European research ministers met on 19 February 2019 to define the specific aspects of Horizon Europe, the future EU research framework program of € 94.1 billion.
An agreement has been reached on the general themes of research missions and public-private research and development partnerships, but details have yet to be discussed.
For missions, the key topics will be: climate change, cancer, oceans, zero emissions and food.
The Council is pressing for agreements to be reached before the parliamentary elections, which will take place in May 2019. In addition to the research missions, other important issues to be addressed concern the terms in which the partnerships will operate, the new European Innovation Council in support of the growth of technology companies, the Horizon Europe budget and the legal framework for the program.