EU drafts selective 19-partnership Horizon Europe portfolio

The General Secretariat of the Council has circulated a background note for the ERAC plenary on 12-13 October 2026 in Dublin, outlining the emerging state of play on priority areas for European Partnerships under the next Framework Programme.

• The note says the Commission and Council approach for Horizon Europe 2028–2034 is moving toward a more selective, strategic and coherent portfolio; the emerging draft contains 19 partnerships and mainstreaming of cross-cutting areas.
• It reports consultation input from 15 Commission services and 30 Member States and Associated Countries, producing about 1000 thematic suggestions; the text stresses the portfolio is still work in progress and not a final Commission proposal.