The European University Association has welcomed a draft European Parliamentary report on the proposed European Fund for Strategic Investments.

The Council of the European Union has agreed its negotiating stance on a proposed regulation for the EFSI, allowing the Latvian Council Presidency to start negotiations with the European Parliament.

The European University Association (EUA) has published an analysis of the EU Investment Plan’s potential impact on universities.

EU member states have concluded discussion on eliminating obstacles to the development of the Single Market and developing a data-driven economy at this week’s Competitiveness Council.

The National Institutes of Bioscience of the United Kingdom has urged the European Parliament and EU member states to safeguard the Horizon 2020 budget from the proposed diversion of funds to the proposed European Fund for Strategic Investment.

Carlos Moedas has reaffirmed his commitment to fostering research and innovation in Europe, drawing attention to the benefits of both the EFSI and Horizon 2020.

The European Commission has launched a new Policy Support Facility to help EU member states reform their research and innovation policies.

The European Commission’s European IPR Helpdesk is hosting a webinar on intellectual property (IP) in EU-funded projects and Horizon 2020 on 6 March at 10:30 CET.

European industry and science ministers will discuss the development of the EU Single Market and encourage industrial competitiveness when the Competitiveness Council meets next week in Brussels.

The European Commission will support Europe’s fight against terrorism with financial support for research projects under Horizon 2020.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between COST and the Joint Research Centre to kick-start mutually beneficial co-operation, helping to promote and spread research excellence across Europe.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the achievements of FP7, the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme for research and innovation, which was worth €53bn of funding for the period 2007-2013.

Three European Parliamentary Committees will discuss the Investment for Europe this week in Brussels.

Leading academics from across Europe have written to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and the EU member state leaders calling for the budget of Horizon 2020 not to be cut.

The president of the European Physics Society has written to Jean-Claude Juncker urging him to reconsider budget cuts to Horizon 2020.

Nine leading UK-based research organisations are urging the country’s MEPs and the UK Government to protect the budget of Horizon 2020, and consequently UK research.

Following a decision by the European Investment Bank, SMEs in Europe should be able to benefit from the first funds from the new European Fund for Strategic Investments before the summer.

An internal document sent to EU finance ministers last week says that the European Commission has the backing of member state officials for the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).

13 universities, technical institutes and private organisations from EU member states with a high potential for research excellence are to receive up to €2.5m each in EU funding to boost their research capacity through the appointment of ‘ERA Chairs’.

An organisation representing 850 higher education institutions has called on the European Parliament to reject proposals that would significantly cut investment in European research.