EU budget 2025: "Increasing R&I investment should be done now" (Leru)

"Increasing R&I investment should be done now and not be delayed until the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework", declares the Leru in a statement titled "R&I at the heart of the EU's economy and competitiveness, but not of the EU's budget?" on 30/09/2024.

This is the league's reaction to the budget proposal adopted by the EU Council on 17/07/2024.

While the draft budget for 2025 proposed by the European Commission on 19/06/2024 provides for €13.5 Bn for research and innovation, including €12.7 Bn for Horizon Europe, the Council's position is to withdraw €450.49 M from the R&I budget, of which -€ 400 M on Horizon Europe and -€ 50.48 M on Iter.

According to Leru, the Council's desire to reduce the budget in this way contradicts Ursula von der Leyen's political intentions for the next Commission, since she has indicated that she wants to increase the R&I budget, and also contradicts the Draghi report:

"Whoever has read the Draghi report will understand how absurd these proposed cuts are.

A clear R&I investment plan for the immediate future is needed. This plan should avoid what is…