EUA’s first reaction to announcements regarding the next long-term EU Programmes (2014-2020) for research and innovation (Horizon 2020) and education (Erasmus+) EUA welcomes this week’s announcements in relation to the political agreements for the next long-term EU programmes for research (Horizon 2020) and education (now called Erasmus+). These are crucial for European universities as they represent important developments in the negotiations enabling both programmes to begin as planned in 2014.
On Tuesday (25 June) an “informal deal” on a package of laws to establish the EU's next research and innovation programme, "Horizon 2020" (2014-2020), was reached by negotiators for the European Parliament and the Irish Presidency of the Council. On June 26, the Irish Presidency then announced that it had brokered an agreement on the new EU programme for education, training, youth and sport (to be called Erasmus+ rather than Erasmus for All).
Focusing more particularly on the Horizon 2020 announcement, EUA takes note that the proposed rules for participation included in the package do not appear to include an option for reimbursement of research costs based on full costing methodologies (in addition to the flat rate model proposed). EUA has long emphasised the importance of full costing for the overall financial sustainability of universities and will, of course, continue to do so in future.
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