The Waterborne Technology Platform has welcomed the resolution of the European Parliament regarding the long-term budget of the EU, emphasising the importance of research, development, innovation and its deployment.
On 7 May 2025, the European Parliament adopted a resolution called A revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world. The resolution reflects the position of the European Parliament regarding the budget for the period 2028 – 2035 of the European Union. The position is seen as timely, as the European Commission is currently developing a proposal for the next budget of the EU. In this light, it is considered key to build upon the strengths of the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and its predecessors, to ensure the next MFF will be designed to further boost competitiveness. Fostering innovation from its inception phase to deployment across the relevant value chain will be key to ensure the competitiveness of the European Union.
According to the resolution, funding for research and innovation, including support for basic research, should be significantly increased compared to the current MFF. Furthermore, the funding should be focused on the Union’s strategic priorities and continue to be determined by the principle of excellence. And finally, according to the European Parliament, there should be sufficient resources across the MFF and at national level to fund all high-quality projects throughout the innovation cycle and to achieve the 3% GDP target for research and development spending by 2030. The European Parliament is urging the European Commission to ensure a standalone Framework Programme 10, as a successor of the current Horizon Europe programme.
Additionally, the European Parliament calls for the deployment of innovations, and the next MFF, building on the current Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), should include significantly increased, directly managed funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure. This renewed CEF should give priority to cross-border connections and national links with European added value, considering that such infrastructure is an absolute precondition for a successful deepening of the single market and for increasing the Union’s resilience in a changing geopolitical order. Finally, the European Parliament calls upon the European Commission to draw lessons learnt from the current Innovation Fund to be able to shape the proposed Competitiveness Fund.
Jaap Gebraad, Secretary General, Waterborne TP, said: “The Waterborne Technology Platform welcomes the resolution of the European Parliament. The transition towards a resilient, competitive and sustainable waterborne sector requires joint investments in research, development, innovation and its deployment. In the current MFF, the co-programmed partnership on zero-emission waterborne transport, co-funded via Horizon Europe, has been able bringing to bring a highly fragmented sector with diverging strategic ambitions to the table. The Partnership has added value by aligning agendas, resources, and efforts among sectors and businesses, including SMEs that dominate in the field. Furthermore, the Connecting Europe Facility and the Innovation Fund have been instrumental to co-finance deployment of innovations. These funding instruments, including their current window of activities, will be fundamental to enhance the competitiveness of the European waterborne sector, and thereby of the EU.”
Image: Barge on European river (source: Pascal Bernadon, Unsplash)
