On 29 June 2026, the Council of the European Union formally adopted a Decision implementing Protocol No 37 on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, repealing Decision No 2003/76/EC. The legislative act was approved at the 4188th meeting of the Council (Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs) in Luxembourg.
The Decision updates the framework for managing the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, which was established after the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) Treaty expired in 2002. The fund finances research projects in coal and steel sectors. The new rules replace the previous 2003 Decision, which had governed the fund's operation for over two decades. The reference document (6884/26) was approved by Coreper, Part 1, on 24 June 2026.
The adoption formalises the financial closure of the ECSC Treaty and ensures continued support for research in coal and steel, sectors that remain strategically important for EU industry. The Decision does not introduce major policy changes but streamlines administrative procedures and aligns the fund's governance with current EU financial regulations.
Stakeholders affected include coal and steel research institutions, which will benefit from clearer funding rules, and the European Commission, which oversees the fund. The Decision has no direct impact on consumers or national budgets, as the fund is financed from assets of the former ECSC. The Council's vote concludes the legislative process; the Decision will enter into force upon publication in the Official Journal.