This Week in Higher Ed — Brussels (#11, 2026)
Commission approves Latvia’s €371m RRF payment; €34.6bn cohesion funds reallocated; new EU definition for innovative startups; Parliament ratifies EU-Lebanon research accord; Council sets research agenda.
March 22, 2026 to March 28, 2026
Commission approves Latvia’s €371m RRF payment; €34.6bn cohesion funds reallocated; new EU definition for innovative startups; Parliament ratifies EU-Lebanon research accord; Council sets research agenda.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 📅 This Week's Calendar in Brussels
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 🏛️ European Parliament
• 🤝 EU Council
• ✒️ EP Committee Work
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
This Week's Calendar in Brussels
- Informal meeting of competitiveness ministers (Research): On March 31, the EU Council's Informal meeting of competitiveness ministers (Research) configuration is scheduled to hold an informal meeting ministerial meeting in Brussels.
European Commission
Commission greenlights Latvia's fourth payment request for €371 million under NextGenerationEU
On 25 March 2026, the European Commission issued a positive preliminary assessment for Latvia's fourth payment request of €371 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the core component of NextGenerationEU. Latvia completed 24 milestones and 17 targets, satisfying criteria set by the Council Implementing Decision. The reforms and investments tied to this payment cover energy efficiency, flood management, health, digitalisation, anti-money laundering, and research support. Notable measures include a national early warning system, healthcare remuneration reform, modernised cancer care, and new rules for energy communities. Four research support programmes are also funded, boosting competence centres, research networks, cross-border cooperation, and participation in Important Projects of Common European Interest. The payment is pending a four-week review by the Council’s Economic and Financial Committee, after which disbursement can proceed.
€34.6 billion in cohesion policy funds reallocated to address EU's strategic priorities
The Commission announced on 24 March 2026 that Member States have reprogrammed €34.6 billion of 2021-2027 cohesion policy funds to support EU priorities such as competitiveness, defence, affordable housing, water resilience, and energy connectivity. The reallocation followed a regulatory mid-term review proposed by the Commission in April 2025 and adopted in September 2025. Amendments to 186 national and regional cohesion programmes in 25 Member States have been approved, representing nearly 10% of the €367 billion cohesion policy budget. Of the reprogrammed funds, €15.2 billion targets competitiveness and innovation, €11.9 billion supports defence and civil preparedness, €3.3 billion is allocated to affordable housing, €3.1 billion to water resilience, and €1.2 billion to energy security and decarbonisation. Eastern border regions receive enhanced financial incentives given their exposure to geopolitical risks.
Commission Q&A details cohesion policy's reallocation of funds
On 24 March 2026, the Commission published a detailed Q&A regarding the mid-term review and reallocation of cohesion policy funds. The review, proposed in April 2025, enabled Member States to direct funding towards new EU priorities, including competitiveness, defence, civil preparedness, affordable housing, water resilience, and energy transition. Financial incentives for reprogramming included increased pre-financing rates and higher EU co-financing, especially for eastern border regions. Most Member States participated, with Austria and Luxembourg opting out due to advanced fund implementation. The Q&A also outlined specific investments in Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), military mobility, and civil preparedness, as well as new opportunities for housing and water infrastructure, and the strategic focus on eastern border regions.
Commissioners present Communication on integrated wildfire risk management
On 24 March 2026, Executive Vice-President Mînzatu and Commissioners Lahbib and Roswall presented the Communication on integrated wildfire risk management. The Communication outlines a comprehensive EU approach that integrates prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery, supported by EU funding, research, and data. It addresses the rising frequency and severity of wildfires across Europe, including in northern regions, and highlights the €2.5 billion annual impact on property and infrastructure. Measures include strengthening the European Forest Fire Information System, expanding the rescEU firefighting fleet, and supporting training and data-driven prevention. The strategy underscores the need for Member State involvement and local adaptation, and introduces guidance for managing wildfire risks in Natura 2000 areas.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Commission Recommendation (EU) 2026/720: Definition of innovative enterprises, startups, and scaleups
On 24 March 2026, the Official Journal published Commission Recommendation (EU) 2026/720 of 18 March 2026 (CELEX: 32026X0720) establishing common definitions for innovative enterprises, innovative startups, and innovative scaleups. The Recommendation aims to harmonise criteria for policy measures and public support across the Union and the EEA. Definitions are based on objective criteria such as innovation activities, age, size, and growth, with specific provisions for deep tech sectors. The Recommendation invites Member States, the EIB, and the EIF to adopt these definitions in policy, legislation, and data collection, to facilitate cross-border activities and ensure equal access to support.
European Parliament
Parliament ratifies EU-Lebanon agreement on scientific and technological cooperation (PRIMA)
On 26 March 2026, the European Parliament voted to approve the draft Council decision concerning an agreement with Lebanon, amending the existing EU-Lebanon scientific and technological cooperation accord. The changes set the terms for Lebanon’s participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA). The file, 2024/0324(NLE), was led by rapporteur Borys Budka and handled by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.
EU Council
Informal Competitiveness Council (Research) scheduled for 31 March 2026
The Council will convene an informal meeting of competitiveness ministers (Research) on 31 March 2026 by video conference. The agenda includes research policy, the role of the EU in global trade, and competitiveness, with particular attention to Russia's war against Ukraine and research cooperation with the EU's eastern neighbours.
EP Committee Work
ITRE Committee considers Horizon Europe 2028–2034 and nuclear safety files
On 24 March 2026, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) held an ordinary meeting in Brussels. The agenda included consideration of the draft report on establishing Horizon Europe for 2028–2034 (rapporteur: Christian Ehler, PPE), as well as draft reports on the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation and Decommissioning (rapporteur: Sophie Wilmès, Renew) and assistance for the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania (rapporteur: Virginijus Sinkevičius, Verts/ALE). Structured dialogue sessions featured Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva (Startups, Research and Innovation) and Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné (Prosperity and Industrial Strategy).
FEMM Committee reviews opinions on ESF, AgoraEU, and Global Europe programmes
On 24 March 2026, the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) met in Brussels to consider draft opinions on several legislative files: the European Social Fund (rapporteur for opinion: Alessandra Moretti, S&D), the 'AgoraEU' programme (rapporteur for opinion: Mélissa Camara, Verts/ALE), and Global Europe (rapporteur for opinion: Abir Al-Sahlani, Renew). The committee also reviewed a Policy Department briefing on the EU gender-based violence survey results and held a joint hearing on menopause care in the EU.
CONT Committee discusses Erasmus+, EU budget discharge, and Horizon Europe opinion
The Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) held its ordinary meeting on 24 March 2026, with a focus on the draft opinion for the Erasmus+ programme 2028–2034 (rapporteur for the opinion: Daniel Freund, Verts/ALE), the 2024 EU budget discharge process (rapporteurs: Daniel Freund and Monika Hohlmeier), and the draft opinion on the establishment of Horizon Europe for 2028–2034 (rapporteur for the opinion: Olivier Chastel, Renew). The committee also discussed the annual report on the financial activities of the European Investment Bank Group and heard a study on ERDF management structures in post-2004 Member States.
REGI Committee adopts opinion on Horizon Europe and holds dialogue on cohesion policy
On 25 March 2026, the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) held an extraordinary meeting to adopt its opinion on the proposal for Horizon Europe 2028–2034 (rapporteur for the opinion: Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza, ECR). The committee also held a structured dialogue with Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto on the Commission Communication regarding the EU’s eastern regions bordering Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine and on the mid-term review of cohesion policy.
What We're Reading This Week
- EU F&T Portal: Researchers and organizations can now access EU funding opportunities and manage grant applications through a centralized online portal.
- Horizon Europe opportunities for researchers from Rio de Janeiro: Researchers in Rio de Janeiro can now access new funding and collaboration opportunities through the Horizon Europe program.
- EU F&T Portal: Researchers and organizations can now access and manage EU funding applications and project information through a centralized online portal.
- Welcome, American scientists: Europe, a haven for researchers struggling under Trump: European institutions see a surge in U.S. researchers seeking supportive environments amid restrictive policies under Trump.
- From afar, American students in France feel the shockwaves of Trump: U.S. students studying in France report heightened tensions and changing attitudes abroad in response to Trump's presidency.
