ITRE committee confirms Christian Ehler as rapporteur for Horizon Europe and co-rapporteur for ECF

Christian Ehler, a German MEP from the EPP group, has been appointed rapporteur for the proposal on the EU's Horizon Europe research programme, and co-rapporteur, alongside a member of the S&D Group yet to be confirmed, for the European Competitiveness Fund. The decision was approved by a vote in the European Parliament's Committee for Industry, Technology and Research (ITRE) on 05/11/2025.

On 23/10/2025, the coordinators of the EPP, S&D and Renew groups met to agree on the allocation of files as part of the proposal for the EU's long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Ehler, the rapporteur for the last two R&I framework programmes had already been assigned files. However, the Patriots for Europe group contested the coordinators' decision, indicating that they had not been invited to negotiate. The decision was confirmed by the committee with 50 votes in favour and 37 against.

Ehler wrote on LinkedIn: "As Rapporteur, I will work to ensure that Horizon Europe continues to be the programme of European excellence in research and innovation, and that the new…