### this regulation establishes in particular regulatory principles pursuant to which the commission , the body of european regulators for electronic communications and the national competent authorities shall act , each within its own competences , in conjunction with the provisions of directives 2002 / 19 / ec , 2002 / 20 / ec , 2002 / 21 / ec and 2002 / 22 / ec : ### this regulation establishes in particular regulatory principles pursuant to which the commission , the body of european regulators for electronic communications and the national and regional competent authorities shall act , each within its own competences , in conjunction with the provisions of directives 2002 / 19 / ec , 2002 / 20 / ec , 2002 / 21 / ec and 2002 / 22 / ec :


### to favour investment and innovation in new and enhanced high - capacity infrastructures which reach throughout the union and which can cater for evolving end - user demand ; ### to favour investment and innovation in new and enhanced high - capacity infrastructures and to ensure that they reach throughout the union and can cater for evolving end - user demand , wherever they may be located in the european union ;


### ‘ internet access service’ means a publicly available electronic communications service that provides connectivity to the internet , and thereby connectivity between virtually all end points connected to the internet , irrespective of the network technology used ; ### ‘ open internet access service’ means a publicly available electronic communications service that provides connectivity to the internet at a level of quality that reflects the advances in technology , and thereby allows for connectivity between all end points connected to the internet , irrespective of the network technology used and without any restrictions to the legal content exchanged . it enables end - users to run any application utilising the electronic communication function of the internet . unrestricted internet access service is based on the best efforts principle , the only exceptions allowed are proportionate technical traffic management measures or implementation of court order . ;


### in order to prevent the general impairment of quality of service for internet access services or to safeguard the ability of end - users to access and distribute content or information or to run applications and services of their choice , national regulatory authorities shall have the power to impose minimum quality of service requirements on providers of electronic communications to the public . ### in order to prevent the general impairment of quality of service for internet access services or to safeguard the ability of end - users to access and distribute content or information or to run applications and services of their choice , national regulatory authorities shall impose adequate quality of service requirements on providers of electronic communications to the public .


### the quality of their services , in accordance with implementing acts provided for in paragraph 2 ; ### the quality of their services ;


### actually available data speed for download and upload in the end - user ' s member state of residence , including at peak - hours ; ### actually available data speed for download and upload in the end - user ' s member state of residence , including minimum available data speed for downloads and upload at peak - hours ;


### the commission may adopt implementing acts specifying the methods for measuring the speed of internet access services , the quality of service parameters and the methods for measuring them , and the content , form and manner of the information to be published , including possible quality certification mechanisms . the commission may take into account the parameters , definitions and measurement methods set out in annex iii of the directive 2002 / 22 / ec . those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in article 33 . ### berec , after consulting stakeholders and in close cooperation with the commission , shall lay down general guidelines for the methods of measuring the speed of internet access services , the quality of service parameters , and the methods for measuring them , and the content , form and manner of the information to be published , including possible quality certification mechanisms . the commission may take into account the parameters , definitions and measurement methods set out in annex iii of the directive 2002 / 22 / ec .


### ' article 21 transparency and publication of information member states shall ensure that national regulatory authorities are able to oblige undertakings providing public electronic communications networks and / or publicly available electronic communications services to publish transparent , comparable , adequate and up - to - date information on applicable prices and tariffs , on any charges due on termination of a contract and on standard terms and conditions in respect of access to , and use of , services provided by them to end - users and consumers in accordance with annex ii . such information shall be published in a clear , comprehensive and easily accessible form . national regulatory authorities may specify additional requirements regarding the form in which such information is to be published . 2 . national regulatory authorities shall encourage the provision of comparable information to enable end - users and consumers to make an independent evaluation of the cost of alternative usage patterns , for instance by means of interactive guides or similar techniques . where such facilities are not available on the market free of charge or at a reasonable price , member states shall ensure that national regulatory authorities are able to make such guides or techniques available themselves or through third party procurement . third parties shall have a right to use , free of charge , the information published by undertakings providing electronic communications networks and / or publicly available electronic communications services for the purposes of selling or making available such interactive guides or similar techniques . 3 . member states shall ensure that national regulatory authorities are able to oblige undertakings providing public electronic communications networks and / or publicly available electronic communications services to inter alia : provide applicable tariff information to subscribers regarding any number or service subject to particular pricing conditions ; with respect to individual categories of services , national regulatory authorities may require such information to be provided immediately prior to connecting the call ; inform subscribers of any change to access to emergency services or caller location information in the service to which they have subscribed ; inform subscribers of any change to conditions limiting access to and / or use of services and applications , where such conditions are permitted under national law in accordance with community law ; provide information on any procedures put in place by the provider to measure and shape traffic so as to avoid filling or overfilling a network link , and on how those procedures could impact on service quality ; inform subscribers of their right to determine whether or not to include their personal data in a directory , and of the types of data concerned , in accordance with article 12 of directive 2002 / 58 / ec ; and regularly inform disabled subscribers of details of products and services designed for them . if deemed appropriate , national regulatory authorities may promote self or co - regulatory measures prior to imposing any obligation . 4 . member states may require that the undertakings referred to in paragraph 3 distribute public interest information free of charge to existing and new subscribers , where appropriate , by the same means as those ordinarily used by them in their communications with subscribers . in such a case , that information shall be provided by the relevant public authorities in a standardised format and shall , inter alia , cover the following topics : the most common uses of electronic communications services to engage in unlawful activities or to disseminate harmful content , particularly where it may prejudice respect for the rights and freedoms of others , including infringements of copyright and related rights , and their legal consequences ; and the means of protection against risks to personal security , privacy and personal data when using electronic communications services . ### article 21 is replaced by the following : ' article 21 transparency and publication of information member states shall ensure that providers of electronic communications to the public , save for offers which are individually negotiated , publish transparent , comparable , adequate and up - to - date information on : their name , address and contact information ; for each tariff plan the services offered and the relevant quality of service parameters , the applicable prices and any applicable charges , as well as costs with respect to terminal equipment ; applicable tariffs regarding any number or service subject to particular pricing conditions ; the quality of their services , in accordance with implementing acts provided for in paragraph 2 ; internet access services , where offered , specifying the following : actually available data speed for download and upload in the end - user ' s member state of residence , including at peak - hours ; the level of applicable data volume limitations , if any ; the prices for increasing the available data volume on an ad hoc or lasting basis ; the data speed , and its cost , available after full consumption of the applicable data volume , if limited ; and the means for end - users to monitor at any moment the current level of their consumption ; a clear and comprehensible explanation as to how any data volume limitation , the actually available speed and other quality parameters , and the simultaneous use of specialised services with an enhanced quality of service , may practically impact the use of content , applications and services ; information on any procedures put in place by the provider to measure and shape traffic so as to avoid congestion of a network , and on how those procedures could affect service quality and the protection of personal data ; measures taken to ensure equivalence in access for disabled end - users , including regularly updated information on details of products and services designed for them ; their standard contract terms and conditions , including any minimum contractual period , the conditions for and any charges due on early termination of a contract , the procedures and direct charges related to switching and portability of numbers and other identifiers , and compensation arrangements for delay or abuse of switching ; access to emergency services and caller location information for all services offered , any limitations on the provision of emergency services under article 26 of this directive , and any changes thereto ; rights as regards universal service , including , where appropriate , the facilities and services mentioned in annex i to this directive . the information shall be published in a clear , comprehensive and easily accessible form in the official language of the member state where the service is offered , and be updated regularly . the information shall , on request , be supplied to the relevant national regulatory authorities in advance of its publication . any differentiation in the conditions applied to consumers and other end - users shall be made explicit . 2 . the commission , after consulting berec , shall adopt implementing acts specifying the methods for measuring the speed of internet access services , the quality of service parameters and the methods for measuring them , and the content , form and manner of the information to be published , including possible quality certification mechanisms . the commission may take into account the parameters , definitions and measurement methods set out in annex iii of this directive . those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in article 37 . 3 . end - users shall have access to independent evaluation tools allowing them to compare the performance of electronic communications network access and services and the cost of alternative usage patterns . to this end member states may establish a voluntary certification scheme for interactive websites , guides or similar tools . certification shall be granted on the basis of objective , transparent and proportionate requirements , in particular independence from any provider of electronic communications to the public , the use of plain language , the provision of complete and up - to - date information , and the operation of an effective complaints handling procedure . where certified comparison facilities are not available on the market free of charge or at a nominal price , national regulatory authorities or other competent national authorities shall make such facilities available themselves or through third parties in compliance with the certification requirements . the information published by providers of electronic communications to the public shall be accessible , free of charge , for the purposes of making available comparison facilities . 4 . upon request of the relevant public authorities , providers of electronic communications to the public shall distribute public interest information free of charge to end - users , where appropriate , by the same means as those ordinarily used by them in their communications with end - users . in such a case , that information shall be provided by the relevant public authorities to the providers of electronic communications to the public in a standardised format and may , inter alia , cover the following topics : the most common uses of electronic communications services to engage in unlawful activities or to disseminate harmful content , particularly where it may prejudice respect for the rights and freedoms of others , including infringements of data protection rights , copyright and related rights , and their legal consequences ; and the means of protection against risks to personal security and unlawful access to personal data when using electronic communications services . '


### the average wholesale charge that the visited network operator may levy on the customer ' s roaming provider for the provision of a regulated roaming call originating on that visited network , inclusive , inter alia , of origination , transit and termination costs , shall not exceed eur 0 , 14 per minute as of 1 july 2012 . 2 . the average wholesale charge referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply between any pair of operators and shall be calculated over a 12 - month period or any such shorter period as may remain before the end of the period of application of a maximum average wholesale charge as provided for in this paragraph or before 30 june 2022 . the maximum average wholesale charge shall decrease to eur 0 , 10 on 1 july 2013 and to eur 0 , 05 on 1 july 2014 and shall , without prejudice to article 19 , remain at eur 0 , 05 until 30 june 2022 . ### in article 7 , paragraph 1 and 2 are replaced by the following : ' 1 . the average wholesale charge that the visited network operator may levy on the customer ' s roaming provider for the provision of a regulated roaming call originating on that visited network , inclusive , inter alia , of origination , transit and termination costs , shall not exceed eur 0 , 05 per minute as of 1 july 2014 . 2 . the average wholesale charge referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply between any pair of operators and shall be calculated over a 12 - month period or any such shorter period as may remain before the end of the period of application of a maximum average wholesale charge as provided for in this paragraph or before 30 june 2022 . the maximum average wholesale charge shall decrease to eur 0 , 01 on 1 july 2016 and shall remain until 30 june 2022 . '


### ' 1 . with effect from 1 july 2012 , the average wholesale charge that the visited network operator may levy on the roaming customer ' s home provider for the provision of regulated data roaming services by means of that visited network shall not exceed a safeguard limit of eur 0 , 25 per megabyte of data transmitted . the safeguard limit shall decrease to eur 0 , 15 per megabyte of data transmitted on 1 july 2013 and to eur 0 , 05 per megabyte of data transmitted on 1 july 2014 and shall , without prejudice to article 19 , remain at eur 0 , 05 per megabyte of data transmitted until 30 june 2022 . ### article 12 is replaced by the following : ' 1 . with effect from 1 july 2013 , the average wholesale charge that the visited network operator may levy on the roaming customer ' s home provider for the provision of regulated data roaming services by means of that visited network shall not exceed a safeguard limit of eur 0 , 15 per megabyte of data transmitted . the safeguard limit shall decrease to eur 0 , 05 per megabyte of data transmitted on 1 july 2014 and to eur 0 , 0050 per megabyte of data transmitted on 1 july 2015 and shall remain at eur 0 , 0050 per megabyte of data transmitted until 30 june 2022 . '


### ' article 19 review the commission shall review the functioning of this regulation and , after a public consultation , shall report to the european parliament and the council by 30 june 2016 . the commission shall evaluate in particular whether the objectives of this regulation have been achieved . in so doing , the commission shall review , inter alia : whether competition has sufficiently developed in order to justify the expiry of maximum retail charges ; whether competition will be sufficient for the removal of maximum wholesale charges ; the developments and expected future trends in wholesale and retail charges for the provision to roaming customers of voice , sms and data communication services , in comparison to the charges for mobile communications services at domestic level in the member states , both for pre - paid and post - paid customers separately , and in the quality and speed of these services ; the availability and quality of services including those which are an alternative to voice , sms and data roaming services , in particular in the light of technological developments ; the extent to which consumers have benefited through real reductions in the price of roaming services , the variety of tariffs and products which are available to consumers with different calling patterns , and the difference between roaming and national tariffs , including the availability of offers providing a single tariff for national and roaming services ; the degree of competition in both the retail and wholesale markets , in particular the competitive situation of smaller , independent or newly started operators , including the competition effects of commercial agreements and the degree of interconnection between operators ; the extent to which the implementation of the structural measures provided for in articles 3 and 4 has produced results in developing competition in the internal market for roaming services to the extent that the difference between roaming and national tariffs has approached zero ; the extent to which the level of wholesale and retail maximum charges has provided adequate safeguards against excessive prices for consumers while allowing the development of competition in the internal market for roaming services . 2 . if the report shows that the structural measures provided for by this regulation have not been sufficient to promote competition in the internal market for roaming services for the benefit of all european consumers or that the differences between roaming tariffs and national tariffs have not approached zero , the commission shall make appropriate proposals to the european parliament and the council to address this situation and thus achieve an internal market for mobile communication services , ultimately with there being no difference between national and roaming tariffs . the commission shall examine , in particular , whether it is necessary : to lay down additional technical and structural measures ; to modify the structural measures ; to extend the duration and possibly revise the level of the maximum retail charges provided for in articles 8 , 10 and 13 ; to change the duration or revise the level of maximum wholesale charges provided for in articles 7 , 9 and 12 ; to introduce any other necessary requirements , including non - differentiation of roaming and national tariffs . 3 . in addition , the commission shall submit a report to the european parliament and the council every two years after the report referred to in paragraph 1 . each report shall include a summary of the monitoring of the provision of roaming services in the union and an assessment of the progress towards achieving the objectives of this regulation , including by reference to the matters referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 . 4 . in order to assess the competitive developments in the union - wide roaming markets , berec shall regularly collect data from national regulatory authorities on the development of retail and wholesale charges for voice , sms and data roaming services . those data shall be notified to the commission at least twice a year . the commission shall make them public . berec shall also annually collect information from national regulatory authorities on transparency and comparability of different tariffs offered by operators to their customers . the commission shall make those data and findings public . ' ### article 19 is replaced by the following : ' article 19 review the commission shall review the functioning of this regulation and shall report to the european parliament and the council in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 6 . 1a . the commission shall , by 31 september 2015 , after a public consultation , report to the european parliament and the council on whether to change the duration or revise the level of maximum wholesale charges provided for in articles 7 , 9 and 12 . the commission shall also , after consulting berec , make appropriate legislative proposal in order to harmonise mobile termination rates throughout the eu by 31 december 2015 . 1b . the commission shall , by 30 june 2016 , after a public consultation , report to the european parliament and the council on , inter alia : whether competition has sufficiently developed in order to justify the expiry of maximum retail charges ; whether competition will be sufficient for the removal of maximum wholesale charges ; the developments and expected future trends in wholesale and retail charges for the provision to roaming customers of voice , sms and data communication services , in comparison to the charges for mobile communications services at domestic level in the member states , both for pre - paid and post - paid customers separately , and in the quality and speed of these services ; the availability and quality of services including those which are an alternative to voice , sms and data roaming services , in particular in the light of technological developments ; the extent to which consumers have benefited through real reductions in the price of roaming services , the variety of tariffs and products which are available to consumers with different calling patterns , and the difference between roaming and national tariffs , including the availability of offers providing a single tariff for national and roaming services ; the degree of competition in both the retail and wholesale markets , in particular the competitive situation of smaller , independent or newly started operators , including the competition effects of commercial agreements and the degree of interconnection between operators ; the extent to which the implementation of the structural measures provided for in articles 3 and 4 has produced results in developing competition in the internal market for roaming services to the extent that the difference between roaming and national tariffs has approached zero ; the extent to which the level of wholesale and retail maximum charges has provided adequate safeguards against excessive prices for consumers while allowing the development of competition in the internal market for roaming services . 2 . if the report referred to in paragraph 2 shows that there is a need to change the duration or revise the level of maximum wholesale charges , the commission shall , by 31 december 2015 , and after consulting berec , make appropriate proposal to the european parliament and the council to address this situation . if the report , referred to in paragraph 3 , shows that the structural measures provided for by this regulation have not been sufficient to promote competition in the internal market for roaming services for the benefit of all european consumers or that the differences between roaming tariffs and national tariffs have not approached zero , the commission shall , by 31 december 2015 , make appropriate proposals to the european parliament and the council to address this situation and thus achieve an internal market for mobile communication services , ultimately with there being no difference between national and roaming tariffs . 3 . in addition , the commission shall submit a report to the european parliament and the council every two years after the report referred to in paragraph 1 . each report shall include a summary of the monitoring of the provision of roaming services in the union and an assessment of the progress towards achieving the objectives of this regulation , including by reference to the matters referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 . 4 . in order to assess the competitive developments in the union - wide roaming markets , berec shall regularly collect data from national regulatory authorities on the development of retail and wholesale charges for voice , sms and data roaming services . those data shall be notified to the commission at least twice a year . the commission shall make them public . berec shall also annually collect information from national regulatory authorities on transparency and comparability of different tariffs offered by operators to their customers . the commission shall make those data and findings public . '


### the vulnerability of pregnant workers and of workers who have recently given birth or who are breastfeeding makes it necessary for them to be granted the right to maternity leave of at least 18 continuous weeks , allocated before and / or after confinement , and renders necessary the compulsory nature of maternity leave of at least six weeks allocated after confinement . ### the vulnerability of pregnant workers and of workers who have recently given birth or who are breastfeeding makes it necessary for them to be granted the right to maternity leave of at least 16 continuous weeks , allocated before and / or after confinement , and renders necessary the compulsory nature of maternity leave of at least eight weeks allocated after confinement . the length of this leave shall be extended to 12 weeks in the case of premature or multiple births or if the mother is breastfeeding . during the whole period of this leave , the worker should continue to be remunerated at the full amount of her previous earnings .


### member states shall take the necessary measures to ensure that additional leave is granted in the case of premature childbirth , children hospitalised at birth , children with disabilities and multiple births . the duration of the additional leave should be proportionate and allow the special needs of the mother and the child / children to be accommodated . ### member states shall take the necessary measures to ensure that additional leave of four weeks is granted in the case of premature childbirth or multiple births or if the mother is breastfeeding .


### member states and national equality bodies shall communicate to the commission , by [ five years after adoption ] at the latest and every five years thereafter , all the information necessary for the commission to draw up a report to the european parliament and the council on the application of directive 92 / 85 / eec as amended by this directive . ### member states and national equality bodies shall communicate to the commission , by [ three years after adoption ] at the latest and every three years thereafter , all the information necessary for the commission to draw up a report to the european parliament and the council on the application of directive 92 / 85 / eec as amended by this directive .


### the union has the objective of strengthening its scientific and technological bases by achieving a european research area in which researchers , scientific knowledge and technology circulate freely , and encouraging the union to become more competitive , including in its industry . to pursue those objectives the union should carry out activities to implement research , technological development and demonstration , promote international cooperation , disseminate and optimise results and stimulate training and mobility . ### the union has the objective of strengthening its scientific and technological bases by achieving a european research area in which researchers , scientific knowledge and technology circulate freely , and encouraging the union to become a world leading competitive knowledge economy , including in its industry . especially centres of excellences and frontier research are crucial for attracting further private investments in research and stimulating economic growth , making the union more competitive and accelerating the union ' s transformation into a knowledge society . to pursue those objectives the union should carry out activities to implement research , technological development and demonstration , promote international cooperation , disseminate and optimise results and stimulate training and mobility .


### the union has the objective of strengthening its scientific and technological bases by achieving a european research area in which researchers , scientific knowledge and technology circulate freely , and encouraging the union to become more competitive , including in its industry . to pursue those objectives the union should carry out activities to implement research , technological development and demonstration , promote international cooperation , disseminate and optimise results and stimulate training and mobility . ### the union has the objective of strengthening its scientific and technological bases by achieving a european research area in which researchers , scientific knowledge and technology circulate freely , and encouraging the union to become more competitive , including in its industry . to pursue those objectives the union should carry out activities to implement research and innovation , technological development and demonstration , promote international cooperation , disseminate and optimise results and stimulate training and mobility .


### the union is committed to achieving the europe 2020 strategy , which has set the objectives of smart , sustainable and inclusive growth , highlighting the role of research and innovation as key drivers of social and economic prosperity and of environmental sustainability and setting itself the goal to increase spending on research and development to reach 3 % of gross domestic product by 2020 while developing an innovation intensity indicator . in this context , the innovation union flagship initiative sets out a strategic and integrated approach to research and innovation , setting the framework and objectives to which future union research and innovation funding should contribute . research and innovation are also key factors for other europe 2020 flagship initiatives , notably on resource efficient europe , an industrial policy for the globalisation era , and a digital agenda for europe . moreover , for achieving the europe 2020 objectives relating to research and innovation , cohesion policy has a key role to play through building capacity and providing a stairway to excellence . ### the union is committed to achieving the europe 2020 strategy , which has set the objectives of smart , sustainable and inclusive growth , highlighting the role of research and innovation and application of the results thereof as key drivers of social and economic prosperity and of environmental sustainability and setting itself the goal to increase spending on research and development to reach 3 % of gross domestic product by 2020 while developing an innovation intensity indicator . in this context , the innovation union flagship initiative sets out a strategic and integrated approach to research and innovation , setting the framework and objectives to which future union research and innovation funding should contribute . research and innovation are also key factors for other europe 2020 flagship initiatives , notably on resource efficient europe , an industrial policy for the globalisation era , and a digital agenda for europe . moreover , for achieving the europe 2020 objectives relating to research and innovation , cohesion policy has a key role to play through building capacity and providing a stairway to excellence .


### the union is committed to achieving the europe 2020 strategy , which has set the objectives of smart , sustainable and inclusive growth , highlighting the role of research and innovation as key drivers of social and economic prosperity and of environmental sustainability and setting itself the goal to increase spending on research and development to reach 3 % of gross domestic product by 2020 while developing an innovation intensity indicator . in this context , the innovation union flagship initiative sets out a strategic and integrated approach to research and innovation , setting the framework and objectives to which future union research and innovation funding should contribute . research and innovation are also key factors for other europe 2020 flagship initiatives , notably on resource efficient europe , an industrial policy for the globalisation era , and a digital agenda for europe . moreover , for achieving the europe 2020 objectives relating to research and innovation , cohesion policy has a key role to play through building capacity and providing a stairway to excellence . ### the union is committed to achieving the europe 2020 strategy which has set the objectives of smart , sustainable and inclusive growth , highlighting the role of research and innovation as key drivers of social and economic prosperity and of environmental sustainability and setting itself the goal to increase spending on research and development to reach 3 % of gross domestic product by 2020 while developing an innovation intensity indicator . in this context , the innovation union flagship initiative sets out a strategic and integrated approach to research and innovation , setting the framework and objectives to which future union research and innovation funding should contribute . research and innovation are also key factors for other europe 2020 flagship initiatives , notably on resource efficient europe , an industrial policy for the globalisation era , and a digital agenda for europe . moreover , for achieving the europe 2020 objectives relating to research and innovation , cohesion policy has a key role to play through building capacity and providing a stairway to excellence as well as promoting business research and innovation investment and supporting technological and applied research , pilot lines , early product validation actions and first production in key enabling technologies .


### the union is committed to achieving the europe 2020 strategy , which has set the objectives of smart , sustainable and inclusive growth , highlighting the role of research and innovation as key drivers of social and economic prosperity and of environmental sustainability and setting itself the goal to increase spending on research and development to reach 3 % of gross domestic product by 2020 while developing an innovation intensity indicator . in this context , the innovation union flagship initiative sets out a strategic and integrated approach to research and innovation , setting the framework and objectives to which future union research and innovation funding should contribute . research and innovation are also key factors for other europe 2020 flagship initiatives , notably on resource efficient europe , an industrial policy for the globalisation era , and a digital agenda for europe . moreover , for achieving the europe 2020 objectives relating to research and innovation , cohesion policy has a key role to play through building capacity and providing a stairway to excellence . ### the union is committed to achieving the europe 2020 strategy , which has set the objectives of smart , sustainable and inclusive growth , highlighting the role of research and innovation as key drivers of social and economic prosperity and of environmental sustainability and setting itself the goal to increase public spending on research and development in order to attract private investments , thereby reaching an accumulative total of 3 % of gross domestic product by 2020 while developing an innovation intensity indicator . in this context , the innovation union flagship initiative sets out a strategic and integrated approach to research and innovation , setting the framework and objectives to which future union research and innovation funding should contribute . research and innovation are also key factors for other europe 2020 flagship initiatives , notably on resource efficient europe , an industrial policy for the globalisation era , and a digital agenda for europe . moreover , for achieving the europe 2020 objectives relating to research and innovation , cohesion policy has a key role to play through building capacity and providing a stairway to excellence .


### the european parliament has called for a radical simplification of union research and innovation funding in its resolution of 11 november 2010 , has highlighted the importance of the innovation union to transform europe for post - crisis world , in its resolution of 12 may 2011 , has drawn attention to important lessons to be learned following the interim evaluation of the seventh framework programme in its resolution of 8 june 2011 and has supported the concept of a common strategic framework for research and innovation funding in its resolution of 27 september 20118 . ### the european parliament has called for a radical simplification of union research and innovation funding in its resolution of 11 november 2010 , has highlighted the importance of the innovation union to transform europe for post - crisis world , in its resolution of 12 may 2011 , has drawn attention to important lessons to be learned following the interim evaluation of the seventh framework programme in its resolution of 8 june 2011 and has supported the concept of a common strategic framework for research and innovation funding , while calling for a doubling of the budget compared to the seventh framework programme in its resolution of 27 september 2011 .


### horizon 2020 - the framework programme for research and innovation in the european union , focuses on three priorities , namely generating excellent science in order to strengthen the union ' s world - class excellence in science , fostering industrial leadership to support business , including small and medium - sized enterprises and innovation and tackling societal challenges , in order to respond directly to the challenges identified in the europe 2020 strategy by supporting activities covering the entire spectrum from research to market . horizon 2020 should support all stages in the innovation chain , especially activities closer to the market including innovative financial instruments , as well as non - technological and social innovation , and aims to satisfy the research needs of a broad spectrum of union policies by placing emphasis on the widest possible use and dissemination of knowledge generated by the supported activities up to its commercial exploitation . the priorities of horizon 2020 should also be supported through a programme under the euratom treaty on nuclear research and training . ### horizon 2020 - the framework programme for research and innovation in the european union , focuses on three priorities , namely increasing the level of scientific excellence in europe in order to strengthen the union ' s position as a world - class science base , fostering industrial leadership to support business , including small and medium - sized enterprises and innovation and tackling societal challenges , in order to respond directly to the challenges identified in the europe 2020 strategy by supporting activities covering the entire spectrum from research to market . horizon 2020 should support all stages in the innovation chain , especially activities closer to the market including innovative financial instruments , as well as non - technological and social innovation , and aims to satisfy the research needs of a broad spectrum of union policies by placing emphasis on the widest possible use and dissemination of knowledge generated by the supported activities up to its commercial exploitation . the priorities of horizon 2020 should also be supported through a programme under the euratom treaty on nuclear research and training .


### horizon 2020 - the framework programme for research and innovation in the european union , focuses on three priorities , namely generating excellent science in order to strengthen the union ' s world - class excellence in science , fostering industrial leadership to support business , including small and medium - sized enterprises and innovation and tackling societal challenges , in order to respond directly to the challenges identified in the europe 2020 strategy by supporting activities covering the entire spectrum from research to market . horizon 2020 should support all stages in the innovation chain , especially activities closer to the market including innovative financial instruments , as well as non - technological and social innovation , and aims to satisfy the research needs of a broad spectrum of union policies by placing emphasis on the widest possible use and dissemination of knowledge generated by the supported activities up to its commercial exploitation . the priorities of horizon 2020 should also be supported through a programme under the euratom treaty on nuclear research and training . ### horizon 2020 - the framework programme for research and innovation in the european union , focuses on three priorities , namely generating excellent science in order to strengthen the union ' s world - class excellence in science , fostering global industrial leadership to support business , including small and medium - sized enterprises and innovation and tackling societal challenges , in order to respond directly to the challenges identified in the europe 2020 strategy by supporting activities covering the entire spectrum from research to market . horizon 2020 should support all stages in the innovation chain , especially activities closer to the market including innovative financial instruments , as well as non - technological and social innovation , and aims to satisfy the research needs of a broad spectrum of union policies by placing emphasis on the widest possible use and dissemination of knowledge , in the form of scientific and innovative results , artefacts , methods and processes , generated by the supported activities up to its commercial exploitation . the priorities of horizon 2020 should also be supported through a programme under the euratom treaty on nuclear research and training .


### simplification is a central aim of horizon 2020 which should be fully reflected in its design , rules , financial management and implementation . horizon 2020 should aim to attract the strong participation of universities , research centres , industry and specifically smes and be open to new participants , as it brings together the full range of research and innovation support in one common strategic framework , including a streamlined set of forms of support and uses rules for participation with principles applicable to all actions under the programme . simpler funding rules should reduce the administrative costs for participation and will contribute to a reduction of financial errors . ### simplification is a central aim of horizon 2020 which should be fully reflected in its design , rules , financial management and implementation . horizon 2020 should aim to attract the strong participation of universities , research centres , industry and specifically smes and be open to new participants , as it brings together the full range of research and innovation support in one common strategic framework , including a streamlined set of forms of support and uses rules for participation with principles applicable to all actions under the programme . simpler funding rules should reduce the administrative costs for participation and will contribute to the prevention and the reduction of financial errors .


### with the aim of deepening the relationship between science and society and reinforcing public confidence in science , horizon 2020 should favour an informed engagement of citizens and civil society on research and innovation matters by promoting science education , by making scientific knowledge more accessible , by developing responsible research and innovation agendas that meet citizens ' and civil society ' s concerns and expectations and by facilitating their participation in horizon 2020 activities . ### with the aim of deepening the relationship between science and society and re - establishing and deepening public confidence in science , horizon 2020 should favour an active participation of citizens and civil society on research and innovation matters by promoting participatory research , science education , by making scientific knowledge more accessible , by developing responsible agendas for research and innovation and application of the results thereof that meet citizens ' and civil society ' s concerns and expectations and by facilitating their participation in horizon 2020 activities .


### with the aim of deepening the relationship between science and society and reinforcing public confidence in science , horizon 2020 should favour an informed engagement of citizens and civil society on research and innovation matters by promoting science education , by making scientific knowledge more accessible , by developing responsible research and innovation agendas that meet citizens ' and civil society ' s concerns and expectations and by facilitating their participation in horizon 2020 activities . ### with the aim of deepening the relationship between science and society , horizon 2020 should favour responsible research and innovation through the active participation of the societal actors in the research and innovation process , notably by ensuring the uptake of the gender dimension ; by promoting science education , by guaranteeing the respect of ethical legislation and promoting the emergence of an adherence to the highest ethical standards worldwide ; by increasing the accessibility and re - use of the results of publicly funded research , in particular scientific publications and data ; by making scientific knowledge more accessible , by developing a governance framework that meet citizens ' and civil society ' s concerns and expectations and facilitates their participation in horizon 2020 activities .


### with the aim of deepening the relationship between science and society and reinforcing public confidence in science , horizon 2020 should favour an informed engagement of citizens and civil society on research and innovation matters by promoting science education , by making scientific knowledge more accessible , by developing responsible research and innovation agendas that meet citizens ' and civil society ' s concerns and expectations and by facilitating their participation in horizon 2020 activities . ### with the aim of deepening the relationship between science and society , horizon 2020 should favour responsible research and innovation through the active participation of the societal actors in the research and innovation process , notably by ensuring the uptake of the gender dimension , by promoting science education , by guaranteeing the respect of ethical legislation and promoting the emergence of an adherence to the highest ethical standards worldwide , by increasing the accessibility and re - use of the results of publicly funded research , in particular scientific publications and data , by making scientific knowledge more accessible , by developing a governance framework that meet citizens ' and civil society ' s concerns and expectations and facilitates their participation in horizon 2020 activities .


### with the aim of deepening the relationship between science and society and reinforcing public confidence in science , horizon 2020 should favour an informed engagement of citizens and civil society on research and innovation matters by promoting science education , by making scientific knowledge more accessible , by developing responsible research and innovation agendas that meet citizens ' and civil society ' s concerns and expectations and by facilitating their participation in horizon 2020 activities . ### with the aim of deepening the relationship between science and society and reinforcing public confidence in science , horizon 2020 should favour an informed engagement of citizens and civil society on research and innovation matters by promoting science education , by making scientific knowledge more accessible , by developing responsible and ethical research and innovation agendas that meet citizens ' and civil society ' s concerns , needs and expectations and by facilitating and enhancing their participation in horizon 2020 activities .


### the implementation of horizon 2020 should respond to the evolving opportunities and needs from science and technology , industry , policies and society . as such , the agendas should be set in close liaison with stakeholders from all sectors concerned , and sufficient flexibility should be allowed for new developments . external advice should be sought on a continuous basis during horizon 2020 , also making use of relevant structures such as european technology platforms , joint programming initiatives and the european innovation partnerships . ### the implementation of horizon 2020 should respond to the evolving opportunities and development from science and technology , industry , policies and society and environment . as such , the agendas should be set in cooperation with stakeholders from all sectors concerned , and sufficient flexibility should be allowed for new developments , however horizon 2020 must recognise the need for leadership by european institutions to ensure global competitiveness particularly in the area of biotechnology . external advice should be sought on a continuous basis during horizon 2020 , also making use of relevant structures such as european technology platforms , joint programming initiatives and the european innovation partnerships .


### to achieve maximum impact , horizon 2020 should develop close synergies with other union programmes in areas such as education , space , environment , competitiveness and smes , the internal security , culture and media and with the cohesion policy funds and rural development policy , which can specifically help to strengthen national and regional research and innovation capabilities in the context of smart specialisation strategies . ### to achieve maximum impact , horizon 2020 should develop close synergies and flagship initiatives with other union programmes in areas such as education , space , environment , energy , agriculture and fisheries , competitiveness and smes , the internal security , culture and media and with the cohesion policy funds and rural development policy , which can specifically help to strengthen national and regional research and innovation capabilities and foster the potential to ascend the ' stairway to excellence ' in the context of smart specialisation strategies .


### a greater impact should also be achieved by combining horizon 2020 and private sector funds within public - private partnerships in key areas where research and innovation could contribute to europe ' s wider competitiveness goals and help tackle societal challenges . the public - private partnerships in the form of joint technology initiatives launched under decision no 1982 / 2006 / ec of the european parliament and of the council of 18 december 2006 concerning the seventh framework programme of the european community for research , technological development and demonstration activities may be continued using more fit - for - purpose structures . ### a greater impact could also be achieved by combining horizon 2020 and private sector funds within public - private partnerships in key areas where research and innovation could contribute to europe ' s wider competitiveness goals , unlocking private funds and help tackle societal challenges . these partnerships should be based on a real partnership , including in terms of commitments and contributions from the private sector , define and be accountable to concrete targets to be reached , be aligned with the rest of horizon 2020 in terms of rules on ipr , access rights , transparency and openness towards interested newcomers and small players , encourage the involvement of the entire value chain , incentivise additional private r&d investments , and be aligned with the union r&d&i strategic agenda . the public - private partnerships in the form of joint technology initiatives launched under decision no 1982 / 2006 / ec of the european parliament and of the council of 18 december 2006 concerning the seventh framework programme of the european community for research , technological development and demonstration activities may be continued using more fit - for - purpose structures and respecting the above mentioned principles .


### horizon 2020 should promote cooperation with third countries based on common interest and mutual benefit . international cooperation in science , technology and innovation should be targeted to contribute to achieving the europe 2020 objectives to strengthen competitiveness , contribute to tackling societal challenges and support union external and development policies , including by developing synergies with external programmes and contributing to the union ' s international commitments such as the achievement of millennium development goals . ### horizon 2020 should promote cooperation with third countries , in particular european neighbourhood policy countries , based on common interest and mutual benefit . international cooperation in science , technology and innovation should be targeted to contribute to achieving the europe 2020 objectives to strengthen competitiveness , contribute to tackling societal challenges and support union external and development policies , including by developing synergies with external programmes and contributing to the union ' s international commitments such as the achievement of millennium development goals .


### the need for a new approach to control and risk management in union research funding was recognised by the european council of 4 february 2011 , asking for a new balance between trust and control and between risk - taking and risk avoidance . the european parliament , in its resolution of 11 november 2010 on simplifying the implementation of the research framework programmes , called for a pragmatic shift towards administrative and financial simplification and states that the management of european research funding should be more trust - based and risk - tolerant towards participants . the interim evaluation report of the seventh framework programme for research concludes that a more radical approach is needed to attain a quantum leap in simplification , and that the risk - trust balance needs to be redressed . ### the need for a new approach to control and risk management in union research funding was recognised by the european council of 4 february 2011 , asking for a new balance between trust and control and between risk - taking and risk avoidance . the european parliament , in its resolution of 11 november 2010 on simplifying the implementation of the research framework programmes , called for a pragmatic shift towards administrative and financial simplification and states that the management of european research funding should be more trust - based and risk - tolerant towards participants . the interim evaluation report of the seventh framework programme for research concludes that a more radical approach is needed to attain a quantum leap in simplification , and that the risk - trust balance needs to be redressed . this administrative and financial simplification should be completed before the beginning of horizon 2020 .


### effective performance management , including evaluation and monitoring , requires development of specific performance indicators which can be measured over time ; are both realistic and reflect the logic of the intervention ; and relevant to the appropriate hierarchy of objectives and activities . appropriate coordination mechanisms should be put in place between the implementation and monitoring of horizon 2020 , and the monitoring of progress , achievements and functioning of the era . ### effective performance management , including evaluation and monitoring , requires development of specific common european performance indicators which can be measured over time ; are both realistic and reflect the logic of the intervention ; and relevant to the appropriate hierarchy of objectives and activities . appropriate coordination mechanisms should be put in place between the implementation and monitoring of horizon 2020 , and the monitoring of progress , achievements and functioning of the era .


### this regulation establishes horizon 2020 - the framework programme for research and innovation and determines the framework governing union support to research and innovation activities and fostering better exploitation of the industrial potential of policies of innovation , research and technological development . ### this regulation establishes horizon 2020 - the framework programme for research and innovation and determines the framework governing union support to research and innovation activities and application of the results thereof and fostering better exploitation of the industrial potential of policies of innovation , research and technological development .


### this regulation establishes horizon 2020 - the framework programme for research and innovation and determines the framework governing union support to research and innovation activities and fostering better exploitation of the industrial potential of policies of innovation , research and technological development . ### this regulation establishes horizon 2020 - the framework programme for research and innovation and determines the framework governing union support to research and innovation activities and fostering better exploitation of the industrial potential of policies of innovation , research and technological development . this regulation shall not fund the commission ' s administrative expenditure to execute this programme , nor the construction nor the operation of large european infrastructural projects , such as galileo , gmes or iter .


### ' research and innovation activities ' means the whole spectrum of activities of research , technological development , demonstration and innovation , including the promotion of cooperation with third countries and international organisations , dissemination and optimisation of results and stimulation of the training and mobility of researchers in the union ; ### ' research and innovation activities ' means the whole spectrum of activities of research , technological development , demonstration and innovation , including the promotion of cooperation with third countries and international organisations , open access , dissemination and optimisation of results and stimulation of the training and mobility of researchers in the union ;


### ' research and innovation activities ' means the whole spectrum of activities of research , technological development , demonstration and innovation , including the promotion of cooperation with third countries and international organisations , dissemination and optimisation of results and stimulation of the training and mobility of researchers in the union ; ### ' research and innovation activities ' means the whole spectrum of activities of research , technological development , demonstration and innovation , including the promotion of cooperation with third countries and international organisations , dissemination and optimisation of results and stimulation of the high quality targeted training and mobility of researchers in the union ;


### horizon 2020 shall play a central role in the delivery of the europe 2020 strategy for smart , sustainable and inclusive growth by providing a common strategic framework for the union ' s research and innovation funding , thus acting as a vehicle for leveraging private investment , creating new job opportunities and ensuring europe ' s long - term sustainable growth and competitiveness . ### horizon 2020 shall play a central role in the delivery of the europe 2020 strategy for smart , sustainable and inclusive growth and its innovation union and resource - efficient europe flagship initiatives by providing a common strategic framework for the union ' s research and innovation funding , thus acting as a vehicle for leveraging private investment , transferring research results to all the levels of education , supporting the growth of smes , creating new job opportunities , better health and health outcomes and generating more innovation out of research , and ensuring europe ' s long - term sustainability , economic development and resilience , social inclusion and industrial competitiveness through a resource and energy efficient as well as low carbon leadership . trans - european technology transfer should be the main tool in achieving these goals .


### horizon 2020 shall contribute to building an economy based on knowledge and innovation across the whole union by leveraging sufficient additional research , development and innovation funding . thereby , it shall support the implementation of the europe 2020 strategy and other union policies , as well as the achievement and functioning of the european research area . the relevant performance indicators are set out in the introduction of annex i . ### horizon 2020 shall contribute to economic growth by building a resource efficient and low carbon economy based on knowledge , sustainability and innovation across the whole union by leveraging sufficient additional research , development and innovation funding . thereby , it shall support the implementation of the europe 2020 strategy and its innovation union and resource - efficient europe flagship initiatives and other union policies , as well as the achievement and functioning of the european research area . the relevant performance indicators are set out in the introduction of annex i .


### horizon 2020 shall contribute to building an economy based on knowledge and innovation across the whole union by leveraging sufficient additional research , development and innovation funding . thereby , it shall support the implementation of the europe 2020 strategy and other union policies , as well as the achievement and functioning of the european research area . the relevant performance indicators are set out in the introduction of annex i . ### horizon 2020 shall contribute to building an economy based on knowledge and innovation across the whole union by leveraging sufficient additional research , development and innovation funding . thereby , it shall support the implementation of the europe 2020 strategy and other union policies , as well as the achievement and functioning of the european research area . the instruments for the connection between research and innovation and structural funds should be implemented through the programs , ' regions of knowledge ' and ' smart specialisation ' . both instruments should be located inside era , in order to create objective indicators for the ' stairways of excellence ' .


### horizon 2020 shall contribute to building an economy based on knowledge and innovation across the whole union by leveraging sufficient additional research , development and innovation funding . thereby , it shall support the implementation of the europe 2020 strategy and other union policies , as well as the achievement and functioning of the european research area . the relevant performance indicators are set out in the introduction of annex i . ### horizon 2020 shall contribute to building a world leading economy based on knowledge and innovation across the whole union by leveraging sufficient additional frontier and excellent research , development and innovation funding . thereby , it shall support the creation of globally competitive centres of excellence and the implementation of the europe 2020 strategy and other union policies , as well as the achievement and functioning of the european research area . the relevant performance indicators are set out in the introduction of annex i .


### association of third countries ### participation by overseas countries and territories and association of third countries


### selected third countries that fulfil all of the following criteria : ### selected third countries that shall :


### have a good capacity in science , technology and innovation ; ### are world - leaders in their respective research field and have a good capacity in science , technology and innovation ;


### horizon 2020 shall support indirect actions through one or several of the forms of funding provided for by regulation no xx / 2012 [ new financial regulation ] in particular grants , prizes , procurement and financial instruments . ### horizon 2020 shall support indirect actions through one or several of the forms of funding provided for by regulation no xx / 2012 [ new financial regulation ] in particular grants , prizes , procurement and financial instruments . the latter shall be the predominant form of funding for activities close to market , supported under this programme .


### for the implementation of horizon 2020 , account shall be taken of advice and inputs provided by : advisory groups of independent , high level experts set up by the commission ; dialogue structures created under international science and technology agreements ; forward looking activities ; targeted public consultations ; and transparent and interactive processes that ensure responsible research and innovation is supported . ### for the implementation of horizon 2020 , account shall be taken of advice and inputs provided by : advisory groups of independent , high level experts set up by the commission ; non - profit civil society platforms ; dialogue structures created under international science and technology agreements ; representatives from industry ; forward looking activities ; targeted public consultations ; active consultation of organisations of persons with disabilities , and transparent and interactive processes that ensure responsible research and innovation is supported .


### full account shall also be taken of relevant aspects of the research and innovation agendas established by european technology platforms , joint programming initiatives and european innovation partnerships . ### full account shall also be taken of relevant aspects of the research and innovation agendas established by the european institute of innovation and technology , european technology platforms , joint programming initiatives and european innovation partnerships .


### linkages and interfaces shall be implemented across and within the priorities of horizon 2020 . particular attention shall be paid in this respect to the development and application of key enabling and industrial technologies , to bridging from discovery to market application , to cross - disciplinary research and innovation , to social and economic sciences and humanities , to fostering the functioning and achievement of the era , to cooperation with third countries , to responsible research and innovation including gender , and to enhancing the attractiveness of the research profession and to facilitating cross - border and cross - sector mobility of researchers . ### linkages and interfaces shall be implemented across and within the priorities of horizon 2020 . particular attention shall be paid in this respect to the development and application of key enabling and industrial technologies , to bridging from discovery to market application , to multi - and inter - disciplinary research and innovation , to social and economic sciences and humanities , to fostering the functioning and achievement of the era , to cooperation with third countries , to responsible and ethical research and innovation including gender and age , and to enhancing the attractiveness of the research profession and to facilitating cross - border and cross - sector mobility of researchers .


### horizon 2020 shall be implemented in a manner ensuring that the priorities and actions supported are relevant to changing needs and take account of the evolving nature of science , technology , innovation , markets and society , where innovation includes business , organisational and social aspects . ### horizon 2020 shall be implemented in a manner ensuring that the priorities and actions supported remain relevant to changing needs and diverse challenges and take account of the evolving nature of science , technology , innovation , economy and society , where innovation includes technological , business , organisational and social aspects .


### all the research and innovation activities carried out under horizon 2020 shall comply with ethical principles and relevant national , union and international legislation , including the charter of fundamental rights of the european union and the european convention on human rights and its supplementary protocols . ### 1 all the research and innovation activities carried out under horizon 2020 shall comply with ethical principles and relevant national , union and international legislation , including the charter of fundamental rights of the european union , the european convention on human rights and its supplementary protocols , the declaration of helsinki on ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects of the world medical association , the council of europe convention of 4 april 1997 for the protection of human rights and dignity of the human being with regard to the application of biology and medicine , with its additional protocols , and resolution no 59 / 280 of the general assembly of the united nations of 8 march 2005 on human cloning .


### research on human stem cells , both adult and embryonic , may be financed , depending both on the contents of the scientific proposal and the legal framework of the member states involved . no funding shall be granted for research activities that are prohibited in all the member states . no activity shall be funded in a member state where such activity is forbidden . ### research activities aiming at developing and improving therapies based on human stem cells will be supported . funding for research on all types of human stem cells , including embryonic stem cells , may be financed , depending both on the contents of the scientific proposal and the legal framework of the member states involved . for research purposes , embryonic stem cells must have been derived from supernumerary embryos produced via in vitro fertilisation , and not be needed for the purposes of reproduction . additionally , horizon 2020 will support research activities aiming at developing potential alternatives to human embryonic stem cells . no funding shall be granted for research activities that are prohibited in all the member states . no activity shall be funded in a member state where such activity is forbidden .


### research activity aiming at human cloning for reproductive purposes ; ### research activity aiming at human and animal cloning for reproductive purposes ;


### research activity intended to modify the genetic heritage of human beings which could make such changes heritable ; ### research activity intended to modify the human genome for purposes other than preventive , diagnostic or therapeutic ; as well as research activity intended to modify the genetic heritage of human beings which could make such changes heritable ;


### horizon 2020 shall be implemented in a way which is complementary to other union funding programmes , including the structural funds . ### horizon 2020 shall be implemented in a way which is complementary to other union and national funding programmes , including shared management funds such as cohesion and structural funds and the programme for the competitiveness of enterprises and smes . to this end , the commission shall develop appropriate tools to assess complementarity . the european court of auditors , when assessing the implementation of horizon 2020 in its annual discharge report presented to the european parliament , shall also take into account the complementarity principle .


### horizon 2020 shall contribute to the strengthening of public - public partnerships where actions at regional , national or international level are jointly implemented within the union . ### horizon 2020 shall contribute to the strengthening of public - public partnerships where actions at regional , national or international level are jointly implemented within the union . the amount used for funding of public - public - partnerships shall not exceed 15% of the total budget for horizon 2020


### union participation in programmes undertaken by several member states in accordance with article 185 tfeu . ### union participation in programmes undertaken by several regional authorities or member states in accordance with article 185 tfeu .


### for the purposes of point such initiatives shall only be proposed in cases where there is a need for a dedicated implementation structure and where there is a high level of commitment of the participating countries to integration at scientific , management and financial levels . in addition , proposals for initiatives referred to in point shall be identified on the basis of all of the following criteria : ### for the purposes of point such initiatives shall only be proposed in cases where there is a need for a dedicated implementation structure and where there is a high level of commitment of the participating countries and / or regions to integration at scientific , management and financial levels . in addition , proposals for initiatives referred to in point shall be identified on the basis of all of the following criteria :


### clear financial commitments of the participating countries , including prior commitments to pool national and / or regional investments for transnational research and innovation ; ### indicative financial commitments of the participating countries , in cash or in kind including prior commitments to align national and / or regional investments for transnational research and innovation and , where appropriate , to pool resources ;


### entities established in third countries and international organisations shall be eligible to participate in indirect actions of horizon 2020 under the conditions set out in regulation xx / xx [ rules for participation ] . international cooperation with third countries and international organisations shall be promoted across and within horizon 2020 to achieve , in particular , the following objectives : ### entities established in third countries and international organisations shall be eligible to participate in indirect actions of horizon 2020 under the conditions set out in regulation xx / xx [ rules for participation ] . international cooperation with third countries - in particular with the strategic partners of the union - and international organisations shall be promoted across and within horizon 2020 to achieve , in particular , the following objectives :


### the european commission shall implement information and communication actions concerning horizon 2020 , including communication measures concerning supported projects and results . budget allocated to communication under horizon 2020 shall also contribute to covering the corporate communication of the union ' s political priorities as far as they are related to the general objective of this regulation . ### the european commission shall implement information and communication actions concerning horizon 2020 , including communication measures concerning supported projects and results . budget allocated to communication under horizon 2020 shall also contribute to covering the corporate communication of the union ' s political priorities as far as they are related to the general objective of this regulation . in particular , it shall provide timely and through information to member states .


### initiatives aimed at widening awareness and facilitating access to funding under horizon 2020 , in particular for those regions or types of participant that are underrepresented ; ### initiatives aimed at widening awareness and facilitating access to funding under horizon 2020 , in particular for those regions , overseas countries and territories or types of participant that are underrepresented ;


### targeted assistance to projects and consortia to provide them with access to the necessary skills to optimise the communication and dissemination of results ; ### targeted assistance to projects and consortia to provide them with adequate access to the necessary skills to optimise the communication and dissemination of results ;


### initiatives to foster dialogue and debate on scientific , technological and innovation related issues with the public , and to take advantage of social media and other innovative technologies and methodologies . ### initiatives to foster dialogue and debate on scientific , technological and innovation related issues with the public through involvement of the academic community , and to take advantage of social media and other innovative technologies and methodologies , especially in order to help raise public awareness of the benefits of research and innovation in meeting society’s challenges .


### the control system set up for the implementation of this regulation shall be designed so as to provide reasonable assurance of achieving adequate management of the risks relating to the effectiveness and efficiency of the operations as well as the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions , taking into account the multi - annual character of programmes as well as the nature of the payments concerned . ### the control system set up for the implementation of this regulation shall be designed so as to provide reasonable assurance of achieving sufficient reduction and adequate management of the risks relating to the effectiveness and efficiency of the operations as well as the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions , taking into account the multi - annual character of programmes as well as the nature of the payments concerned .


### the commission shall annually monitor the implementation of horizon 2020 , its specific programme and the activities of the european institute of innovation and technology . this shall include information on cross - cutting topics such as sustainability and climate change , including information on the amount of climate related expenditure . ### the commission shall annually monitor the implementation of horizon 2020 , its specific programme and the activities of the european institute of innovation and technology . this shall include information on cross - cutting topics such as sustainability , resource efficiency and climate change , including information on the amount of climate related expenditure .


### the commission shall annually monitor the implementation of horizon 2020 , its specific programme and the activities of the european institute of innovation and technology . this shall include information on cross - cutting topics such as sustainability and climate change , including information on the amount of climate related expenditure . ### the commission shall annually monitor the implementation of horizon 2020 , its specific programme and the activities of the european institute of innovation and technology . this shall include information and indicators on cross - cutting topics such as responsible research and innovation including sustainability and climate change , marine and maritime research , including information on the amount of climate related expenditure .


### the commission shall report and disseminate the results of that monitoring . ### the commission shall annually report and disseminate the results of that monitoring , including to the parliament and the council .


### the european institute of innovation and technology shall contribute to the general objective and priorities of horizon 2020 with the specific objective of integrating the knowledge triangle of research , innovation and education . the indicators for assessing the performance of the eit are : ### the european institute of innovation and technology shall contribute to the general objective and priorities of horizon 2020 with the specific objective of integrating the knowledge triangle of research , innovation and higher education . the indicators for assessing the performance of the eit are :


### future and emerging technologies shall support collaborative research in order to extend europe ' s capacity for advanced and paradigm - changing innovation . it shall foster scientific collaboration across disciplines on radically new , high - risk ideas and accelerate development of the most promising emerging areas of science and technology as well as the union wide structuring of the corresponding scientific communities . ### future and emerging technologies shall support collaborative research in order to extend europe ' s capacity for advanced and paradigm - changing innovation . it shall foster scientific collaboration across disciplines on radically new , high - risk ideas and accelerate development of the most promising emerging areas of science and technology as well as the union wide structuring of the corresponding scientific communities and deepening the ethical , social and legal implications they may determine for the european citizens .


### marie curie actions shall provide excellent and innovative research training as well as attractive career and knowledge - exchange opportunities through cross - border and cross - sector mobility of researchers to best prepare them to face current and future societal challenges . ### marie skłodowska - curie actions shall provide excellent and innovative research training as well as attractive career and knowledge - exchange opportunities through cross - border and cross - sector mobility of researchers to best prepare them to face current and future societal challenges .


### marie curie actions ### marie skłodowska - curie actions


### although europe hosts a large and diversified pool of skilled human resources for research and innovation , this needs to be constantly replenished , improved and adapted to the rapidly evolving needs of the labour market . today only 46 % of this pool works in the business sector , which is much lower than in europe’s main economic competitors , e . g . 69 % in china , 73 % in japan and 80 % in the united states . in addition , demographic factors mean that a disproportionate number of researchers will reach retirement age in the next few years . this , combined with the need for many more high - quality research jobs as the research intensity of the european economy increases , will be one of the main challenges facing european education , research and innovation systems in the years ahead . ### although europe hosts a large and diversified pool of skilled human resources for research and innovation , this needs to be constantly replenished , improved and adapted to the rapidly evolving needs of the labour market . today only 46 % of this pool works in the business sector , which is much lower than in europe’s main economic competitors , e . g . 69 % in china , 73 % in japan and 80 % in the united states . in addition , demographic factors mean that a disproportionate number of researchers will reach retirement age in the next few years . this , combined with the need for many more high - quality research jobs as the research intensity of the european economy increases , will be one of the main challenges facing european education , research and innovation systems in the years ahead . furthermore , given that one of the objectives of the framework programme is to guarantee the effective promotion of gender equality and gender mainstreaming in the field of research and innovation , it is necessary to encourage more women to participate and realise their full potential in the research sector .


### if europe is to match its competitors in research and innovation , it must entice more young women and men to embark on research careers and provide highly attractive opportunities and environments for research and innovation . the most talented individuals , from europe and elsewhere , should see europe as a pre - eminent place to work . gender equality , high - quality and reliable employment and working conditions plus recognition are crucial aspects that must be secured in a consistent way across the whole of europe . ### if europe is to match its competitors in research and innovation , it must entice more young women and men to embark unified european - wide on research careers and provide highly attractive opportunities and environments for research and innovation . the most talented individuals , from europe and elsewhere , should see europe as a pre - eminent place to work . gender equality , high - quality and reliable employment and working conditions plus recognition are crucial aspects that must be secured in a consistent way across the whole of europe .


### if europe is to match its competitors in research and innovation , it must entice more young women and men to embark on research careers and provide highly attractive opportunities and environments for research and innovation . the most talented individuals , from europe and elsewhere , should see europe as a pre - eminent place to work . gender equality , high - quality and reliable employment and working conditions plus recognition are crucial aspects that must be secured in a consistent way across the whole of europe . ### if europe is to match its competitors in research and innovation , it must entice more young women and men to embark on research careers and provide highly attractive opportunities and environments for research and innovation . the most talented individuals , from europe and elsewhere , should see europe as a pre - eminent place to work . gender equality , high - quality and reliable employment and working conditions plus recognition and social status are crucial aspects that must be secured in a consistent way across the whole of europe .


### if europe is to match its competitors in research and innovation , it must entice more young women and men to embark on research careers and provide highly attractive opportunities and environments for research and innovation . the most talented individuals , from europe and elsewhere , should see europe as a pre - eminent place to work . gender equality , high - quality and reliable employment and working conditions plus recognition are crucial aspects that must be secured in a consistent way across the whole of europe . ### if europe is to match its competitors in research and innovation , it must entice more young women and men to embark on research careers and provide highly attractive opportunities and environments for research and innovation . the most talented individuals , from europe and elsewhere , should see europe as a pre - eminent place to work . equal opportunities for women and men , high - quality and reliable employment and working conditions plus recognition are crucial aspects that must be secured in a consistent way across the whole of europe .


### the european marie curie actions have made remarkable progress to promote mobility , both transnational and intersectoral , and to open research careers at european and international levels , with excellent employment and working conditions following the european researchers charter and code . there is no equivalent in member states as far as their scale and scope , funding , international character , generation and transfer of knowledge are concerned . they have strengthened the resources of those institutions able to attract researchers internationally and thereby encouraged the spread of centres of excellence around the union . they have served as a role model with a pronounced structuring effect by spreading their best practices at national level . the bottom - up approach taken by marie curie actions has also allowed a large majority of those institutions to train and upgrade the skills of a new generation of researchers able to tackle societal challenges . ### the european marie skłodowska - curie actions have made remarkable progress to promote mobility , both transnational and intersectoral , and to open research careers at european and international levels , with excellent employment and working conditions following the european researchers charter and code . there is no equivalent in member states as far as their scale and scope , funding , international character , generation and transfer of knowledge are concerned . they have strengthened the resources of those institutions able to attract researchers internationally and thereby encouraged the spread of centres of excellence around the union . they have served as a role model with a pronounced structuring effect by spreading their best practices at national level . the bottom - up approach taken by marie skłodowska - curie actions has also allowed a large majority of those institutions to train and upgrade the skills of a new generation of researchers able to tackle societal challenges .


### further development of the marie curie actions will make a significant contribution to development of the european research area . with their europe - wide competitive funding structure , marie curie actions will encourage new , creative and innovative types of training such as industrial doctorates , involving education , research and innovation players who will have to compete globally for a reputation of excellence . by providing union funding for the best research and training programmes following the principles for innovative doctoral training in europe , they will also promote wider dissemination and take - up , moving towards more structured doctoral training . ### further development of the marie skłodowska - curie actions will make a significant contribution to development of the european research area . with their europe - wide competitive funding structure , marie skłodowska - curie actions will encourage new , creative and innovative types of training such as industrial doctorates , involving education , research and innovation players who will have to compete globally for a reputation of excellence . by providing union funding for the best research and training programmes following the principles for innovative doctoral training in europe , they will also promote wider dissemination and take - up , moving towards more structured doctoral training .


### inclusive , innovative and secure societies ### europe in a changing world - inclusive and reflective societies


### inclusive , innovative and secure societies ### europe in a changing world - inclusive , innovative and reflective societies


### key activities shall be to encourage experienced researchers to broaden or deepen their skills by means of mobility by opening attractive career opportunities in universities , research institutions , businesses , smes and other socio - economic groups all over europe and beyond . opportunities to restart a research career after a break shall also be supported . ### key activities shall be to encourage experienced researchers to broaden or deepen their skills by means of mobility by opening attractive career opportunities in universities , research institutions , businesses , smes and other socio - economic groups all over europe and beyond . in order to enhance the innovativeness in private sector , emphasis shall in this regard be given to cross - sector mobility . opportunities to restart a research career after a break shall also be supported .


### the goal is to reinforce international cross - border and cross - sector collaboration in research and innovation by means of exchanges of research and innovation personnel in order to be able to face global challenges better . ### the goal is to reinforce international cross - border and cross - sector collaboration in research and innovation by means of exchanges of research and innovation knowledge and personnel in order to be able to face global challenges better .


### key activities shall be to support short - term exchanges of research and innovation staff among a partnership of universities , research institutions , businesses , smes and other socio - economic groups , both within europe and worldwide . this will include fostering cooperation with third countries . ### key activities shall be to support short - term exchanges of research and innovation staff , as well as to offer possibilities to recruit researchers , among a partnership of universities , research institutions , businesses , smes and other socio - economic groups , both within europe and worldwide . this will include fostering cooperation with third countries .


### key activities shall be to support short - term exchanges of research and innovation staff among a partnership of universities , research institutions , businesses , smes and other socio - economic groups , both within europe and worldwide . this will include fostering cooperation with third countries . ### key activities shall be to support exchanges of research and innovation staff among a partnership of universities , research institutions , businesses , smes and other socio - economic groups , both within europe and worldwide . this will include fostering cooperation with third countries .


### key activities shall be , with the aid of a co - funding mechanism , to encourage regional , national and international organisations to create new programmes and to open existing ones to international and intersectoral training , mobility and career development . this will increase the quality of research training in europe at all career stages , including at doctoral level , will foster free circulation of researchers and scientific knowledge in europe , will promote attractive research careers by offering open recruitment and attractive working conditions and will support research and innovation cooperation between universities , research institutions and enterprises and cooperation with third countries and international organisations . ### key activities shall be , with the aid of a co - funding mechanism , to encourage regional , national and international organisations to create new programmes and to adapt existing ones to international and intersectoral training , mobility and career development . this will increase the quality of research training in europe at all career stages , including at pre - doctoral and doctoral level , will foster free circulation of researchers and scientific knowledge in europe , will promote attractive research careers by offering open recruitment and attractive working conditions and will support research and innovation cooperation between universities , research institutions and enterprises and cooperation with third countries and international organisations .


### the specific objective is to foster radically new technologies by exploring novel and high - risk ideas building on scientific foundations . by providing flexible support to goal - oriented and interdisciplinary collaborative research on various scales and by adopting innovative research practices , the aim is to identify and seize opportunities of long - term benefit for citizens , the economy and society . ### the specific objective is to foster radically new technologies by exploring novel and high - risk ideas building on scientific foundations , such as a better understanding of human pathologies and toxicity mechanisms , and the implementation in union health research and in risk assessment strategies of tools and cellular , genome and it technologies with human relevance . by providing flexible support to goal - oriented and interdisciplinary collaborative research on various scales , the aim is to identify and seize opportunities of long - term benefit for citizens , the economy and society .