MEP warns of dangers that rules for research for dual-use goods will distort EU's priorities

The MEP drafting the Parliament's opinion on the Horizon Europe programme for 2028-2034 has warned that the EU's current focus on defence could distort research activities, especially if military research rules were applied to civilian projects.

René Repasi, a German centre-left MEP, speaking at an event in the EP on 14/01/2026, said: "We currently have a fetish for everything military and defence-related. So, there is a lot of additional funding put forward and sometimes you get the impression, once you put the defence label on it, that it's easier to get access to funding."

Repasi is drafting a report on the implementing rules for Horizon Europe as part of the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), or medium-term budget, for 2028-2034.

The MEP added: "I was a bit worried when I saw the first positioning of the Council that already started excluding countries and particular research institutions under the umbrella of dual-use."

Dual-use refers to inventions that have both civilian and military applications.

Repasi referred in particular to discussions on the participation of…