Over the horizon

Read our policy position paper

The European Commission announced its proposal in June, and it is now being scrutinised by the European Parliament before being adopted into EU law. The two MEPs assigned to shepherd the proposal through the legislative process, Dan Nica and Christian Ehler, have already submitted their amendments, and over the summer it has been the turn of other MEPs to add to or comment on their suggestions.

Excellent science and fundamental research

We are pleased to see that the Horizon Europe proposal would continue to support excellent science, including fundamental research, through such routes as the European Research Council, and the Marie-Skłodowska Curie Actions. It is essential that the programme should continue to support excellent fundamental research – because this kind of research has the potential to deliver groundbreaking discoveries that can open up new avenues for research and innovation.

Drawing on the skills and expertise of countries outside the EU

We represent a global and interconnected network of chemists, with members in 120 countries (including all the EU member states) and wider chemistry communities throughout the world. We welcome Horizon Europe's ambition to be more open to association with countries outside the European Union.

We share the view put forward by the European Chemical Society (of which we are a member) that Horizon 2020 has "immensely benefited from the research and ambition that has stemmed from third countries". Allowing third countries to associate fully to Horizon Europe will be essential in bringing together the most talented scientists, whether they are seeking solutions to global challenges, exploring fundamental research or contributing to the programmes objectives for Sharing Excellence.

Working together on complex global challenges

We need to tackle complex global challenges such as climate change, health or food security that affect people around the world on a global scale and across multiple disciplines and sectors - this is one of the core objectives of Horizon Europe. We want to ensure that EU and other international programmes remain aligned to tackle global challenges, so we welcome the thematic overlap between the Global Challenges of Horizon Europe and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

EuChemS president, Professor Pilar Goya Laza, explained how symbolic she feels it is that their flagship congress should be hosted in Liverpool by the Royal Society of Chemistry. She said: “I think it’s important that this takes place precisely in a city in the UK and it will reinforce the sense that we are all for keeping this relationship. I would like to reinforce and enhance our mission in making chemistry really the central science and convince stakeholders, funding agencies and the public in general that chemistry will provide solutions to our global challenges.”