Cyprus Presidency warns of Horizon Europe delays; Zaharieva pushes simplification

At the Competitiveness Council press conference on 29 May 2026, Cyprus Presidency Minister Nicodemos Damianou and Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva warned that delays in finalising Horizon Europe (FP10) risk uncertainty for researchers and industry. Damianou stressed that most of the text is stable but political guidance is needed on strategic priorities, alignment with the European Competitiveness Fund, partnerships, widening participation, and bottom-up collaborative research. He urged a partial general approach under the Cyprus Presidency and momentum under the incoming Irish Presidency. Zaharieva agreed that time is critical, pushing for simplification to reduce time-to-grant and avoid bureaucratic layers. On partnerships, she called for flexible core principles without tying hands with complexity. On widening, she noted differences but said excellence remains the backbone, with a balanced solution expected. The Council also adopted a recommendation on science diplomacy, which Damianou said strengthens Europe as a trusted global partner while safeguarding research security. Zaharieva emphasised that science diplomacy keeps cooperation channels open even amid geopolitical tensions, citing Horizon Europe's global partnerships. On a question about universities suspending agreements with Israeli entities, both Damianou and Zaharieva rejected exclusion based on nationality, with Zaharieva calling it a dangerous threat. On the French-Polish proposal for bottom-up collaborative research, Zaharieva said she believes in bottom-up calls but needs to study the details. On widening, she argued it is not just a budgetary issue but also linked to national reforms and investments. Damianou confirmed the Council is focused on resolving the remaining open items to approach trilogues with the right balance. The debate exposed a cleavage between those prioritising strategic alignment and competitiveness (Damianou) and those emphasising simplification and flexibility (Zaharieva), with both agreeing on urgency. Researchers and SMEs face continued uncertainty if delays persist, while widening countries may benefit from balanced solutions but risk being sidelined if excellence criteria are rigidly applied. The Commission's push for simplification could reduce administrative burdens for applicants, but may face resistance from member states seeking more control over priorities.