- 2026-12-01 “Third digital leadership window thinking about all the digital, advanced technologies that we want to develop and have advanced competitiveness in Europe, like quantum, like AI, like supercomputers, like all the digital infrastructure that underpins our businesses and public services. And also, last but not least, very important window in relation to security component on defence, space resilience and security, which will also look under elements like critical raw materials and addressing our dependencies, and which also significantly boosts investment in defence and space in in the current geopolitical context. Underpinning that, there is also horizontal cross-cutting activities which would help projects with advice. So support for projects to get their projects off the ground. Support to SME collaboration for dedicated SME semicolons. Support for the EU for Business Network, which will help companies across all Europe to have access to to the to the fund and also support on skills development. This is the activities that underpin the whole of the whole fund. And also you will see the mention of the investor instrument, which continues today's successful Investeu programme, which will deploy loans and equity in support of of European projects, all these across the whole investment journey. You have it on the left from research through scale up industrial deployment, manufacturing to infrastructure and deployment. And we move now to the last to two last slides, which present more in detail the focus of window in our jargon, chapter five on health, biotech, agriculture and bioeconomy.”
Sourcing of critical raw materials
- 2026-12-01 “It's also 175 billion under Horizon Europe, which will be tightly connected to European Competitiveness Fund and also 40 billion of Innovation Fund all together for the 450,000,000,021% of the budget for European competitiveness. And then let's move to the next slide, which puts forward the main features. What led the Commission to propose the European Competitiveness Fund. And these are the key features that make that stand out for European Competitiveness Fund proposal. First, the funding landscape has evolved over the last MFF days. It has evolved also in complexity. There were a lot of elements that required us to act in a number of manners in reaction to different succession of crises that we had, which made our funding landscape rather fragmented, and it evolved in complexity. And these fragmentation have two consequences. First, it makes us not reach investment capacity that we need to make a difference for European competitiveness. And second, the aspect related to it makes our funding very difficult for access to our beneficiaries. We hear that different rules, different aspects, different goals make it difficult to access European funding. This is why we are bringing the European Competitiveness Fund brings 14 current existing European programmes under one umbrella, with the objective to have to simplify the funding landscape. This is why we have a single rulebook that applies across all policy window, with simple and accessible rules, and also integrated investment capacity to make sure that we invest at a European level in strategic sectors, in the developing and manufacturing strategic technologies for Europe.”
EU research funding
- 2026-12-01 “Good afternoon everyone. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you also. Good afternoon to all the honourable members. I will present the main elements of the European Competitiveness Fund and what made Commission presented. And I'm accompanied today also with my colleague from DG agri. And maybe let's move immediately to the first slide. First of all, European Competitiveness Fund puts at the disposal an unprecedented amount to boost European competitiveness and is, of course, will come as no surprise following the analysis that has been delivered in the Draghi and later report of the factors and elements underpinning European competitiveness and boost that is needed for for European competitiveness and which member states cannot achieve on their own. This where you will see this total amount of investment capacity of 450 billion for European competitiveness, which is composed of 234 billion under European Competitiveness Fund, divided into four strategic policy. Windows, will come back to those priorities and also horizontal.”
State Aid · Competitiveness matrix
- 2026-12-01 “That's the aspect of the scale. Second, also the impact European competitiveness has a toolbox that could activate any tool possible in European budget, be it grants, be it public procurement and also loans and guarantees by using the power of European budgetary guarantee. It will allow us to to crowd in and de-risk private investment. We know that the trouble currently that our private sector does not invest enough in those strategic priorities. So this is where we would be able to activate any type of tool under European Competitiveness Fund. Also the aspect of seamless investment journey. These were tight connection with Horizon Europe comes. So we have seamless investment journey to fund strategic technologies from research through scale up to manufacturing and deployment. This is where we see Europe is not performing as well in scaling up our companies and scaling up our projects. This is where the fund will deliver a seamless investment journey from research to production. Single rulebook. We just discussed across all the funds that we integrate simple and accessible rulebook, policy coherence, the tight connection to European to horizon Europe through integrated work programmes.”
State Aid · EU research funding
- 2026-12-01 “Will slow down for the interpretation policy coherence between research and industrial policy to ensure that we bring out research results to the market. And last but not least, very important agility aspect to be able to flexibly react to the situation, to new strategic technologies, to resilience, to address our strategic dependencies in critical raw materials, for example, or other dependencies that we have. So these are the six key features that underpin the European Competitiveness Fund and approach of the European Competitiveness of European Commission. To put forward a proposal bringing this funding together across the full investment journey for the benefit of European competitiveness researchers, companies and all other Entities and this will will move to representation. How can we imagine the European Competitiveness Fund exactly as a house that brings under one umbrella, all funding programs underpinned by the common rulebook and common governance? This is what changes with compared to current MFF with four strategic policy windows. So very clear strategic focus on four big priorities in relation. Also, what are the priorities identified in the Drudge Report and Competitiveness Compass? So the first policy window clean transition and industrial decarbonisation because think about developing and manufacturing clean technologies in Europe. Second window will go a little bit more into that about health biotech agriculture and bioeconomy.”
Sourcing of critical raw materials · Competitiveness matrix
- 2026-12-01 “This is where with a single rulebook across the European Fund for all the windows we want and simplify that aspect. This is the first big area that we have from all the small and medium enterprises across different sectors, be it beet farmers, beet SMEs in the in the tourism and construction sector. It is a very consistent feedback that we receive and this is where there is a game change coming with the European Competitiveness Fund and single aspect also single gateway, so that information about accessing the funds is available in one place for all the beneficiaries and centralised manner. This is where often we hear this a maze of European opportunities and companies smaller especially do not know how to find this aspect. This is where the single gateway under the funds of the ECF, but not but not only will provide this change will also provide for dedicated calls for SMEs. This is the commitment that the Commission is clearly spelled out in the European Competitiveness Fund to organise dedicated calls for for SMEs and ensure that they also can access the fund. But not only that, also the access to information. So we have The European Competitiveness Fund puts forward EU for business Network, which is building on the Enterprise Europe network, which today helps SMEs in all member states and beyond, which have access to information, support, development business advice and also bringing advice of internationalisation, accessing different different markets.”
Competitiveness matrix
- 2026-12-01 “Thank you. That's an important element of course. And apologies for the for the translators about that. And this is all in the aspect to deliver on the vision of agriculture. We also need to support the full investment journey from research to deployment. And for the agriculture sector. That's the ambition of the window under the European Competitiveness Fund. And it's true that the question asks is those amounts that were shown for the windows, are there further earmarked? No, there's just the approach. Based on lessons in this MFF, the approach amounts are set for the horizontal activities and then indicative amounts per each of the windows, which are not spelt further for any of the other windows. Also, the sectors included under clean or under other windows are not not further earmarking. Then maybe on the aspects related to, of course what are the objectives, the elements, the idea behind the European Competitiveness Fund. And this I will also touch about the question on SMEs in marketing and other aspects here, is that European Competitiveness Fund has an overarching objective to boost at a new level the European competitiveness and technological advancement. It aims to ensure that we develop and manufacturing strategic technologies in Europe. And in this context, of course, it builds on European competitiveness definition as defined in the report, which encompasses productivity improvement in living standards and that translates into improvement in living standards. Many of you mentioned fairness and those aspects, but also encompasses other dimensions as very clear in the drug report as resilient sustainability, decarbonisation and also security component.”
Agricultural funding · Competitiveness matrix
- 2026-12-01 “It also has become very clear that with the geopolitical context that we have today, security is an important imperative that also dampens investment prospects. It's important that we address the security dependency. And I think many of you mentioned the aspect related to export dependencies and other aspects. Yes. This is a this is the element that will be key under the European Competitiveness Fund to develop and to provide the funding from the whole investment journey from research to scale up and deployment. And this is where today, looking at the your analysis that the tracking report has put Europe has a problem in bringing the results, the results that we invest where excellent research bringing them and translating into market applications. We have a problem on scaling up these aspects. So this is the element that we really see the deployment of this technology through all the agri food sector aspects, Robotics elements will help us to reach the comparative advantage and translate it into improvements in productivity and living and living standards. Across. We have this gap today. We want to address it by bringing those programs together so that we have the seamless investment journey. I think many of you mentioned how does it translate into concrete benefits also for the smaller undertakings for for SMEs? And this is where there are three layers that are important here. First, major simplification our rules and aspects. This is the first element that all SMEs that our stakeholders have replied in the public consultation, that the rules are too complex, they overlap, they they duplicate, they're not clear what are the objectives.”
Digital and precision farming
- 2026-12-01 “And this is where today under the current MFF, these activities are we are successfully funding those activities, collaborative research innovation activities under Horizon Europe cluster to bring those solutions to look at them, invest and bring those solutions to the to the market. It's about about we have projects about targeting valorisation of vegetable and fruit waste streams for crop production, targeting more efficient use of existing resources in the farming and fertilising sectors, which which is redefining agriculture with cutting edge technologies. Not only that, we are also financing improving access to finance for farmers and agricultural sector through the use of our Investeu programme, which in the future will be integrated under the European Competitiveness Fund. I want to, just to mention a few recent examples, the support the European Investment Fund guarantee to support a loan portfolio of agricultural lending platform facilitating access to finance for Latvian farmers and also agriculture credit in Romania. I think the question was asked to Romania, will the farmers benefit? Yes. Today it is the case that we will work with the investeu instruments we are supporting easing access to finance for farmers for our agri food sector across the European Union. So this is to mention examples under the current MFF. This is the. The aspect will be to boost it.”
Digital and precision farming · Agricultural funding · EU research funding
- 2026-12-01 “I mean, this is extremely important aspect that we hear from SMEs, communities, but and elements also about connecting value chains. I think in the food for the food security aspect in agriculture, extremely element is that today the value chain is fragmented. What the change that the game changer European Competitiveness Fund will bring is also value chain skills in dedicated investment across for those strategic sectors with bringing those value chains together which translate into a clear added value of a stronger and integrated European single market. Because of course, this is where European Companies fund will not replicate activities and investment at national level. That brings an EU added value through private investment, addressing market failures, addressing suboptimal investment situations and connecting much better the value chain across the full. The full investment. The full investment journey. This is where I know that I'm behind the time. That's why I don't want to use much the aspects of of the patients of the. Madam Chair, I know that you have other also aspects of the agenda, but of course, the commission remains available and is very happy to work with the Co-legislator and also with all the committees to provide any explanation needed, and also to work further with the co-legislators of any specifications that are needed for the proposal. Thank you. Okay.”
EU Single Market harmonisation
- 2026-12-01 “Thank you very much for the honourable members. For all the questions and aspects raised. I probably won't be able to answer to all of the questions, but let me cover some of the elements that have been asked and by the different honourable members, first of all, maybe to. From the first intervention to actually to the honourable members. Of course, I could not agree more with the opinion has said about the importance of innovation and scaling up the importance of development of value chains across Europe. The aspect also of importance of research and innovation, collaborative activities for agriculture, for bringing the elements as AI, as robotics, are all the technologies that can help the farmers and agriculture for bringing those solutions to the to the market and also the elements related to, of course, the aspect that I think that comes in many of the questions that you have raised and concerns and aspects that scepticism is the relation also of to the Common Agricultural Policy and relation with the national funding. And of course, under the next MFF, the policy will be central for boosting the agricultural food sector competitiveness and delivering on the priorities that are listed under the vision for Agriculture and Food Communication, and, of course, for reaching these objectives that are set in the vision of of division of agriculture for 2040 and agri food system that is attractive, competitive, sustainable and fair for current and future generations. This is where the European Competitiveness Fund can complement, of course complement this of this funding will be happening for the national funding, can complement the funding opportunities and synergies with other instruments such as the European Competitiveness Fund and Future Horizon Europe.”
Agricultural funding · EU research funding
- 2026-12-01 “We can move to the next slide. This is you will see a specific objectives that are set for that window. And what I wanted to have a little bit zoom out is the element on agriculture. Of course very much of interest to to this committee. The activities will aim at fostering the competitiveness, sustainability, resilience and fairness of agriculture and also fisheries, aquaculture, forestry sectors and rural and coastal areas, and contributing to long term food security. In the Union, of course, this will, but under the ECF will complement intervention support under other relevant programs nationally also and other programs. And here, of course, we will also build on today's possibilities that are existing in the current MFF in relation to, in relation to agriculture, where we provide support for developing research and in collaborative research and innovation activities in agriculture, and also will continue with elements such as access to finance for companies under Investeu for loans and grants, which we provide today with our implementing partners under Investeu. And I will stop Madam chair here with his apologies for expanding a bit the time.”
Direct payments to farmers (pillar 1) · Funding for fisheries and aquaculture · Agricultural funding