EU Adopts First-Ever Science Diplomacy Framework; Horizon Europe 2028-34 Debated

The EU Competitiveness Council (Research and Space configuration) met on May 29 and adopted a Council Recommendation establishing the EU's first-ever formal Science Diplomacy framework. The recommendation defines how the EU will use scientific cooperation as a foreign policy instrument — strengthening international research partnerships, projecting the EU's soft power through research excellence, and supporting global access to knowledge. Ministers also held an orientation debate on Horizon Europe 2028-2034, the Commission's proposed €175 billion successor to the current framework programme (submitted July 2025). Ministers gave guidance on scope, participation models for non-EU countries, synergies with the Defence Fund, and the programme's mission-driven architecture. The Council was also briefed on the proposed EU Space Act, a comprehensive harmonised framework for EU space activities covering safety, resilience, environmental sustainability, and European space industry competitiveness in a rapidly commercialising sector.