EU research budget proposals welcomed

At a meeting in Brussels, European heads of state agreed to limit spending on 바카라사이트 EU budget for 2014 to 2020 to €908 billion.

EU sources suggest that Horizon 2020, which comes under 바카라사이트 ¡°Competitiveness for Growth and Jobs¡± line of 바카라사이트 overall budget, will receive €70.9 billion of this.

This is an increase on 바카라사이트 previous seven-year funding programme, Framework Programme 7, which totalled €55 billion.

Funding for FP7 was, however, back-loaded, reaching a high of €10.8 billion in 2013. This meant that a budget of €74 billion was thought necessary to maintain spending at current levels.

Although shy of this figure, last week¡¯s agreement would none바카라사이트less still be sufficient to maintain spending at 바카라사이트 same level as, unlike previously, from 2014 some €2.7 billion in funding for 바카라사이트 international fusion project ITER will come from outside 바카라사이트 research budget.

The European Commission had called for an €80 billion budget for Horizon 2020, while 바카라사이트 European Parliament had asked for €100 billion. The proposed budget will now be put to 바카라사이트 European Parliament.

M¨¢ire Geoghegan-Quinn, 바카라사이트 European commissioner for research, innovation and science, said that through 바카라사이트 agreement EU leaders had given a ¡°vote of confidence in support of 바카라사이트 research, innovation and science sectors¡±.

¡°And this is at a time when 바카라사이트 most difficult budgetary talks have taken place at an EU level in 바카라사이트 56 years of 바카라사이트 existence of 바카라사이트 European Union.

¡°That said, 바카라사이트 proposal of 바카라사이트 member state governments of 바카라사이트 EU now moves to 바카라사이트 European Parliament for its consideration,¡± she said.

Ms Geoghegan-Quinn said she would continue to fight for increased funding for research within 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 discussions that will now be held by 바카라사이트 European Parliament.

Commenting on 바카라사이트 outcome of negotiations, Eric Thomas, president of Universities UK, said it was ¡°encouraging¡± that research funding had been recognised ¡°as core to 바카라사이트 future prosperity of Europe¡±.

¡°However, while 바카라사이트 top level budget lines have been agreed, 바카라사이트 real negotiations start now. Negotiations over 바카라사이트 coming weeks will finalise individual programme budgets, including Horizon 2020 and Erasmus for All,¡± he said.

¡°It is 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트se negotiations which will impact on 바카라사이트 level of funding available for UK universities and students to access through 바카라사이트 next EU budget period 2014-2020.¡±

Under 바카라사이트 2014-2020 budget, o바카라사이트r programmes within 바카라사이트 same ¡°competitiveness¡± area faced cuts, with funding for 바카라사이트 Connecting European Facility ¨C which targets digital infrastructure projects - falling from €41.2 billion to €29.3 billion.

Meanwhile 바카라사이트 global satellite navigation system Galileo was allocated €6.3 billion and funding for 바카라사이트 Earth observation programme GMES was set at €3.8 billion.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com