendas, and other details – is made publicly available in the

Register of Commission Expert Groups. Management of the TGs is currently

entrusted to REA, as established in the Memorandum of Understanding between

REA and DG RTD.

The Technical Groups provide a comprehensive overview of technological

developments within their specific domains. This assessment is based on information

collected from RFCS-funded projects, primarily through dedicated annual meetings

between the Technical Groups and project coordinators, currently organised by REA.

Additionally, the Technical Groups are expected to produce the necessary content for

REA to provide the annual reports offering a broader portfolio analysis that also

considers developments in related areas and parallel European programmes. This

EN 5 EN

ensures a more integrated understanding of progress and impact across the

innovation ecosystem.

1.4. The proposal/initiative relates to:

 a new action

 a new action following a pilot project / preparatory action23

☒ the extension of an existing action

☒ a merger or redirection of one or more actions towards another/a new action

1.5. Grounds for the proposal/initiative

1.5.1. Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term including a detailed timeline for

roll-out of the implementation of the initiative

The challenges that the coal and steel sectors are facing and the political

prioritisation to jointly support decarbonisation and competitiveness, combined with

the challenges of the financial regime of the RFCS, the limited effectiveness of the

2021 reform and the recent feedback from stakeholders point to the need to revise the

legal base of the RFCS in order to enhance its attractiveness and maximise its

impact.

Not only the call conditions require a revision, especially in term of funding rates,

but also a further selling of the fund’s assets is necessary in order to continue

providing adequate R&I support during the difficult transition phase to

decarbonisation. RFCS is an industry-oriented programme that has supported

research, development and innovation activities among the two communities of coal

and steel since 2003. It is important that the fund is also continuing to support the

industry now and in the short term to guarantee a rapid transition.

Thus, halting the current regime of using part of the ECSC assets in liquidation to

fund the programme (set to expire at the end of 2027) is unsustainable and will not

allow for a meaningful programme if only funded by revenues and not assets.

In this regard, there is a timely opportunity to revise the legal base of the programme

and strengthen the role of research and innovation in effectively supporting the coal

and steel sectors during their transition. The current call conditions, research

objectives, and available budget are not leveraging enough R&I investment from the

industry and do not offer attractive call conditions for the academia nor for the

industry.

1.5.2. Added value of EU involvement (it may result from different factors, e.g.

coordination gains, legal certainty, greater effectiveness or complementarities). For

the purposes of this section 'added value of EU involvement' is the value resulting

from EU action, that is additional to the value that would have been otherwise

created by Member States alone.

As the RFCS legal basis is based on Protocol 37 annexed to the Treaties, it falls

under the competence of the EU. The measures implementing the Protocol are

established in a Council Decision and the revision of which belongs to the

Commission’s exclusive right of initiative for legislative proposals.

23 As referred to in Article 58(2), point (a) or (b) of the Financial Regulation.

EN 6 EN

Over the years, the RFCS Programme has provided significant advancements for

both sectors. These advancements are compiled in the recent reports from the RFCS

technical groups for coal and steel and are based on strong collaboration between

entities from different Member States of the EU and from different organisation

types. For steel companies and universities participating in research projects, the

benefits ranged from cost reduction (resulting from savings in energy use and/or raw

materials), increased productivity, improved sustainability and or gaining new

market share through the development of innovative steel products. For the coal

sector, the RFCS contributed to improving health and safety in mines and minimising

the impact of post-mining activities on the environment.

The RFCS has been designed to be an industrial research programme, which is

specifically tailored to support cross-border collaboration, and at the same time it

allows industry-academia collaboration with the aim to support dedicated industrial

research.

The proposed reform would strongly contribute to EU’s long-term policy objectives

and address stakeholder needs. The frontloading of investment would allow for

ambitious research projects, which could help reaching climate targets by 2050 while

maintaining competitiveness. It would also allow to finance the revised funding rates

that would address stakeholders’ recommendations and contribute to attract more

investments and a wider participation to the RFCS programme. The streamlining of

research objectives, more adapted to current realities faced by the sectors, would help

to maximise the impact of the programme. The proposed reform also introduces a

requirement to conduct deployment and commercialisation activities in Europe, to

ensure the best impact of R&I projects for EU competitiveness.

Regarding the timing, the reform would ideally take effect in January 2027. While

this timing has not specifically been requested by stakeholders, it would offer more

attractive call conditions earlier. It would correlate with a series of measures aiming

at supporting energy intensive industries (for instance the Industrial Decarbonisation

Accelerator Act), as described in the introduction. Indeed, this reform is to be

understood in a broader policy context in which energy-intensive sectors are

considered key actors for the EU industrial competitiveness and decarbonisation

strategy.

1.5.3. Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past

The findings of the internal evaluation conducted for the period 2021-2024

highlighted that the RFCS has proven its efficiency via the yearly annual call in

supporting coal and steel sectors through excellent collaborative research and

involvement of the private sector. However, it showed that it has also failed to meet

the expectations of the 2021 reform with respect to the Big Ticket calls, reflected by

the underspending of the programme The programme and in particular the Big

Tickets calls in the present conditions are not attractive enough to yield large private

investment necessary to meet current industrial decarbonisation objectives.

1.5.4. Compatibility with the multiannual financial framework and possible synergies with

other appropriate instruments

The RFCS programme is subject to Protocol 37 of the Treaty on European Union, on

the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC treaty and on the Research

fund for Coal and Steel. The Protocol explicitly says that the revenues of the assets

EN 7 EN

of the ECSC in liquidation shall be used exclusively for research, outside the

research framework programme, in the sectors related to the coal and steel industry.

However, synergies with the next Horizon Europe and the Competitiveness Fund can

be established. The Research Fund for Coal and Steel can address full spectrum of

research challenges in the coal and steel sectors, as well as leverage additional public

and private investments in R&I. Thus, it can contribute to further strengthening the

European research and innovation landscape and accelerate the commercialisation

and diffusion of innovation.

1.5.5. Assessment of the different available financing options, including scope for

redeployment

Funding will consist exclusively from the remaining assets of the European Coal and

Steel Community in liquidation, as well as generated revenues from these assets. The

ECSC was financed by (i) levies that most coal and steel producers had to pay based

on their production and (ii) the contributions of the countries that joined the EU later

on. These resources constitute the major part of the assets generated. The fund will

continue to exist as such until the depletion of the assets.

EN 8 EN

1.6. Duration of the proposal/initiative and of its financial impact

☒ limited duration

– ☒ in effect from 1 January 2027

– ☒ financial impact from 2027 to 2030 at the latest for commitment appropriations

and from 2027 to 2034 for payment appropriations.

 unlimited duration

– Implementation with a start-up period from YYYY to YYYY,

– followed by full-scale operation.

1.7. Method(s) of budget implementation planned

☒ Direct management by the Commission

– ☒ by its departments, including by its staff in the Union delegations;

– ☒ by the executive agencies

 Shared management with the Member States

 Indirect management by entrusting budget implementation tasks to:

–  third countries or the bodies they have designated

–  international organisations and their agencies (to be specified)

–  the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund

–  bodies referred to in Articles 70 and 71 of the Financial Regulation

–  public law bodies

–  bodies governed by private law with a public service mission to the extent that

they are provided with adequate financial guarantees

–  bodies governed by the private law of a Member State that are entrusted with

the implementation of a public-private partnership and that are provided with

adequate financial guarantees

–  bodies or persons entrusted with the implementation of specific actions in the

common foreign and security policy pursuant to Title V of the Treaty on

European Union, and identified in the relevant basic act

– bodies established in a Member State, governed by the private law of a

Member State or Union law and eligible to be entrusted, in accordance with

sector-specific rules, with the implementation of Union funds or budgetary

guarantees, to the extent that such bodies are controlled by public law bodies or

by bodies governed by private law with a public service mission, and are provided

with adequate financial guarantees in the form of joint and several liability by the

controlling bodies or equivalent financial guarantees and which may be, for each

action, limited to the maximum amount of the Union support.

EN 9 EN

2. MANAGEMENT MEASURES

2.1. Monitoring and reporting rules

The monitoring and reporting rules for this programme will follow the requirements

laid down in the Financial Regulation and its Implementing Rules.

The progress of the programme towards its objectives will be measured through the

monitoring conducted by the European Executive Agency, currently, the European

Research Executive Agency (REA) with the support of the RFCS Technical Groups

(5 for steel and 2 for coal).

All data on the programme management processes (applications, success rates, time

to grant, type of beneficiaries, etc.) will be collected and stored in the e-Grants Data

Warehouse.

2.2. Management and control system(s)

2.2.1. Justification of the budget implementation method(s), the funding implementation

mechanism(s), the payment modalities and the control strategy proposed

The Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel will be

implemented through direct management entrusted to the bodies referred in Article

62(1), point (a ) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. More

specifically, the Commission will continue to rely to a large extent on the European

Research Executive Agency (REA), established in accordance with the Council

Regulation 58/2003. The delegation of activities to this Executive Agency is subject

to a mandatory independent ex-ante Cost-Benefit Analysis and the Agency

undergoes regular evaluations performed by external experts. The above-mentioned

Cost-Benefit Analysis will also consider the costs of control and supervision. Interim

evaluations conducted in 2012 and in 2015 confirm the high efficiency and added

value of the Executive Agencies in programme implementation. The assets of the

ECSC in liquidation and, on completion of the liquidation, the assets of the Research

Fund for Coal and Steel shall be managed to provide annual payments within the

limits of the allocation in order to finance collaborative research in the sectors related

to the coal and steel industry. The annual payments shall be financed by the net

revenue from the investments and by the proceeds generated by selling part of the

assets of the ECSC in liquidation and, on completion of the liquidation, the assets of

the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, up to the annual amount of payment credits set

out by the designated service of the Commission. The financial guidelines have been

reviewed or supplemented, if appropriate. To this end, the Commission shall reassess

the operation and effectiveness of the financial guidelines and shall propose any

appropriate amendments. The control strategy of the Research Programme of the

Research Fund for Coal and Steel will be aligned with the one for Framework

Programme for Research & Innovation. It will therefore benefit from all the

simplification measures introduced under Horizon Europe. Simplification measures

have been introduced to facilitate the implementation of the Research Programme

Funding will be provided in the form of grants in accordance with Regulation (EU,

Euratom) 2024/2509. The proposed changes in the funding modalities (lump sum)

will ensure alignment with those of the EU research programme and contribute to

minimising the vulnerability to financial errors. The proposal will be implementing a

single funding rate per action for all activities it funds. The maximum rate per action

would be fixed in the call conditions. In the proposed reform, up to 100 % of total

EN 10 EN

eligible costs of an action under the Research Programme may be reimbursed, except

for for-profit legal entities where up to 70% of the total eligible costs may be

reimbursed. By way of exception, SMEs shall be eligible for a funding rate of up to

100% of the total eligible costs. The proposed reform foresees to establish the way

indirect costs may be declared in the call conditions, which should indicate whether

unit costs or lump sums can be applied. The main driver to adopt lump sum funding

will not be reduction of the error rate, but the achievement of all the objectives of the

programme. The programme will benefit from cost effective services provided in the

framework of the implementation of programmes under direct management

(centralised evaluation expert management, ex post audit, IT, etc). The control

strategy is based on procedures for selecting the best projects and translating them

into legal instruments:

- project and contract management throughout the lifetime of every project; ex-ante

checks on 100 % of cost claims,

- certificates on the financial statements above a certain threshold, and certification

on methodologies to calculate unit costs or ex-ante assessment on a voluntary basis;

- ex post audits (random and risk-based) on a sample of paid claims for grants under

actual costs;

- regular project reviews on the technical implementation and results for all grants;

- ex-post technical reviews on a sample of grants.

This control strategy and approach has demonstrated its financial efficiency since the

delegation of the programme to REA, as reported in the Agency’s triannual external

evaluation. Also, the results from the ex-post controls demonstrate that this control

strategy allows for maintaining a legality/regularity risk below the 2% threshold.

The detected rate of error for the last two years of RFCS is 2.03 %, with a 'residual'

error rate of 1.70 %, after taking account of all recoveries and corrections that have

been or will be implemented. With the introduction of the lump sums and the SCOs,

it is expected to maintain a detected error rate below 2%.

Currently, the European Research Executive Agency (REA) is implementing the

RFCS. Without prejudging the upcoming Cost-Benefit-Analysis for the delegation of

implementation tasks to Executive Agencies, under the future MFF, DG RTD

envisages to delegate this task to an Executive Agency.

2.2.2. Information concerning the risks identified and the internal control system(s) set up

to mitigate them

The implementation of RFCS calls will be managed under conditions and following

business processes similar to the management of the Framework Programme for

Research and Innovation (FP). As a result, risks are similar to the FP and relate in

particular to achievements of the objective set in the positively evaluated proposals

and ensuring legality/regularity in the disbursed grants for reimbursement of incurred

costs.

In so far as possible, REA will apply similar ex ante and ex post control strategies to

ensure legality/regularity of operations. This includes a financial circuit with

counterweight where the central finance unit verifies all spending operations and an

ex post control strategy agreed with RTD and implemented in close collaboration

EN 11 EN

with DG RTD’s ex post control unit. Error rates found through prior years’ ex post

controls have demonstrated to be contained within the tolerable rate of error of 2%.

2.2.3. Estimation and justification of the cost-effectiveness of the controls (ratio between

the control costs and the value of the related funds managed), and assessment of the

expected levels of risk of error (at payment & at closure)

The narrower estimate of the costs of the control system (evaluation, selection,

project management, ex-ante and ex-post control) are in the range of 2-4 % across

the Commission services responsible for the implementation of the Horizon Europe

Framework Research Programme. It is estimated that the Research Programme of the

Research Fund for Coal and Steel is in the same range of 2-4%. This is considered to

be a reasonable cost in the light of the efforts needed to ensure that objectives are

achieved and the number of transactions involved. The expected risk of error at

payment for grants with a funding model based on the reimbursement of ineligible

costs is 2.0-3.0 %. The risk of error at closure (after the effect of controls and

corrections) is below 2% for the Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal

and Steel. The expected risk of error for grants with a funding model based on lump

sum funding is close to 0% (at payment and at closure). The overall expectation for

error rates will depend on the balance between the two methods of funding

(reimbursement of eligible costs and lump sums). The Commission aims to apply the

lump sum funding model where appropriate. However, the main driver to adopt lump

sum funding will not be reduction of the error rate, but the achievement of all the

objectives of the programme.

2.3. Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities

Robust ex-ante controls applied to the entire expenditure and sample- and risk-based

ex-post controls both contribute to detect and correct errors.

The services charged with the implementation of the Research Programme budget

are determined to fight against fraud at all stages of the grant management process.

They have developed, and are implementing, common and sectorial anti-fraud

strategies, including an enhanced use of intelligence, especially using advanced IT

tools, training and information for staff, and awareness-raising presentations towards

grant beneficiaries and Technical groups. These efforts will continue and anti-fraud

and risk assessment activities will be further enhanced thanks to the current

development by central services of the corporate ARACHNE risk-scoring tool.

Overall the measures proposed should continue to have a positive impact on the fight

against fraud, that will continue under the Research Programme, and reinforced

scientific evaluation and control. It should be underlined that detected fraud has

continuously been very low in proportion to the total research and innovation

expenditure, nevertheless the services charged with the implementation of the

Research Programme budget remain fully committed to combat it. The legislation

will ensure that audits, reviews, and investigations can be carried out by the

Commission services, including the European Anti-Fraud office (OLAF), as well as

the European Public Prosecutor Office (EPPO), using the standard provisions already

in use under the Research Programme.

In accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, Regulation (EU, Euratom)

No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council , Council Regulation

(Euratom, EC) No 2988/95 ,(Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 and (EU) 2017/1939 , the

financial interests of the Union are to be protected through proportionate measures,

including the prevention, detection, correction and investigation of irregularities and

EN 12 EN

fraud, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where

appropriate, the imposition of administrative sanctions. In particular, in accordance

with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 and (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 the

European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out investigations, including on-the-

spot checks and inspections, with a view to establishing whether there has been

fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the

Union. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, the European Public

Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) is competent to investigate and prosecute fraud and other

criminal offences affecting the financial interests of the Union as provided for in

Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council. In

accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, any person or entity

receiving Union funds is to fully cooperate in the protection of the Union’s financial

interests, to grant the necessary rights and access to the Commission, OLAF, the

European Court of Auditors and, as appropriate, to the EPPO, and to ensure that any

third parties involved in the implementation of Union funds grant equivalent rights.

EN 13 EN

3. ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

3.1. Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget

line(s) affected

• Existing budget lines

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines.

Heading of

multiannual

financial

framework

Budget line Type of

expenditure Contribution

Number

Diff./Non-

diff.24

from

EFTA

countries 25

from

candidate

countries

and

potential

candidates 26

From

other

third

countries

other assigned

revenue

01 01 20 03 02 - Coal

Diff. NO NO NO YES

01 01 20 03 01 - Steel

Diff. NO NO NO YES

• New budget lines requested

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines.

Heading of

multiannual

financial

framework

Budget line Type of

expenditure Contribution

Number

Diff./Non-

diff.

from

EFTA

countries

from

candidate

countries

and

potential

candidates

from

other

third

countries

other assigned

revenue

[XX.YY.YY.YY]

Diff./Non

-diff. YES/NO YES/NO YES/NO YES/NO

[XX.YY.YY.YY]

Diff./Non

-diff. YES/NO YES/NO YES/NO YES/NO

[XX.YY.YY.YY]

Diff./Non

-diff. YES/NO YES/NO YES/NO YES/NO

24 Diff. = Differentiated appropriations / Non-diff. = Non-differentiated appropriations. 25 EFTA: European Free Trade Association. 26 Candidate countries and, where applicable, potential candidates from the Western Balkans.

EN 14 EN

3.2. Estimated financial impact of the proposal on appropriations

3.2.1. Summary of estimated impact on operational appropriations

–  The proposal/initiative does not require the use of operational appropriations

– ☒ The proposal/initiative requires the use of operational appropriations, as explained below

3.2.1.1. Appropriations from voted budget

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Heading of multiannual financial framework Number 01

DG: RTD Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

2028-2034

GRAND

TOTAL 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

Operational appropriations

Budget line Commitments (1a) 0.000 0.000

Payments (2a) 0.000 0.000

Budget line Commitments (1b) 0.000 0.000

Payments (2b) 0.000 0.000

Appropriations of an administrative nature financed from the envelope of specific programmes

Budget line (3) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

TOTAL

appropriations

for DG RTD

Commitments =1a+1b+3 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

Payments =2a+2b+3 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

EN 15 EN

Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

MFF

2028-

2034

GRAND

TOTAL 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

TOTAL operational

appropriations (including

contribution to

decentralised agency)

Commitments (4) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

Payments (5) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

TOTAL appropriations of an

administrative nature financed from the

envelope for specific programmes

(6) 0.000

0.000

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

TOTAL

appropriations under

HEADING 1

of the multiannual

financial framework

Commitments =4+6 0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000 0.000

Payments =5+6

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000 0.000

Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

MFF

2028-

2034

GRAND

TOTAL

2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

• TOTAL operational

appropriations (all

operational headings)

Commitments (4) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

Payments (5) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

• TOTAL appropriations of an

administrative nature financed from the

envelope for specific programmes (all

operational headings)

(6) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

TOTAL appropriations

Under Heading 1 to 6 Commitments =4+6 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

of the multiannual financial

framework

(Reference amount)

Payments =5+6 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

Heading of multiannual financial framework 7 Administrative expenditure

EN 16 EN

DG:RTD

Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

MFF

2028-

2034

POST

2034

GRAND

TOTAL 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

 Human resources 0.780 0.780 0.780 0.780 0.101 0.000 0.000 3.221 0.000 3.221

 Other administrative expenditure 0.050 0.050 0.050 0.050 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.200 0.200

TOTAL DG RTD Appropriations 0.830 0.830 0.830 0.830 0.101 0.000 0.000 3.421 0.000 3.421

TOTAL appropriations under HEADING 7 of the

multiannual financial framework

(Total

commitments

= Total

payments)

0.830 0.830 0.830 0.830 0.101 0.000 0.000

3.421

0.000 3.421

EUR million (to three decimal places)

TOTAL appropriations under

HEADINGS 1 to 7 Commitments 0.830 0.830 0.830 0.830 0.101 0.000 0.000 3.421 0.000 3.421

of the multiannual financial framework Payments 0.830 0.830 0.830 0.830 0.101 0.000 0.000 3.421 0.000 3.421

3.2.1.2. Appropriations from external assigned revenues

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Heading of multiannual financial framework 01 Research and Innovation

DG: RTD

Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

MFF

2028-

2034

TOTA

L MFF

2021-

2027

GRAN

D

TOTA

L 2027 2028 2029 2030

2031 2032 2033 2034

EN 17 EN

Operational appropriations

Budget line : 01 20 03 01 and 01 20

03 02

Commitmen

ts (1a) 200.000 200.000 200.000 200.000

600.000 200.00

0 800.000

Payments (2a) 112.000 227.000 273.000 216.000 196.00

0

39.00

0

40.00

0

25.00

0

1.016.00

0

112.00

0

1128.00

0

Budget line

Commitmen

ts (1b)

0.000 0.000 0.000

Payments (2b) 0.000 0.000 0.000

Appropriations of an administrative nature financed from the envelope of specific programmes

Budget line (3) 0.000 0.000

TOTAL appropriations

for DG RTD

Commitmen

ts =1a+1b+

3

200.00

0

200.00

0

200.00

0

200.00

0

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 600.000 200.00

0 80.000

Payments =2a+2b+

3

112.00

0

227.00

0

273.00

0

216.00

0

196.00

0

39.00

0

40.00

0

25.00

0

1016.00

0

112.00

0

1128.00

0

TOTAL operational

appropriations

Commitments (4) 200.000 200.000 200.000 200.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 600.000 200.000 800.000

Payments (5) 112.000 227.000 273.000 216.000 196.000 39.000 40.000 25.000 1016.000 112.000 1128.000

Total appropriations of an administrative

nature financed from the envelope for

specific programmes

(6) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

TOTAL

appropriations

under HEADING

1 of the

multiannual

financial

framework

Commitments =4+6 200.000 200.000 200.000 200.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 600.000 200.000 800.000

Payments =5+6 112.000 227.000 273.000 216.000 196.000 39.000 40.000 25.000 1016.000 112.000 1128.000

Heading of multiannual financial framework 7 ‘Administrative expenditure’

EUR million (to three decimal places)

DG: RTD Year Year Year Year Year

Year

Year

Year

2034

GRAND

TOTAL

EN 18 EN

2027 2028 2029 2030

2031

2032

2033

TOTAL

MFF

2028-

2034

TOTAL

MFF

2021-

2027

 Human resources 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

 Other administrative expenditure 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

TOTAL DG <…….> Appropriations 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

TOTAL appropriations under HEADING 7 of

the multiannual financial framework

(Total

commitments

= Total

payments)

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

0.000

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

MFF

2028-2034

TOTAL

MFF

2021-

2027

GRAND

TOTAL

2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

TOTAL appropriations

under HEADINGS 1 to 7 Commitments 200.000 200.000 0.000 0.000 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 600.000 200.00 800.000

of the multiannual financial

framework Payments 112.000 227.000 273.000 216.000 196.000 39.000 40.000 25.000 1016.000 112.000 1128.000

3.2.2. Estimated output funded from operational appropriations (not to be completed for decentralised agencies)

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places)

Indicate

objectives and

outputs

Year 2024

Year 2025

Year 2026

Year 2027

Enter as many years as necessary to show the

duration of the impact (see Section1.6) TOTAL

OUTPUTS

EN 19 EN

 Type27

Avera

ge

cost

N o

Cost N o

Cost N o

Cost N o

Cost N o

Cost N o

Cost N o

Cost Total

No

Total

cost

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE No 128…

- Output

- Output

- Output

Subtotal for specific objective No 1

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE No 2 ...

- Output

Subtotal for specific objective No 2

TOTALS

27 Outputs are products and services to be supplied (e.g. number of student exchanges financed, number of km of roads built, etc.). 28 As described in Section 1.3.2. ‘Specific objective(s)’

EN 20 EN

3.2.3. Summary of estimated impact on administrative appropriations

–  The proposal/initiative does not require the use of appropriations of an

administrative nature

– ☒ The proposal/initiative requires the use of appropriations of an administrative

nature, as explained below

3.2.3.1. Appropriations from voted budget

VOTED

APPROPRIATIONS

Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

2028-

2034

Post

2024

GRAND

TOTAL 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

HEADING 7

Human resources 0.780 0.780 0.780 0.780 0.101 0.000 0.000 3.221 0.000 3.221

Other administrative expenditure 0.050 0.050 0.050 0.050 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.200 0.000 0.200

Subtotal HEADING 7 0.830 0.830 0.830 0.830 0.101 0.000 0.000 3.421 0.000 3.421

Outside HEADING 7

Human resources 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

Other expenditure of an

administrative nature 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

Subtotal outside HEADING 7 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

TOTAL HEADING 7 and

outside HEADING 7 0.830 0.830 0.830 0.830

0.101 0.000 0.000 3.421 0.000 3.421

3.2.4. Estimated requirements of human resources

–  The proposal/initiative does not require the use of human resources

– ☒ The proposal/initiative requires the use of human resources, as explained

below

3.2.4.1. Financed from voted budget

Estimate to be expressed in full-time equivalent units (FTEs)

VOTED APPROPRIATIONS Year Year Year Year Year Year Year POST

2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2034

 Establishment plan posts (officials and temporary staff)

20 01 02 01 (Headquarters and Commission’s

Representation Offices) 2 2 2 2

0 0 0 0

20 01 02 03 (EU Delegations) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

01 01 01 01 (Indirect research) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

01 01 01 11 (Direct research) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Other budget lines (specify) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

• External staff (in FTEs)

20 02 01 (AC, END from the ‘global envelope’) 4 4 4 4 1 0 0 0

20 02 03 (AC, AL, END and JPD in the EU

Delegations) 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

Admin. Support line

[XX.01.YY.YY]

- at Headquarters 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

- in EU Delegations 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

01 01 01 02 (AC, END - Indirect research) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

01 01 01 12 (AC, END - Direct research) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Other budget lines (specify) - Heading 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

EN 21 EN

Other budget lines (specify) - Outside Heading 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 6 6 6 6 1 0 0 0

The number of FTE are indicative and do not prejudge the outcome of the ongoing

negotiations on the next MFF. Moreover, the additional resources for the Commission are

envisaged for delegation to an Executive Agency under the future MFF, without prejudging

the upcoming Cost-Benefit Analysis for the delegation of implementation tasks to Executive

Agencies.

The staff required to implement the proposal (in FTEs):

To be covered by

current staff

available in the

Commission

services

Exceptional additional staff*

To be financed

under Heading 7

or Research

To be financed

from BA line

To be financed

from fees

Establishment

plan posts

2 N/A N/A

External staff

(CA, SNEs, INT)

4 N/A N/A

Description of tasks to be carried out by:

Officials and temporary staff Two extra FTE will be needed for managing the political implementation of the

reform, and to execute the reform and oversee the increased financial and programme

management activities, in addition to the 4 officials and temporary staff currently

allocated to RFCS. This reinforcement is temporary and can be reassigned after 2031.

External staff The reform of the RFCS will lead to an 80% increase in annual allocations and to

revised call conditions for the years 2027 until 2030 included. These will result in a

higher workload for the RFCS unit in launching the calls and carrying out evaluations.

The introduction of dual use in the programme will further increase the workload. An

additional 4 FTE as contract agents are needed for positions of programme managers

and project officers, in addition to the 16 currently allocated to RFCS. The total

allocation needed will progressively diminish after 2031 as no further calls are

launched and projects reach completion.

3.2.5. Overview of estimated impact on digital technology-related investments

Compulsory: the best estimate of the digital technology-related investments entailed

by the proposal/initiative should be included in the table below.

Exceptionally, when required for the implementation of the proposal/initiative, the

appropriations under Heading 7 should be presented in the designated line.

The appropriations under Headings 1-6 should be reflected as “Policy IT expenditure

on operational programmes”. This expenditure refers to the operational budget to be

EN 22 EN

used to re-use/ buy/ develop IT platforms/ tools directly linked to the implementation

of the initiative and their associated investments (e.g. licences, studies, data storage

etc). The information provided in this table should be consistent with details

presented under Section 4 “Digital dimensions”.

TOTAL Digital and IT appropriations

Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

MFF

2028-

2034 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

IT expenditure (corporate) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

Subtotal HEADING 7 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

Policy IT expenditure on operational programmes

0.520 0.531 0.541 0.552 0.563 0.574 0.586 3.867

Subtotal outside HEADING 7 0.520 0.531 0.541 0.552 0.563 0.574 0.586 3.867

TOTAL 0.520 0.531 0.541 0.552 0.563 0.574 0.586 3.867

3.2.6. Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework

The proposal/initiative:

– ☒ can be fully financed through redeployment within the relevant heading of the

multiannual financial framework (MFF)

–  requires use of the unallocated margin under the relevant heading of the MFF

and/or use of the special instruments as defined in the MFF Regulation

–  requires a revision of the MFF

3.2.7. Third-party contributions

The proposal/initiative:

– ☒ does not provide for co-financing by third parties

–  provides for the co-financing by third parties estimated below:

3.3. Estimated impact on revenue

– ☒ The proposal/initiative has no financial impact on revenue.

–  The proposal/initiative has the following financial impact:

–  on own resources

–  on other revenue

–  please indicate, if the revenue is assigned to expenditure lines

In line with article 21.2(b) of the Financial Regulation, the appropriations related to the

revenue generated by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel should be considered external

assigned revenue. Budget lines 01 20 03 02 (Coal) and 01 20 03 01 (Steel)

EN 23 EN

4. DIGITAL DIMENSIONS

The Research Fund for Coal and Steel uses the corporate tools described in the

Legal, Financial and Digital Statement of Horizon Europe.

13. 01.2025

Ettepanek:

Söe- ja teraseühenduse fondi nõukogu otsused (COM (2025) 759, 760)

Otsuse ettepanek koordinatsioonikogule

Kujundada seisukoht

Kaasvastutaja sisendi tähtpäev 19.01.2026

KOKi esitamise tähtpäev 28.01.2026

VV esitamise tähtpäev 5.02.2026

Peavastutaja: Haridus- ja Teadusministeerium

Kaasvastutajad: Rahandusministeerium, Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium, Kliimaministeerium

Seisukoha valitsusse toomise alus ja põhjendus

Algatuse vastuvõtmisega kaasneks oluline majanduslik või sotsiaalne mõju (RKKTS § 152¹ lg 1 p 2);

Algatuse reguleerimisala nõuab vastavalt Eesti Vabariigi põhiseadusele seaduse või Riigikogu otsuse vastuvõtmist, muutmist või kehtetuks tunnistamist (RKKTS § 152¹ lg 1 p 1);

Sisukokkuvõte

Euroopa Komisjon avaldas 10.12.25 kaks nõukogu otsuse eelnõu, mis on seotud Euroopa Söe- ja Teraseühenduse (ESTÜ) likvideerimisega. Fond kasutab likvideerimisel oleva Euroopa Söe- ja Teraseühenduse (ESTÜ) vara, et rahastada terasetootmise dekarboniseerimist ja suletavate söekaevanduste õiglast üleminekut. Programmi muudatusega tahetakse kasvatada eelarvet 200 miljoni euroni (111 miljonilt). MFF üldeelarvele uusi kohustusi ei teki. ESTÜ kasutamata varade maht on praeguse hinnangu kohaselt 2026. aasta lõpus ligikaudu 647 miljonit eurot. Muudatuste eesmärk on teha Söe- ja Teraseuuringute Fond atraktiivsemaks ja tõhusamaks, tugevdada tööstusliku teadustegevuse tulemusi ning tagada, et allesjäänud varasid kasutatakse maksimaalse mõjuga.

2

- Nõukogu otsuse eelnõu COM (2025) 759 näeb ette meetmed, mis on vajalikud protokolli nr 37 rakendamiseks Euroopa Söe- ja Teraseühenduse (ESTÜ) asutamislepingu kehtivuse lõppemise finantstagajärgede ning Söe- ja Teraseuuringute Fondi kohta, mis on lisatud Euroopa Liidu lepingule ja Euroopa Liidu toimimise lepingule.

- Nõukogu otsuse eelnõu COM (2025) 760 loob teadusprogrammi Euroopa Söe- ja Terase teadusfondi jaoks, sätestab selle tehnilised suunised ja mitmeaastased finantssuunised Söe- ja Terase teadusfondi varade haldamiseks.

Eesmärgid

Eesmärk on lihtsustada ja kiirendada investeeringuid Söe- ja Teraseuuringute Fondi raames, sealhulgas suurendada fondi atraktiivsust, ning jätkata Euroopa Söe- ja Teraseühenduse (ESTÜ) likvideerimise käigus kasutamata varade ja pärast likvideerimise lõpetamist Söe- ja Teraseuuringute Fondi varade (edaspidi „varad”) kasutamist kahe teadus- ja innovatsiooniprojektide taotlusvooru rahastamiseks ajavahemikus 2027– 2030.

Selle saavutamiseks on vajalik Söe- ja Teraseuuringute Fondi reform, kuna praeguse nõukogu otsusega (EL) 2021/1208 kehtestatud sätted, mis võimaldavad kasutada osa varadest sihtotstarbeliste taotlusvoorude jaoks, kaotavad kehtivuse 2027. aasta lõpus.

Eelnõudega kehtestatakse meetmed, mis on vajalikud Euroopa Söe- ja Teraseühenduse (ESTÜ) likvideerimisel allesjäänud ja veel jaotamata varade kasutamiseks, mille maht on praeguse hinnangu kohaselt 2026. aasta lõpus ligikaudu 647 miljonit eurot, millele lisanduvad varasematest Söe- ja Teraseuuringute Fondi teadusprogrammi taotlusvoorudest allesjäänud kasutamata vahendid, rahastades nelja iga-aastast teadus- ja innovatsiooniprojektide taotlusvooru, mis on ette nähtud kaheaastastes tööprogrammides aastateks 2027–2028 ja 2029–2030.

Laiendatakse teadusprogrammi finantsraamistikku 200 miljoni euroni aastas, et kiirendada teadus- ja innovatsioonialaseid investeeringuid asjaomastes sektorites ning laiendada osalejate ringi. Suurenenud eelarve võimaldab ka rahastamismäärade ülespoole ühtlustamist ELi teadusrahastamisprogrammidega, paralleelse nõukogu otsuse kaudu, millega kehtestatakse mitmeaastased finants- ja tehnilised suunised, võimaldades suuremat osalust avaliku sektori ja akadeemiliste asutuste poolt. See toetab paremini tööstusliku teadustegevuse investeeringuid ja tulemusi.

Rahastuse jaotus söe- ja terasealase teadustegevuse vahel jääb komisjoni poolt teadusprogrammi rakendamisel samaks. Vajaduse korral võib seda jaotust siiski tööprogrammi rakendamise viimasel aastal muuta, et tagada varade täielik kasutamine.

3

Mõju ja sihtrühm

Majandus Ettevõtlus, innovatsioon

Sihtrühm: söe- ja terasesektori tööstusettevõtted, nt terasetootjad, söe- ja metallurgiaettevõtted, tööstuslikud teadus- ja arendusasutused. Samuti VKEd terase- ja söesektoris.

Mõju sihtrühmale: innovatsiooni- ja teadusprojektid saavad senisest suurema ja stabiilsema rahastusvõimaluse, kiirema ligipääsu rahastusele tänu lihtsustatud suunistele, toetus tööstusliku teadustegevuse ja turuleviidavate lahenduste arendamiseks. Muudatused panustavad Euroopa konkurentsivõimesse tööstuse süsinikuheite vähendamise lahenduste leidmise kaudu. VKEdele avaldab mõju väiksem halduskoormus taotluste esitamisel.

Sihtrühm: ülikoolid, avaliku sektori teadusasutused, rakendusuuringute keskused.

Mõju sihtrühmale: laiem osalemisvõimalus Söe- ja Teraseuuringute Fondi projektides, kõrgemad rahastamismäärad, mis ühtlustatakse ELi teadusprogrammidega, tugevamad koostöövõimalused tööstusega, suurem roll rakendusuuringutes ja innovatsioonis.

Keskkond Kliimamuutused

Sihtrühm: elanikkond.

Mõju: panustatakse tööstuse dekarboniseerimise eesmärkidesse ja seega puhtama elukeskkonna loomisse.

Kaasamine

Kaasata kõik asjassepuutuvad huvirühmad, sh teadusasutused, ülikoolid, Eesti Keemiatööstuse Liit, Eesti Kaubandus-Tööstuskoda jt.