The incoming EU Presidency continues the Czech Republic’s focus on research infrastructures and synergies. Sweden will help shaping the European Year of Skills.
On 1 January 2023, Sweden will take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU, following on the Czech Republic. The Swedish Presidency will cap the current trio before handing over to the next Presidency trio of Spain, Belgium, and Hungary on 1 July. Sweden inherits an important legislative file, the Chips Act that seeks to ensure Europe’s strategic autonomy in chips manufacturing. The Czech Presidency managed to carry the file forward after taking it over from France six months ago. On 1 December, the Council agreed on its position for the upcoming trilogue negotiations with the European Parliament (EP) and the European Commission (EC). Once the institutions will find a compromise on the Chips Act, Council will also be able to finalise negotiations on the proposed amendment to the Single Basic Act of 2021 that would transform the current Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking (JU) into the Chips JU (see SwissCore article).
The incoming Presidency will focus on key topics of the European Research Area: The Czech Republic’s work on research infrastructures will be continued and Sweden will focus on promoting Open Science, which greatly gained in importance in recent years and also in the Horizon Europe programme. “The Presidency will highlight the importance of measures that increase access to research infrastructures, and to their data and services, for researchers, businesses and society at large”, the Swedish Presidency programme announces. There are Council Conclusions on Open Science planned for 23 May 2023 when research ministers will meet for the COMPET Council. Furthermore, Council Conclusions on synergies between the EU framework programme on R&I and the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) are foreseen, following up on the European Court of Auditors recent report (see SwissCore article).
Furthermore, Sweden will contribute to the development of the European Year of Skills that will see the start of activities during the first half of 2023. As the Year of Skills was only announced in September by EC President Ursula von der Leyen during her State of the European Union address, it will take several months, including a joint decision by the Council and European Parliament, for the initiative to formally start and take up steam (see SwissCore article). Sweden will also use its interest in the green transition to shape the European Year of Skills, as announced in the Swedish Programme: “The Presidency will highlight how education can contribute to transition and upskilling and will initiate a discussion on the conditions necessary for both individuals and businesses to be able to obtain the skills they need for the green transition.” Sweden will devote time and effort to advance the European Education Area (see SwissCore article), for instance in the area of the mutual recognition of qualifications. The latter should be addressed in Council Recommendations and Conclusions. Furthermore, the Presidency also plans to begin considering two Council Recommendations on digitalisation in the area of education that the EC already announced for 2023.
As it is customary, Sweden plans to prepare a Council Resolution on the outcomes of the current ninth cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue that runs from 2022 to mid-2023 over the course of the current Presidency trio of France, Czechia, and Sweden. In addition, the incoming Presidency plans a Council Resolution on the midterm review of the work plan for the EU Youth Strategy 2022–2024.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will influence also the Swedish Presidency. Supporting Ukrainian researchers and students will remain important in the coming year. Linked to the geopolitical turmoil, strengthening R&I efforts for energy security and defence remain priorities and will continue to influence the ERI field in 2023. The Swedish Presidency programme views R&I as key in the current situation of geopolitical crisis – without losing sight of the Union’s main priorities: “Research and innovation are also prerequisites for tackling crises and societal challenges, ensuring security and prosperity for the citizens of Europe and implementing the green and digital transitions.”
At the level of EU programmes, the EC is busy working on the mid-term evaluation of Horizon Europe and the final evaluation of the Horizon 2020 programme. On 1 December, the EC launched the public consultation on Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe as well as the second strategic plan 2025-2027 for Horizon Europe. This triple consultation will remain open for input until 23 February 2023.
Just before the Czech Presidency comes to a close, during the COMPET Council on 2 December 2022, research ministers adopted Council Conclusions in key areas of research and innovation: The Council adopted Conclusions on research infrastructures, which welcome considerations of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) on “how best to involve associated countries, stakeholders and relevant third countries on a case by case approach based on shared fundamental values and principles” (see SwissCore article). Additional Council Conclusions focus on the EC’s initiative for a New European Innovation Agenda (see SwissCore article).
Last but not least, December saw the decision by the ERC Scientific Council to sign the agreement on reforming research assessment and to change evaluation forms for the 2024 calls in the spirit of the agreement. The ERC announced that full details will be published in the ERC Work Programme for 2024 and the associated guidance documents.