EU ambassadors have reached a consensus on the Council’s partial negotiating mandate for the proposed Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). This initiative, geared towards fostering innovation and enhancing competitiveness, underscores the EU’s commitment to investing in critical technologies across various domains, including digital and deep tech, clean tech, and biotech.
The STEP is designed to reduce the EU’s strategic dependencies while boosting its long-term competitiveness on the global stage. The Council’s negotiating mandate is partial, pending final outcomes from broader negotiations on the mid-term revision of the multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027, specifically regarding additional financial support for STEP.
Key components of the Council’s mandate include:
Objectives and Scope: The Council clarifies the objectives and scope of STEP, emphasizing its support for the proposed sovereignty seal and sovereignty portal for investments related to STEP.
Resource Identification: To maximize the use of available funding and create synergies, the Council supports identifying resources within existing EU programs and funds. This includes InvestEU, Horizon Europe, European Defence Fund, Innovation Fund, Recovery and Resilience Facility, and cohesion policy funds.
Co-Financing and Pre-Financing: The Council agrees to a 100% co-financing rate and a 30% pre-financing for STEP priorities under the 2021–2027 programming period for cohesion policy funds. This move aims to facilitate investments and accelerate the realization of STEP objectives.
Retroactive Measures: Considering budgetary pressures in member states, the Council retroactively applies a 100% co-financing rate to the 2014-2020 cohesion programs in the final accounting year. Simultaneously, the deadline for submitting payment applications is extended by 12 months.
Administrative Streamlining: The Council includes provisions in its mandate to reduce administrative burdens for member states and facilitate the reprogramming of funds towards STEP objectives.
This partial mandate serves as a foundation for negotiations with the European Parliament. Once an agreement is reached, formal adoption by both the Council and the European Parliament will be necessary.
The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform, proposed by the Commission on June 20, 2023, aligns with the EU’s broader strategy to stay at the forefront of technological advancements and secure its position as a global leader in innovation. Today’s developments demonstrate the EU’s dedication to fostering a technologically advanced and competitive future.
