Legislation and Finance
Horizon Europe has substantially expanded the possibilities and instruments for synergies. Today, Horizon Europe facilitates synergies with around 20 other European Union programmes. To be able to use them, it is necessary to adhere to various legal and financial regulations. The most important new features are summarised in the factsheet “Legislation and Finance”.
Factsheet “Legislation and Finance” – What’s new?
In Horizon Europe, the current Framework Programme, the European Commission has introduced several new features to accelerate the use of synergies. The factsheet first of all provides a concise overview of the legal basis for synergies in Horizon Europe and the Strategic Plan that describes its political priorities and intended impact. It then presents the four main synergy instruments and the special rules on state aid.
Further selected legal sources
REGULATION (EU) 2021/695 establishing “Horizon Europe”
The Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council defines the objectives and establishes the rules for participation and for the dissemination of results for the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation “Horizon Europe” for 2021 to 2027, as well as the Union framework for the funding of research and innovation activities.
REGULATION (EU) 2021/1060 – Common Provisions Regulation
The Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishes the common provisions and objectives as well as the financial and budgetary rules for the European Structural Funds, including the Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Social Fund (ESF), the Just Transition Fund (JTF) and other funds. There are also supplementary fund-specific regulations (see below).
REGULATION (EU) 2021/1058 on the European Regional Development Fund
The Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and on the Cohesion Fund, together with the Common Provisions Regulation, defines the legal basis on which the member states can conclude partnership agreements with the EU and the regions can design regional development programmes, such as the NRW ERDF/JTF Programme 2021-2027.
REGULATION (EU) 2021/1056 establishing the Just Transition Fund
The Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council for the Just Transition Fund (JTF) facilitates support for coal regions in the transition to a climate-neutral economy. North Rhine-Westphalia has implemented the measures in two multi-fund programmes: the NRW ERDF/JTF Programme 2021-2027 and the NRW-ESF Programme.
REGULATION (EU) 2021/1059 on European Territorial Cooperation
The Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council for the objective “European Territorial Cooperation” (ETC) supported by the ERDF and other instruments provides the legal and financial framework for the ETC programmes “Interreg A”, “Interreg B” and “Interreg Europe” for the promotion of cooperation between member states, regions and other territories.
REGULATION (EU) 2021/1057 establishing the European Social Fund Plus
The Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) contains its legal basis and financial resources for measures supporting high employment, fair social protection and a skilled workforce for the world of work, implemented in NRW in the NRW-ESF Programme.