The European Commission has launched a call for evidence on future European Partnerships to be implemented as Joint Undertakings under the next EU research and innovation framework programme for 2028–2034. Feedback is open until 14 July 2026, giving stakeholders an early opportunity to comment before the next legislative proposal is prepared.
European Partnerships are one of the ways the EU brings together public authorities, researchers, industry and other actors around long-term priorities that are too large or too complex for a single country or organisation to address alone. For people living with a rare disease, the way these partnerships are designed can shape how collaborative research ecosystems are organised and supported across Europe.
Reshaping the future partnership landscape
The initiative is being prepared in the context of the next Multiannual Financial Framework and the proposed future Horizon Europe programme for 2028–2034, with the the aim to make European Partnerships more coherent, reduce fragmentation and strengthen their impact across sectors.
The proposal points to a more streamlined partnership landscape built around a portfolio approach, with a more limited set of partnerships aligned with wider EU strategic priorities and the proposed European Competitiveness Fund. It is also linked to plans for a new Single Basic Act that would create a common legal framework for future Joint Undertakings under Article 187 TFEU, with clearer governance and more harmonised rules where possible.
Although the consultation is not specific to one field, its implications extend to health and rare disease research, which depend on cross-border collaboration, shared infrastructures and sustained investment. The Commission has announced that a 12-week public consultation will follow, offering another opportunity to contribute. For stakeholders who want to help shape the future of Joint Undertakings under FP10, the current call for evidence is the first step.
Photo: culture.ec.europa.eu
