ECF: Partial General Agreement in the Council reached

On 16th June, the Council reached a Partial General Approach (PGA) on the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) - a key building block of the next MFF and a major step towards making the Fund a reality. The ECF is set to become one of the flagship programmes of the next Multiannual Financial Framework, representing over 21% of the next long-term budget. The fund aims to consolidate 14 existing instruments into a single framework, simplifying EU funding and attracting private investment to boost the EU’s competitiveness. Its ambition is to support the entire journey from research to market deployment, helping innovative ideas become European success stories. The Council position, among others, clarifies the synergies between the ECF and other EU programmes, in particular Horizon Europe; reinforces the ECF focus on SMEs and support for businesses and strengthens the involvement of Member States in the ECF. The Partial General Approach is a major milestone – but not the finish line. With 18 months to go before the ECF is scheduled to launch in January 2028, the centre of gravity is now shifting towards the European Parliament, which is busy with preparing the amendments ahead of a plenary vote expected in October 2026, which will open the door to trilogue negotiations between the three co-legislators.