Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the participation of the Union in the European Partnership on Metrology jointly undertaken by several Member States
Date: 2021-02-23
Institutions: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission
Subjects: EU financing arrangements, EU programme, competitiveness, innovation, metrology, research and development, scientific cooperation

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 23.2.2021  COM(2021) 89 final 2021/0049 (COD)  Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the participation of the Union in the European Partnership on Metrology jointly undertaken by several Member States {SEC(2021) 91 final} - {SWD(2021) 35 final} - {SWD(2021) 36 final}  
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

Reasons for and objectives of the proposal 

Horizon Europe – the new framework programme for research and innovation (2021 – 2027) 
– aims to achieve a greater impact on research and innovation by leveraging additional private 
and  public  funds  via  co-investment  through  European  Partnerships.  These  partnerships  are 
envisaged in areas where the scope and scale of the resources in research and innovation are 
justified to  support achieving the  Unions’ priorities targeted by Horizon Europe, notably its 
pillar 2 – Global challenges and industrial competitiveness. 
Article  8  of  Regulation  (EU)  [XXX]  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council1  (the 
‘Horizon Europe Regulation’) provides that Institutionalised European Partnerships based on 
Articles 185 and 187 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) ‘shall 
be  implemented  only  where  other  parts  of  the  Horizon  Europe  programme,  including  other 
forms  of European Partnerships would not  achieve the objectives or would  not  generate the 
necessary  expected  impacts,  and  if  justified  by  a  long-term  perspective  and  high  degree  of 
integration’.  

In  the  Horizon  Europe  Regulation,  the  co-legislators  also  identified  eight  priority  areas  for 
possible  Institutionalised European Partnerships  based on Article 185 or  Article 187  TFEU. 
Consequently, a set  of 12 initiatives were identified as candidates and were the subject  of a 
coordinated impact assessment2. 

Metrology  was  acknowledged  by  the  co-legislators  as  one  of  these  priority  areas  under  the 
Horizon  Europe  Regulation,  hence  the  present  proposal  for  a  European  Metrology 
Partnership. It builds on the lessons learnt from the European metrology research programme 
(EMRP)  and  the  European  metrology  programme  on  innovation  and  research  (EMPIR). 
However, the present initiative represents a new partnership to meet new challenges. It is not 
intended as a mere continuation of previous programmes. 

The  proposal  relates  to  the  participation  of  the  European  Union  in  the  European  metrology 
programme  undertaken  by  several  Member  States.  Metrology  is  the  scientific  study  of 
measurement.  It  is  a  key  enabler  of  economic  and  social  activity  and,  as  such,  is  a  public 
good.  Currently,  metrology  research  programmes  lack  impact  at  EU  level  due  to  the 
fragmentation of activities and the duplication of effort across Member States.  

This  is  at  a  time  when  Europe  faces  increased  global  competition  in  metrology  in  terms  of 
scale  and  focus  of  investment  as  well  as  long-term  financial  commitment  to  metrology 
objectives.  In  the  last  decade,  the  US,  China  and  India  increased  their  investments  in 
metrology by 60%, 50% and 52% respectively. During this period, investments in European 
institutes  remained  relatively  static  and  did  not  respond  to  new  and  increasingly  important 
research fields. The inadequate level of investment in Europe, coupled with the fragmentation 

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Regulation (EU) …[Horizon Europe Regulation]. 
Only  12  were  subject  to  the  coordinated  impact  assessment,  as  one  initiative  on  High  performance 
computing was already subject to an impact assessment in 2017 (SEC(2018) 47). 

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of  metrology  capabilities,  has  resulted  in  efforts  being  spread  out  too  thinly,  without  any 
strategic  focus.  The  previous  programmes  funded  at  EU  level,  EMRP  and  EMPIR,  have 
demonstrated the capability of reducing this fragmentation, and also co-fund activities for new 
metrology capacities and joint priorities. 

In  recent  years,  the  investments  outside  the  EU  have  continued.  In  the  US,  the  National 
Institute  of  Standards  and  Technology  (NIST),  which  is  the  country’s  national  metrology 
institute, had an overall annual budget of USD 724.5 million in 2018 and 2019. Noteworthy 
actions  include  a  dedicated  programme  for  exploratory  measurement  sciences  (the  ‘lab 
programme’) with an annual budget in excess of USD 60 million and a research programme 
for fundamental measurements, including quantum science that has an annual budget of more 
than USD 160 million. According to the latest information available, the National Institute of 
Metrology  (NIM)  in  China  had  an  operational  budget  of  EUR 180  million  in  2018.  In 
addition,  China  implemented  a  targeted  research  programme  for  metrology  between  2016-
2019 of about EUR 65 million and funded 160 collaborative research projects across China. 
By  comparison,  PTB,  the  national  metrology  institute  (NMI)  in  Germany  and  the  largest  in 
Europe, has a total operating annual budget of EUR 200 million, in which the majority is not 
targeting research, but metrology services for industry and society. 

Our global competitors are making these strategic investments  because of the growing need 
for  metrology  solutions  targeting  emerging  technologies  and  new  product  development. 
Moreover, the increase in societal challenges requiring trustworthy standards and regulations 
makes it urgent  to  address  the lack of embedment  of metrology in  the innovation system at 
European level. 

To  maintain  Europe’s  competitive  leadership  in  emerging  technologies  and  new  product 
development  and  in  ensuring  a  forward-looking  approach  to  trustworthy  standards  and 
regulations  that  anticipate  societal  challenges3,  it  is  essential  that  the  European  Metrology 
Initiative  ensures  that  by  2030  metrology  solutions  in  Europe  are  at  least  equal  to  the  top 
global performers, in demonstrating world class in providing metrology services for existing, 
complex  measurement  challenges  and  new  technologies..  This  should  be  achieved  through 
specialised pan-European networks that pool resources to attain a critical mass of capabilities. 
These metrology  solutions  should support sales  of new innovative products  and services by 
adopting  and  using  key  emerging  technologies.  The  solutions  should  also  contribute  to  the 
effective design and implementation of specific standards and regulations that underpin public 
policies addressing societal challenges. 

Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area 

As  metrology  is  an  enabler  of  all  scientific  and  technological  fields,  improvements  in 
metrology  capabilities  can  accelerate  scientific  advancement  and  industrial  developments  to 
help  address  challenges  related,  for  example,  to  health,  the  environment,  climate  change, 
social  protection  and  cultural  heritage.  Any  future  European  metrology  initiative  for  joint 

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The  European  Commission’s  2020  Strategic  Foresight  Report  points  out  that  the  EU  ‘now  needs  to 
strengthen  forward-looking  alliances  to  continue  shaping  international  norms  and  standards  in  a  way 
that  reflects  European  values  and  interests”,  interests’,  2020  Strategic  Foresight  Report–Charting  the 
Course Towards a more Resilient Europe, p. 15. 

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research and innovation would therefore need to create and exploit linkages with several other 
initiatives under Horizon Europe and beyond. 

In Horizon Europe, metrology is relevant for research and innovation activities funded under 
the  programme’s  digital,  industry  and  space  cluster,  as  the  robust  accurate  measurements 
provided by metrology make a critical contribution across manufacturing sectors, particularly 
to  high-precision  manufacturing  of  high  value-added  products  such  as  aerospace,  high-
performance ICT and space equipment and pharmaceuticals.  

However, the use of robust accurate measurements is much wider than this, and therefore the 
European metrology partnership is  relevant  to  a  wide range of other European research and 
innovation policy areas and initiatives, including public-private partnerships. It is for instance 
relevant  for  the  operation  of  smart  electrical  grids.  Metrology  is  also  important  to  ensuring 
accurate measurements in health diagnostics and delivery.  

More generally, there are complementarities with the European Partnerships envisaged under 
Horizon Europe for: 

 

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digital  intensive  industries,  such  as  Made  in  Europe  in  relation  to  discrete 
manufacturing; 

the monitoring of CO2 emissions and air pollution in general under the partnerships 
Clean Energy Transition and Processes4Planet;  

Key  digital  technologies;  Smart  networks  and  services,  Artificial  intelligence,  data 
and robotics;  

The achievement of zero-emission road transport (2Zero), Safe and automated road 
transport through connected driving, and Clean aviation partnership. 

Synergies  should  also  be  built  with  the  Innovative  Health  initiative  and  the 
Partnership  for  large-scale  innovation  and  transformation  of  health  systems  in  a 
digital  and  ageing  society.  Due  to  its  crosscutting  nature,  the  future  European 
metrology  partnership  should  also  help  to  implement  future  Horizon  Europe 
missions. It should also develop links with the future European Open Science Cloud 
Partnership.    

Beyond Horizon Europe, complementarities will be built with other European programmes to 
support the deployment of metrology solutions such as with the Connecting Europe Facility, 
the  Digital  Europe  programme,  and  the  LIFE  environmental  programme.  A  new  Steering 
Group  will  oversee  the  links  and  efficient  communication  between  the  Partnership  on 
Metrology and the other relevant programmes. 

Consistency with other Union policies 

The  European  metrology  initiative  will  contribute  widely  to  other  Union  policies  beyond 
research  and  innovation.  As  an  enabler  across  sectors  and  across  disciplines,  metrology 
solutions  touch  on  all  six  priorities  pursued  by  the  Commission,  as  illustrated  in  the  table 
below.   

Table: Role of metrology in the priorities of the Commission 

Priority 

Illustrations of metrology’s role 

A European Green Deal 

Provides metrics for achieving climate neutrality 

An economy that works for 

Innovative  and  more  accurate  measurement  tools  are 

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people 

integral to a successful plan to fight cancer 

A Europe fit for the digital 
age 

Central  to  setting  standards  for  5G  networks  and 
digital services 

Protecting our European 
way of life 

Essential  to  provide  confidence  in  a  fully  functioning 
Schengen Area to  reinforce the European approach to 
customs risk management 

A stronger Europe in the 
world 

Underpins Europe’s role as a standard setter, leading a 
strong,  open  and  fair-trade  agenda  and  a  functioning 
emissions trading system 

A new push for European 
democracy 

Ensuring  standards  to  protect  Europe  against  covert 
external interference 

Metrology  ensures  that  when  measurements  are  taken,  they  are  traceable  to  internationally 
agreed  definitions  and  standards.  This  is  the  basis  of  national  and  international  metrology 
systems that create the accurate, reliable and trustworthy measurements underpinning a wide 
range of economic activities and public services and covering the entire internal market in an 
economy  that  works  for  people.  This  concerns  the  safety  of  consumer  products  as  well  as 
financial services, where metrology enables each financial transaction to be accurately time-
stamped to ensure traceable evidence of it and to ensure compliance with European financial 
regulations. 

To foster a Europe fit for the digital age, accurate state-of-the-art measurement capabilities in 
national metrology institutes and designated institutes will enable modern digital services but 
also all emerging digital technologies, such as quantum or artificial intelligence. 

Achieving  climate  neutrality  by  2050  will  require  clear  measurement  capabilities  in  remote 
sensing  (such  as  Earth  observation),  environment  and  energy.  More  specifically,  the  policy 
areas of the European Green Deal  are  all directly  related to  metrology  challenges. Accurate 
and traceable measurement capabilities enable robust environmental monitoring of the state of 
the  climate.  They  also  support  the  effective  design  and  enforcement  of  environmental 
regulations  by  providing  trustworthy  data  for  the  climate  variables  that  support  the  Paris 
Agreement  on  Climate  Change  and  for  environmental  parameters  such  as  air  and  water 
quality.  

Measurement science for energy will, for instance, be essential in helping make the transition 
to  renewable  energies.  In  a  low  carbon  future,  understanding  the  magnitude,  timescale  and 
impact of climate change will be central. This requires accurate and reliable monitoring of all 
climate variables over the long timescales needed to detect and understand climate trends. 

Furthermore,  metrology  should  underpin  fit-for-purpose  environmental  regulations,  such  as 
on  water  or  air  pollution,  including  monitoring  and  enforcement.  Beyond  energy  and 
environment,  policy  areas  of  the  Green  Deal  such  as  sustainable  industry,  sustainable 
mobility, and biodiversity will all need a modern and capable metrology system. 

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2. 

LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY 

Legal basis 

The  proposal  for  a  European  metrology  initiative  is  based  on  Article  185  TFEU,  which 
concerns the participation of the European Union in  research and development programmes 
undertaken by several Member States, including participation in the structures created for the 
execution of those programmes. 

Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)  

The  subsidiarity  principle  applies,  as  the  proposal  does  not  fall  under  the  exclusive 
competence of the European Union. Subsidiarity is safeguarded by the proposal being based 
on Article 185 TFEU, which explicitly provides for the participation of the Union in research 
programmes undertaken by several Member States. 

The objectives of the proposal cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States alone, as 
the scale and complexity of metrology require investments that go beyond the core research 
budgets  of  the  national  metrology  institutes.  The  excellence  required  for  research  and 
development of cutting-edge metrology solutions is spread across national borders and hence 
cannot  be  attained  at  national  level  only.  Without  a  consistent  approach  at  European  level 
with critical mass, there is a high risk of a duplication of efforts, resulting in higher costs and 
less impact. 

EU-level  support  to  date  has  demonstrated  the  scope  for  fostering  significant  levels  of 
integration of metrology research efforts across Europe. To date, integration has been driven 
by  bottom-up  project  level  collaboration.  Given  its  growing  importance  in  facilitating 
emerging technologies and responding to societal challenges, a more strategic approach to the 
integration  of  metrology  efforts  is  required  to  strengthen  the  directionality  of  research. 
Accordingly, the added value of action at EU level through the European metrology initiative 
will  come  from  developing  and  implementing  a  more  programmatic  approach  that  targets 
metrology research in areas of emerging technological and societal importance. 

Proportionality 

Article 185 TFEU invites the Union to ‘make provision, in agreement with the Member States 
concerned, for participation in research and development programmes undertaken by several 
Member  States,  including  participation  in  the  structures  created  for  the  execution  of  those 
programmes’.  

The  proposal  complies  with  the  proportionality  principle,  as  Member  States  will  be 
responsible for developing their joint  programme and all operational  aspects.  The dedicated 
implementation  structure  –  the  European  Association  of  National  Metrology  Institutes 
(EURAMET)  - has already demonstrated in previous metrology initiatives at European level 
(EMRP  and  EMPIR)  that  it  can  implement  the  programme  efficiently  and  effectively.  The 
Union  will  provide  incentives  for  improved  coordination,  ensure  synergies  with  and 
contributions  to  EU  policies  and  the  priorities  of  Horizon  2020,  monitor  implementation  of 
the programme and ensure protection of the EU’s financial interests. 

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The  ex  ante  impact  assessment  for  the  European  metrology  initiative  concludes  that  Article 
185 TFEU is the most suitable basis for achieving the objective. This is detailed in Section 6 
of the impact assessment4, where an initiative under Article 185 TFEU scores best in terms of 
effectiveness and coherence and is as cost-efficient as the baseline option of Horizon Europe 
calls for proposals. 

Accordingly, the impact assessment confirms in Sub-Section 6.4 that this form of partnership 
would  provide  a  stable  framework,  ensuring  the  partners’  commitment  to  long-term 
objectives. It would also provide the basis for a strategic approach to the future development 
of metrology in Europe and would, in this regard, be sufficiently flexible to allow top-down 
guidance  from  a  steering  group  and  targeted  implementation  of  the  initiative  through 
specialised networks.  

Moreover,  the  impact  assessment  determines  that  by  facilitating  a  long-term  strategic 
approach  and  targeted  implementation,  this  form  of  partnership  would  attract  increased 
commitment  and  participation  from  industry  and  other  end-users,  leading  to  the  take-up  of 
metrology  solutions.  This  strategic  approach  and  targeted  implementation,  together  with 
increased  participation  of  industry  and  other  end-users,  would  lead  the  way  to  a  metrology 
system with much stronger capabilities and a top performer at global level.  

Choice of the instrument 

The proposed European metrology initiative will be based on Article 185 of the TFEU. The 
conclusions of the interim evaluation and an analysis of the options in the impact assessment 
have demonstrated that Article 185 is the most appropriate means for achieving the objectives 
of the European metrology initiative. This conclusion is in line with the conclusions drawn for 
the  previous  programmes  (EMRP  and  EMPIR).  For  this  kind  of  instrument  under  art.  185 
TFEU, Article 188(2) TFEU requires that the European Parliament  and  the Council adopt  a 
decision. 

3. 

RESULTS 
CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS 

EVALUATIONS, 

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STAKEHOLDER 

Ex post evaluations 

In  2017,  an  independent,  external  expert  group  conducted  an  interim  evaluation  of  EMPIR, 
the metrology initiative under Article 185 TFEU. 

The  evaluation  confirmed  that  the  EMPIR  programme  had  made  good  progress  in  meeting 
most  of  the  programme’s  objectives  and  was  expected  to  increase  European  turnover  by 
making use of the developed technologies. 

The  evaluation  recommended  a  new  partnership  at  European  level  based  on  three 
recommendations.  First,  the  strategic  component  should  be  strengthened.  The  national 
metrology institutes should engage with other stakeholder communities to develop ‘metrology 
value chains’ that can support the single market. The evaluation did not advocate a centralised 
European  structure  to  implement  the  recommendation.  It  favoured  a  bottom-up  approach  to 

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Reference Impact Assessment European Partnership on Metrology 

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metrology  activities  based  on  agreed  European-level  objectives.  For  these  reasons,  the 
evaluation  recommended that pan-European ‘centres of  excellence’ in  the form  of networks 
(‘European metrology networks’) should feature in a potential successor partnership in order 
to deepen metrology’s capacity to respond to major societal challenges. 

Second, the role of external stakeholders, such as universities and industry should no longer 
be  limited  to  participation  in  projects  selected  after  calls.  Instead,  they  should  in  future  be 
more involved in programme development and in having more opportunities to participate in 
projects. 

The  third  recommendation  was  for  programme  implementation  to  proactively  address 
metrology  applications  in  emerging  scientific  areas  and  focus  more  on  tackling  societal 
challenges.  

Stakeholder consultations 

The  Commission  carried  out  an  open  public  stakeholder  consultation  on  a  future  European 
initiative  in  metrology5.  225  respondents  responded  to  the  online  public  consultation.  Of 
these,  50%  identified  themselves  as  academics/researchers,  16%  as  EU  citizens,  14%  as 
company/business  organisations  and  12%  as  public  authorities.  The  remaining  8%  included 
business  associations,  non-governmental  organisations,  non-EU  citizens  and  non-
governmental organisations.  

The  respondents  provided  their  views  on  the  relevance  of  metrology  research,  identified 
problems facing the European metrology research system and assessed several possible policy 
solutions.  The  consultation  highlighted  a  number  of  issues,  including  insufficient  industrial 
exploitation,  lack  of  cooperation  of  national  metrology  institutes  (NMIs)  with  the  wider 
science base, capacity gaps between EU Member States, insufficient mobility of researchers 
within the NMIs and lack of engagement with European standardisation bodies. 

Collection and use of expertise 

In  preparing  the  proposal  for  the  European  metrology  initiative,  the  Commission  engaged 
with a wide range of external expertise. The approach was to capitalise on analysis from an 
independent external study, complemented by meetings and interviews with key stakeholders, 
as well as written feedback.  

In  this  regard,  the  Commission  contracted  an  external  study  covering  all  candidate 
institutionalised partnerships, including metrology6 and drew extensively  on its analysis and 
findings in preparing the metrology proposal. 

In  parallel,  the  Commission  held  meetings  and  carried  out  interviews  throughout  2019  with 
EURAMET e.V, and other metrology experts. 

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The open public consultation was run from September to November 2019. 
Technopolis Group (2020), Impact Assessment Study for Institutionalised European Partnerships under 
Horizon Europe, Final Report, Study for the European Commission, DG Research & Innovation 

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The Commission also held a consultative workshop with Member State experts in November 
2019. Subsequently, there was a written consultation of national ministries with responsibility 
for metrology in March 20207. 

Impact assessment 

The  impact  assessment  report  for  the  proposed  metrology  initiative  was  completed  in  June 
2020 (SWD(2021) 36).  

On  15  July  2020  the  Regulatory  Scrutiny  Board  gave  a  positive  opinion  on  the  impact 
assessment report (SEC(2021) 91). In its opinion, RSB requested the following: 

(1) As part of the objective to develop transnational metrology networks, the report explains 
that  at  a  certain  point  (by  2030),  a  partnership  would  no  longer  be  necessary.  The  report 
should clarify why this is included in the impact assessment report and how it links with the 
current  initiative,  which  covers  the  financing  period  up  to  2027.  If  it  is  confirmed  that  a 
partnership would no longer be necessary, the report should bring out more clearly how the 
currently  proposed  partnership  is  expected  to  help  establish  the  necessary  conditions  for  its 
future discontinuation.   

(2)  The  report  should  explain  better  how  private  sector  actors  would  be  involved  under  the 
preferred ‘public-public’ partnership form. It should clarify the incentives for them to engage.   

(3) The report could usefully provide more background explanation on the national metrology 
research bodies and how they function. 

The impact assessment includes the following options: 

The baseline scenario was a situation without a partnership and with only traditional calls for 
proposals  under  Horizon  Europe.  That  would  result  in  closing  the  current  implementation 
structure  of  Article  185  with  the  ending  of  ongoing  EMPIR  projects  in  2023,  which  would 
lead to winding down and social discontinuation costs. 

Under option 1, a co-funded European Partnership would be established. Such a partnership 
would make it easier for NMIs to pool resources but would pose a great risk of turning into a 
‘closed club’, discouraging academia from engaging. 

In  option  2,  an  Institutionalised  European  Partnership  (Article  185  TFEU)  would  be 
established. Such an initiative would build on the progress made under EMPIR, the existing 
Institutionalised European Partnership, by expanding the list of European metrology networks 
with  additional  ones  with  new  focus  areas.  It  would  involve  actors  from  across  the  wider 

7 

The Commission consulted experts from the ministries of the EU and European Free Trade Association 
(EFTA) Member States which were running their country’s national metrology programme. Of the 32 
countries,  20  provided  feedback,  of  which  16  clearly  expressed  their  support  for  continuing  the 
metrology  initiative  in  the  form  of  an  institutionalised  partnership  while  there  were  no  opinions 
opposing this idea. In total, 89% of the correspondents considered metrology relevant for their research 
organisations,  including  universities,  while  86%  considered  it  relevant  for  national  policies  and 
priorities. 

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metrology  value  chain,  including  national  ministries,  standardisation  bodies,  regulators, 
industry, end-users  and consumers. The level of EU financing under Horizon Europe would 
increase  compared  to  Horizon  2020  due  to  the  resources  needed  to  compensate  for  the 
increased scope. 

The impact assessment report concluded that option 2 is the preferred option. This is in line 
with the results of the public consultation, where 62% of the respondents were in favour of an 
Institutionalised  Partnership  as  the  preferred  option  for  the  new  initiative  in  metrology.  All 
four major sub-groups of respondents  (academia, company/business,  EU  citizens and public 
authority  representatives)  agreed,  and  there  was  no  minority  group  favouring  a  different 
option.  

The economic benefits of the proposed initiative have both a direct and indirect component. 
The direct component is the increased sales of instrumentation and linked services in industry. 
This is estimated at EUR 50 million a year. In addition, the objective of promoting innovation 
in strategic application areas indirectly has a further long-term leveraged impact on sales. The 
social and environmental benefits are directly related to the specialised metrology networks. 
The  networks  provide  specific  metrology  solutions  for  all  stakeholders  along  the  metrology 
value chain, including industry, end-users and citizens. 

Simplification 

The  proposal  will  simplify  the  administrative  procedures  for  public  authorities  and  bodies 
(EU or national) and for private parties. 

The  EU  will  deal  directly  with  the  dedicated  implementation  structure  of  the  European 
metrology  initiative,  which  will  be  in  charge  of  allocating,  monitoring  and  reporting  on  the 
use of the EU’s contribution. 

Fundamental rights 

The proposed Decision has no consequences for the protection of fundamental rights. 

4. 

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS 

The  legislative  financial  statement  presented  with  this  decision  sets  out  the  indicative 
budgetary  implications.  The  Union’s  maximum  financial  contribution,  including  EFTA 
appropriations, to the metrology partnership will be EUR 300 million in current prices for the 
duration of the Horizon Europe framework programme.  

The provisions of the Decision and of the contribution agreement to be concluded between the 
Commission and the dedicated implementation structure (Euramet e.V.) must ensure that the 
EU’s financial interests are protected. 

5. 

OTHER ELEMENTS 

Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements 

Implementation of the initiative will be based on a strategic research and innovation agenda 
agreed with the national partners in the initiative. 

The  initiative’s  performance  will  be  monitored  through  annual  reports  approved  by  the 
European  Commission.  This  will  include  reporting  progress  with  the  key  performance 
indicators and other measures set out in the strategic research and innovation agenda. 

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The proposal includes a review clause for an interim evaluation not later than 2025 and a final 
evaluation not later than 2030. 

European Economic Area 

The  proposed  Decision  concerns  an  EEA  matter  and  should  therefore  include  the  European 
Economic  Area.  Nevertheless,  to  ensure  complementarity  with  third  countries  their 
participation is foreseen through a corresponding provision. 

Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal 

Article  1  of  the  proposed  Decision  determines  the  current  and  possible  future  geographical 
scope for the European Partnership on Metrology. 

Article 2 underlines the link with the Horizon Europe Regulation and sets out the objective of 
such  a  partnership  against  this  background.  It  also  lays  down  the  general  and  specific 
objectives that a future partnership should comply with and deliver on.  

Articles  3  and  4  prescribe  the  financial  contribution  that  the  European  Union  will  make  to 
EURAMET out of the EU budget.    

Articles  5,  6  and  7  set  the  obligations  under  which  Member  States  and  other  participating 
countries  can  contribute  to  the  future  partnership.  It  clarifies  that  participating  countries 
should  not  only  match  the  EU  contribution  but  also  fund  other  relevant  activities,  such  as 
future European metrology networks.  

Article  8  clarifies  the  rules  of  participation  for  which  there  may  be  a  derogation  to  the 
Horizon  Europe  rules  in  duly  justified  cases;  it  also  sets  the  minimum  guarantees  to  ensure 
more  openness  of  future  calls,  for  instance  not  only  national  metrology  institutes  but  also 
other stakeholders should be entitled to coordinate future projects under this partnership.   

Article  9  sets  the  framework  for  implementation  agreements  between  the  European 
Commission  and  EURAMET.  Article  10  enables  the  European  Commission  to  act  if 
participating countries fail to comply with their commitments under this Decision. Articles 11 
and 12 provide safeguards to protect the European Union’s financial interests.  

On the future governance of the partnership, Articles 13 to 17 set a new framework. While it 
is  mainly for EURAMET to  set  up this partnership, the Commission proposes setting up an 
external  Steering  Group  co-chaired  by  the  Commission  and  a  Member  State  representative; 
the  Group  should  offer  an  impetus  for  the  new  partnership  to  be  closer  to  users’  needs  and 
strengthen  its  impact  on  industry,  regulation  and  standard  setting.  The  Group  should  also 
include representatives from other European partnerships with private partners.  

In  the  same  way  as  for  other  institutional  partnerships,  Article  18  proposes  an  interim  and 
final evaluation in line with the Better Regulation principles. Articles 19 to 21 are intended to 
ensure a smooth functioning of the future European Partnership.      

EN 

10 

  EN 

2021/0049 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on the participation of the Union in the European Partnership on Metrology jointly 
undertaken by several Member States 

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European  Union,  and  in  particular 
Article 185 and the second subparagraph of Article 188 thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, 

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee8,  

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

In  order  to  achieve  the  greatest  possible  impact  of  Union  funding  and  the  most 
effective contribution to the Union's policy objectives,  Regulation (EU) [XXX] of the 
European Parliament and of the Council9 established Horizon Europe, the framework 
programme  for  research  and  innovation,  that  is,  the  policy  and  legal  framework  for 
European  Partnerships  with  private  and/or  public  sector  partners.  European 
Partnerships are a key element of the policy approach of Horizon Europe. They are set 
up to deliver on Union priorities targeted by Horizon Europe and ensure clear impact 
for the Union and its people, which can be achieved more effectively in a partnership, 
through a strategic vision that is shared and committed to by partners, rather than by 
the Union alone. 

In  particular,  European  Partnerships  in  the  Horizon  Europe  pillar  ’Global  challenges 
and  European  industrial  competitiveness’  are  expected  to  play  an  important  role  in 
achieving  the  strategic  objectives  of  accelerating  the  transitions  towards  sustainable 
development  goals  and  a  green  and  digital  Europe  and  in  contributing  to  recovery.10 
European Partnerships are key to address complex cross-border challenges that require 
an  integrated  approach.  They  make  it  possible  to  address  the  transformational, 
systematic and market failures by bringing together a broad range of players across the 
value  chains  and  industrial  ecosystems  to  work  towards  a  common  vision  and 
translating  it  into  concrete  roadmaps  and  a  coordinated  implementation  of  activities. 

8 
9 

10 

OJ C , , p. . 
Regulation [XXX] of the European Parliament and of the Council [date] establishing Horizon Europe – 
the framework programme for research and innovation (OJ C , , p. ). [Please insert full reference].  
European Commission (2018), Horizon Europe Impact Assessment, SWD(2018) 307 

EN 

11 

  EN 

                                                 
 
(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

Furthermore, they allow concentrating  efforts and resources on common  priorities to 
solve the complex challenges ahead. 

To  deliver  on  priorities  and  impact,  European  Partnerships  should  be  developed 
through  a  broad  involvement  of  relevant  stakeholders  across  Europe,  including 
industry,  research  organisations,  bodies  with  a  public  service  mission  at  local, 
regional,  national  or  international  level,  and  civil  society  organisations  such  as 
foundations  that  support  and/or  carry  out  research  and  innovation.  These  European 
Partnerships  should  also  be  one  of  the  measures  to  strengthen  cooperation  between 
private and/or public sector partners at the international level, including by joining up 
research  and  innovation  programmes  and  cross-border  investment  in  research  and 
innovation, bringing mutual benefits to people and businesses. 

In  line  with  the  objectives  of  Regulation  (EU)  XXX,  any  Member  State  and  any 
country associated to Horizon Europe should be entitled to participate in the European 
Partnership  on  Metrology  (‘the  Metrology  Partnership’).  In  order  to  ensure 
complementarity  within  the  European  Economic  Area  and  with  other  neighbouring 
countries,  other  third  countries  should  be  able  to  participate  in  the  Metrology 
Partnership,  subject  to  the  conclusion  of  a  relevant  international  agreement  for 
scientific  and  technological  cooperation  with  the  Union  and  the  agreement  of  the 
Participating States. 

Horizon Europe introduces a more strategic, coherent  and impact-driven approach to 
European Partnerships, building on the lessons learned from the Horizon 2020 interim 
evaluation.  Horizon  Europe  Regulation  intends  to  make  a  more  effective  use  of 
Institutionalised  European  Partnerships  notably  by  focusing  on  clear  objectives, 
outcomes  and  impact  that  can  be  achieved  by  2030,  and  by  ensuring  a  clear 
contribution to the related Union policy priorities and policies. Close collaboration and 
synergies  with  other  relevant  initiatives  at  Union,  national  and  regional  level,  in 
particular  with  other  European  Partnerships,  will  be  key  in  achieving  greater  impact 
and ensuring that the results are used. 
By  Decision  No  555/2014/EU  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council11,  the 
Union decided to make a financial contribution to the European metrology programme 
for innovation and research (‘EMPIR’) matching that of the participating states but not 
exceeding  EUR 300 000 000,  for 
the  2014-2020  framework 
programme  for  research  and  innovation  (‘Horizon  2020’)  established  by  Regulation 
(EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council12. In the mid-term 
evaluation of EMPIR in July 2017, a new initiative was suggested.  

the  duration  of 

(7) 

The Union’s financial contribution should be subject to formal commitments from the 
Participating  States  to  financially  contribute  to  the  implementation  of  the  Metrology 
Partnership  and  to  the  fulfilment  of  those  commitments.  Participating  States’ 

11 

12 

Decision  No  555/2014/EU  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  15  May  2014  on  the 
participation of the Union in a European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR) 
jointly undertaken by several Member States (OJ L 169, 7.6.2014, p. 2). 
Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 
establishing Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) and 
repealing Decision No 1982/2006/EC (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 104). 

EN 

12 

  EN 

                                                 
 
(8) 

(9) 

contributions should include a contribution to administrative costs, subject to a ceiling 
of 5% of the budget of the Metrology Partnership. Participating States should commit 
to  increase,  if  necessary,  their  contribution  to  the  Metrology  Partnership  by 
establishing  a  reserve  funding  capability  to  ensure  that  they  are  able  to  fund  their 
national  entities, national  metrology institutes (NMIs) and designated institutes (DIs) 
participating in the activities of the Metrology Partnership. The joint implementation 
of  the  Metrology  Partnership  requires  an  implementation  structure.  The  Union’s 
financial  contribution  should  be  managed  in  accordance  with  the  principle  of  sound 
financial management and with the relevant rules on indirect management laid down 
in  Regulation  (EU,  Euratom)  2018/1046  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the 
Council13 . 

The Metrology Partnership should be established. Such a partnership would be more 
effective  compared  to  traditional  calls  or  a  co-funded  partnership  under  the  work 
programmes prepared under all the related clusters of pillar 2 of Horizon Europe.  

The  objective  of  this  Decision  is  the  participation  of  the  Union  in  the  Metrology 
Partnership in order to support its general objectives. The requirements of metrology 
are of such a scale and complexity that investments are needed that go beyond the core 
research  budgets  of  the  NMIs  and  DIs.  The  excellence  required  for  research  and  the 
development of cutting-edge metrology solutions is spread across national borders and 
hence cannot  be attained at  national  level  only. Since the objectives of this  Decision 
cannot  be  sufficiently  achieved  by  the  Member  States,  but  can  be  better  achieved  at 
Union  level  by  integrating  national  efforts  into  a  consistent  European  approach,  by 
bringing together compartmentalised national research programmes, by helping design 
common research and funding strategies across national borders, and by achieving the 
critical  mass  of  actors  and  investments  required,  the  Union  may  adopt  measures,  in 
accordance  with  the  principle  of  subsidiarity  as  set  out  in  Article  5  of  the  Treaty  on 
European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that 
same Article, this Decision does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve 
that objective. 

(10)  The  Metrology  Partnership,  aligned  with  the  political  priorities  of  the  Commission 
(including the European Green Deal, an economy that works for people, and a Europe 
fit for the digital age) should be implemented over a period of ten years (from 2021 to 
2031).  The  programme  should  include  new  activities  compared  to  the  EMPIR 
initiative  under  Horizon  2020,  and  in  particular,  the  development  of  European 
metrology networks, which will respond to pressing societal challenges and metrology 
needs  from  emerging  technologies.  The  metrology  capacity  provided  through  these 
networks  should be equivalent and comparable to the other world  leading metrology 
systems,  demonstrating  world  class  excellence.  Calls  for  proposals  under  the 

13 

Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on 
the  financial  rules  applicable  to  the  general  budget  of  the  Union,  amending  Regulations  (EU)  No 
1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) 
No  1316/2013,  (EU)  No  223/2014,  (EU)  No  283/2014,  and  Decision  No  541/2014/EU and  repealing 
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 (OJ L 193, 30.7.2018, p. 1). 

EN 

13 

  EN 

                                                 
 
Metrology  Partnership  should  be  launched  during  the  implementation  of  Horizon 
Europe. 

(11)  The  Metrology  Partnership’s  activities  should  be  in  line  with  the  objectives  and 
research  and innovation  priorities of Horizon Europe and with  the  general  principles 
and  conditions  laid  down  in  Article  XXX  of  Regulation  (EU)  [Horizon  Europe 
Regulation]. 

(12)  A  ceiling  should  be  established  for  the  Union’s  financial  participation  in  the 
Metrology  Partnership  for  the  duration  of  Horizon  Europe.  Within  the  limits  of  that 
ceiling, the Union contribution should be up to equal to the contribution of the States 
participating  in  the  Metrology  Partnership  in  order  to  achieve  a  high  leverage  effect 
and ensure a stronger integration of Participating States’ programmes. 

(13) 

In  accordance  with  Article  XX  of  Regulation  (EU)  [XXX]  [Horizon  Europe 
Regulation], the general objective of Horizon Europe is to deliver scientific, economic 
and societal impact from the Union’s investments in research and innovation so as to 
strengthen  the  scientific  and  technological  bases  of  the  Union  and  foster  its 
competitiveness, including in its industry, deliver on the Union strategic priorities, and 
contribute to tackling global challenges, including the Sustainable Development Goals 
by  following  the  principles  of  Agenda  2030  for  Sustainable  Development  and  the  
Paris  Agreement  under  the  United  Nations  Framework  Convention  on  Climate 
Change. 

(14)  The  Participating  States  have  agreed  upon  the  implementation  structure  for  the 
predecessor  initiatives  the  European  metrology  research  programme  (‘EMRP’)  and 
EMPIR. In 2007, EURAMET e.V. (‘EURAMET’), the European Regional Metrology 
Organisation  and  a  non-profit  association  under  German  law,  was  set  up  to  serve  as 
this structure. EURAMET also has tasks and obligations related to the wider European 
and  global  harmonisation  of  metrology.  Membership  in  EURAMET  is  open  to  all 
European NMIs, as members, and to DIs, as associates. Membership in EURAMET is 
not conditional upon the existence of national metrology research programmes. Given 
that, according to the mid-term evaluation report of EMPIR, the governance structure 
of EURAMET has proved to be efficient and of high quality for the implementation of 
the EMRP and EMPIR, EURAMET should also be used to implement the Metrology 
Partnership. EURAMET should therefore manage the Union’s financial contribution. 

(15) 

In  order  to  achieve  the  objectives  of  the  Metrology  Partnership,  EURAMET  should 
provide  financial  support  mainly  in  the  form  of  grants  to  participants  in  actions 
selected at the level of EURAMET. Those actions should be selected following calls 
for  proposals  under  the  responsibility  of  EURAMET.  The  ranking  list  should  be 
binding for the selection of proposals and the allocation of funding from the Union’s 
financial  contribution  and  from  the  financial  contributions  from  Participating  States 
for  the  research  projects  and  related  activities.  For  the  activities  funded  by  the 
Participating States’ contributions to European metrology networks, the actions funded 
should also be under the responsibility of EURAMET. 

EN 

14 

  EN 

(16)  Participation  in  indirect  actions  funded  by  the  Metrology  Partnership  is  subject  to 
Council Regulation (EU) No XXX14 [RfP Horizon Europe]. However, due to specific 
operating needs of the Metrology Partnership, in particular to build and manage future 
European Metrology Networks and to facilitate adequate financial participation of the 
Participating States, it should be possible to provide for a limitation of the coordinator 
role in a proposal to NMIs and DIs of the Participating States, where necessary. 

(17)  Contributions  from  Participating  States  should  be  ensured  through  institutional 
funding  from  the  NMIs  and  DIs.  The  wide  variety  of  underlying  activities  should 
contribute to the objectives of the Metrology Partnership and be laid out in the annual 
work  plans,  with  links  to  operational  costs  and  expenditure.  Among  others,  the 
contributions  should  cover  the  costs  of  services  that  directly  deliver  calibrations  and 
other  services  traceable  to  the  International  System  of  Units.  Contributions  from 
Participating  States  should  also  include  a  financial  contribution  to  the  administrative 
costs of the Metrology Partnership.  

(18) 

In  order  to  ensure  transparency  and  accessibility  for  the  programme,  calls  for 
proposals by the Metrology Partnership should also be published on the single portal 
for  participants  as  well  as  through  other  Horizon  Europe  electronic  means  of 
dissemination managed by the Commission. 

(19)  The functioning of the funding model with regard to the matching principle between 
Union and non-Union funds should be reassessed at the time of the interim evaluation 
of  the  Metrology  Partnership  in  order  to  ensure  the  matching  principle  for 
Participating States’ financial contributions is being respected.  

(20)  The  financial  interests  of  the  Union  should  be  protected  through  proportionate 
measures  throughout  the  expenditure  cycle,  including  the  prevention,  detection  and 
investigation of irregularities, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid  or incorrectly 
used and, where appropriate, administrative and financial penalties.  

(21) 

In  order  to  protect  the  Union's  financial  interests,  the  Commission  should  have  the 
right  to  reduce,  suspend  or  terminate  the  Union’s  financial  contribution  if  the 
Metrology  Partnership  is  implemented  inadequately,  partially  or  late,  or  if  the 
Participating States do not contribute, or contribute partially or late, to the financing of 
the  Metrology  Partnership.  Those  rights  should  be  provided  for  in  the  contribution 
agreement to be concluded between the Union and EURAMET. 

(22)  For  the  purpose  of  simplification,  administrative  burdens  should  be  reduced  for  all 
parties.  Double  audits  and  disproportionate  documentation  and  reporting  should  be 
avoided.  When  audits  are  conducted,  the  specific  characteristics  of  the  national 
programmes  should  be  taken  into  account,  as  appropriate.  Audits  of  recipients  of 
Union funds provided in accordance  with  this Decision should ensure  a  reduction in 
the administrative burden, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046. 

(23)  Upon request from the Commission the European Parliament, the Council or the Court 
of  Auditors,  EURAMET  and  the  Participating  States  should  submit  any  information 

14 

Council Regulation (EU) XXX of …(OJ …). 

EN 

15 

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the  Commission  needs  to  include  in  the  reports  on  the  evaluation  of  the  Metrology 
Partnership. 

(24)  The Commission should conduct an interim evaluation not later than 2025, assessing 
in  particular  the  quality  and  efficiency  of  the  Metrology  Partnership,  the  progress 
made towards  achieving  the objectives  set  and  a final  evaluation  not  later than 2030 
and should prepare a report on those evaluations, 

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:  

1. 

2. 

3. 

1. 

2. 

Article 1 

Participation in the European Partnership on Metrology 

The  Union  shall  participate  in  the  European  Partnership  on  Metrology  (‘the 
Metrology  Partnership’),  an  institutionalised  partnership  as  referred  to  in  Article 
8(1),  point  (c),  of  Regulation  (EU)  […]  [Horizon  Europe],  jointly  undertaken  by 
Austria, Belgium, [Bosnia and Herzegovina], Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, 
Estonia,  Finland,  France,  Germany,  Greece,  Hungary,  Ireland,  Italy,  Lithuania, 
[Norway],  Spain,  the  Netherlands,  Poland,  Portugal,  Romania,  [Serbia],  Slovenia, 
in 
Slovakia,  Sweden  [Switzerland  and  Turkey]  (the  ‘Participating  States’), 
accordance with the conditions laid down in this Decision.  

Any Member State other than those specified in paragraph 1 and any other country 
associated to Horizon Europe may participate in the Metrology Partnership, provided 
it fulfils the condition laid down in Article 4(1), point (c).  It shall be regarded as a 
Participating State for the purposes of this Decision.  

Any third country not associated to Horizon Europe may participate in the Metrology 
Partnership,  provided  they  conclude  an  international  agreement  for  scientific  and 
technological cooperation with the Union setting out the terms and conditions of its 
participation in the Metrology Partnership and provided they obtain the approval by 
the  Metrology  Partnership  Committee  referred  to  in  Article  13(3),  point  (f).  If  it 
fulfils those conditions, it shall be regarded as a Participating State for the purposes 
of this Decision. 

Article 2 

Objectives of the Metrology Partnership 

The  Metrology  Partnership  shall  contribute  to  the  implementation  of  Regulation 
(EU) … [XXX][Horizon Europe] and in particular Article 3 thereof.  

Without  prejudice  to  paragraph  1,  the  Metrology  Partnership  shall,  through  the 
involvement  and  commitment  of  partners  in  designing  and  implementing  a 
programme  of  research  and  innovation  activities,  pursue  the  following  general 
objectives: 

(a) 

(b) 

to develop a sustainable coordinated metrology system on a European level; 

to  ensure  that  state-of-the-art  metrology  capabilities  are  taken  up  directly  by 
innovators in their ecosystems; 

EN 

16 

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(c) 

to  increase  the  impact  of  metrology  on  societal  challenges  in  relation  to  the 
implementation  of  policies,  standards  and  regulations  to  make  them  fit  for 
purpose. 

3. 

When  implementing  the  general  objectives  set  out  in  paragraph  2,  the  Metrology 
Partnership shall pursue the following specific objectives: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

to  develop  by  2030  new  research  capabilities  which  are  built  within  the 
framework of new European Metrology Networks and which perform in terms 
of  calibration  and  measurement  capabilities  at  least  equal  to  the  leading 
metrology institutes outside the Participating States ; 

to support, by 2030, sales of new innovative products and services through the 
use  and  adoption  of  the  new  metrology  capabilities  in  key  emerging 
technologies; 

to contribute fully and effectively, by 2030, to the design and implementation 
of  specific  standards  and  regulations  that  underpin  public  policies  addressing 
societal challenges. 

Article 3 

The Union’s financial contribution to the Metrology Partnership 

The  Union’s  financial  contribution  to  the  Metrology  Partnership,  including  the 
European  Free  Trade  Association  appropriations  and  third  country  appropriations, 
shall not exceed the Participating States' contributions to the Metrology Partnership. 
The  Union  financial  contribution  shall  be  up  to  EUR  300  million  to  match  the 
contributions of the Participating States specified in Article 1 (1). 

For  the  calculation  of  the  Union  financial  contribution,  any  contributions  from  the 
Participating  States  to  administrative  costs  in  excess  of  5%  of  the  total  combined 
contributions to the Metrology Partnership shall not be taken into account. 

The  Union’s  financial  contribution  shall  be  paid  from  the  appropriations  in  the 
general budget of the Union allocated to the relevant parts of the specific programme 
implementing  Horizon  Europe,  established  by  Decision  [XXX]15  of  the  European 
Parliament and of the Council on establishing the specific programme implementing 
Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.  

The Union’s financial contribution shall be used by EURAMET e.V. (‘EURAMET’) 
to fund the activities referred to in Article 6(1), point (a). 

The Union's financial contribution shall not be used to cover the administrative costs 
of the Metrology Partnership. 

Regulation  [XXX]  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  on  establishing  the  specific 
programme implementing Horizon Europe  – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 
(OJ C […], […], p. […]). [Please insert full reference]. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

15 

EN 

17 

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Article 4 

Conditions for the Union’s financial contribution 

1. 

The Union’s financial contribution shall be conditional upon all of the following: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

the demonstration by the Participating States that the Metrology Partnership is 
set up in accordance with this Decision; 

the  designation  by  the  Participating  States,  or  national  metrology  institutes 
(NMIs)  designated  by  Participating  States,  of  EURAMET  as  the  structure 
responsible  for  implementing  the  Metrology  Partnership  and  for  receiving, 
allocating and monitoring the Union’s financial contribution; 

the commitment by each Participating State to contribute to the financing of the 
Metrology Partnership and to establish a reserve funding capability of 50% of 
the amount of the commitment; 

the demonstration by EURAMET of its  capacity  to  implement  the Metrology 
Partnership,  including  receiving,  allocating  and  monitoring  the  Union’s 
financial  contribution  in  the  framework  of  indirect  management  of  the  Union 
budget  in  accordance  with  Articles  62  and  154  of  Regulation  (EU,  Euratom) 
2018/1046;  

(e) 

the  establishment  of  a  governance  model  for  the  Metrology  Partnership  in 
accordance with Articles 13 to 16 of this Decision. 

2. 

During  the  implementation  of  the  Metrology  Partnership,  the  Union's  financial 
contribution shall also be conditional upon the following:  

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

the implementation by EURAMET of the Metrology Partnership's activities set 
out in Article 6 in line with the objectives set out in Article 2; 

the  maintenance  of  an  appropriate  and  efficient  governance  model  in 
accordance with Articles 13 to 16; 

the  compliance  by  EURAMET  with  the  reporting  requirements  set  out  in 
Article 155 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046;  

the fulfilment of the commitments referred to in paragraph 1, point (c), of this 
Article. 

Article 5 

Participating States' contributions to the Metrology Partnership 

1. 

The Participating States specified in Article 1(1) shall make contributions or arrange 
for their national funding bodies to make contributions, whether financial or in kind, 
of  at  least  EUR  363  million  during  the  period  from  1  January  2021  until  31 
December 2031. A share of the contributions from the Participating States shall be in 
the form of financial contributions. 

2. 

The Participating States' contributions shall consist of the following: 

(a) 

financial or in-kind  contributions  to  the implementing activities referred to  in 
Article 6(1); and 

EN 

18 

  EN 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

(b) 

financial  or  in-kind  contributions  to  cover  all  the  administrative  costs  of 
EURAMET. 

The  financial  or  in-kind  contributions  referred  to  in  paragraph  2,  point  (a),  shall 
cover  the  costs  incurred  by  the  Participating  States  in  implementing  the  activities 
referred  to  in  Article  6(1),  point  (b),  less  any  direct  or  indirect  Union  financial 
contribution to those costs. 

The  financial  or  in-kind  contributions  referred  to  in  paragraph  2,  point  (b),  shall 
cover the costs incurred  by the Participating States in  relation  to  the  administrative 
costs of EURAMET for the implementation of the Partnership. 

For the purpose of valuing the in-kind contributions referred to in paragraph 2, points 
(a)  and  (b),  the  costs  shall  be  determined  in  accordance  with  the  usual  accounting 
practices  of  the  Participating  States  or  the  national  funding  bodies  concerned,  the 
applicable accounting standards of the Participating State where the national funding 
bodies  concerned  are  established  and  the  applicable  International  Accounting 
Standards  and  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards.  The  costs  shall  be 
certified  by  an  independent  auditor  appointed  by  the  Participating  States  or  the 
national funding bodies concerned. Should there be any uncertainty arising from the 
certification,  the  valuation  method  may  be  verified  by  EURAMET.  In  the  event  of 
remaining uncertainties, the valuation method may be audited by EURAMET. 

Contributions referred to in paragraph 2, counting as contributions from Participating 
States, shall be made after the adoption of the annual work programme.  If the annual 
work programme is adopted during the reference year referred to in Article 6(3), the 
contributions  referred  to  in  paragraph  2,  point  (b),  counting  as  contributions  from 
Participating  States  included  in  the  annual  work  programme,  may  comprise 
contributions  made as  from  1 January of that  year. Exceptionally, the contributions 
referred  to  in  paragraph  2,  point  (b),  made  after  the  date  of  Metrology  Partnership 
Decision  entry  into  force  may  count  as  contributions  from  Participating  States 
provided  that  they  are  included  in  the  Metrology  Partnership’s  first  annual  work 
programme. 

Article 6 

Activities of EURAMET 

1. 

The  Metrology  Partnership  shall  support  a  wide  range  of  research  and  innovation 
activities  by means of: 

(a) 

indirect actions within the meaning of Article 2, point 25 of  Regulation (EU) 
[XXX] [Horizon Europe Regulation] and that in  accordance with Article 7 of 
this Decision are funded by EURAMET mainly in the form of grants following 
transnational  open  and  competitive  calls  for  proposals  organised  by 
EURAMET, and that include: 

– 

– 

scientific-technical  actions 

(i) 
scientific 
metrology  laying  the  basis  for  all  successive  steps,  including  applied 
metrology research and development and metrology-related services; 

fundamental 

supporting 

(ii)  metrology  research  to  provide  solutions  for  societal  challenges 
focusing  on  contributions  to  energy,  health  and  climate  and  to  develop 

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projects  in  specific  European  metrology  networks  addressing  these 
challenges; 

– 

– 

(iii)  research  to  develop  novel  measurement  instrumentation  aiming  at 
industrial take-up of metrological technologies to stimulate innovation in 
industry; 

(iv)  pre-normative  and  co-normative  metrology 
research  and 
development  in  support  of  policy  implementation,  regulations  and 
accelerate faster marketing of market introduction of innovative products 
and services; 

(b) 

activities  funded  by  the  Participating  States  without  the  Union’s  financial 
contribution  referred  to  in  Article  3  which  consist  of  metrology  capacity-
building activities on different  technological  levels  whose aim is to achieve a 
balanced and integrated metrology system in the Participating States enabling 
them  to  develop  their  scientific  and  technical  capabilities  in  metrology,  and 
which include activities not  selected from  the calls for proposals  described in 
point  (a),  and  outlined  in  the  annual  work  programmes,  including  any  of  the 
following: 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(i)  activities  under  the  national  programmes  of  the  Participating  States 
such  as  transnational  projects  contributing  to  the  priorities  laid  out  in  a 
European metrology network and the EURAMET technical committees. 

(ii) actions for the dissemination and exploitation of results of metrology 
research; 

(iii) actions specifically addressing metrology institutes which have no or 
limited  scientific  capabilities,  by  supporting  them  in  using  other  Union, 
national  or  regional  programmes  for  training  and  mobility,  cross-border 
cooperation or investment in metrology infrastructure; 

(iv)  the  organisation  of  external  dissemination  and  knowledge  transfer 
activities to promote the Metrology Partnership and maximise its impact. 

Before  identifying  the  topics  of  each  call  for  proposals  referred  to  in  paragraph  1, 
point  (a),  EURAMET  shall  invite  individuals  or  organisations  from  the  metrology 
research  community  and  the  general  metrology  value  chain  to  suggest  potential 
research topics. 

Article 7 

Annual work programme  

The  Metrology  Partnership  shall  be  implemented  on  the  basis  of  annual  work 
programmes covering activities to be undertaken for the period from 1 January to 31 
December of a given year (‘reference year’).  

EURAMET shall adopt the annual work programmes by 31 March of the reference 
year,  after  obtaining  approval  from  the  Commission.  In  adopting  the  annual  work 
programmes,  both  EURAMET  and  the  Commission  shall  act  without  undue  delay. 
EURAMET shall make the annual work programme publicly available. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

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3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Activities referred to in Article 6(1), points (a) and (b), may be launched only in the 
reference  year  and  only  after  the  adoption  of  the  annual  work  programme  for  that 
year. 

Activities may be funded by EURAMET only if they are set out in the annual work 
programme.  The  annual  work  programme  shall  distinguish  between  the  activities 
referred  to  in  Article  6(1),  point  (a),  the  activities  referred  to  in  Article  6(1),  point 
(b), and the administrative costs of EURAMET. The annual work programme shall 
include their corresponding expenditure estimates and the budget being allocated to 
activities funded with the Union’s financial contribution referred to in Article 3 and 
to  activities  funded  by  the  Participating  States  without  such  a  Union’s  financial 
contribution. The annual work programme shall also include the estimated value of 
the Participating States' in-kind contributions referred to in Article 5(2), point (b). 

Amended  annual  work  programmes  for  a  reference  year  and  annual  work 
programmes  for  subsequent  reference  years  shall  take  into  account  the  results  of 
previous calls for proposals. They shall endeavour to address insufficient coverage of 
scientific topics, in particular those initially addressed in activities under Article 6(1), 
point (b), that could not be adequately funded. 

The  calls  for  proposals  under  the  relevant  annual  work  programmes,  shall  be 
launched by 31 December 2027. In duly justified cases, they may be launched by 31 
December 2028. 

EURAMET  shall  monitor  and  report  annually  to  the  Commission  on  the 
implementation of all activities included in the annual work programme. 

Any  communication  or  publication  relating  to  the  activities  of  the  Metrology 
Partnership  and  performed  in  cooperation  with  the  Metrology  Partnership,  whether 
undertaken  by  EURAMET,  a  Participating  State  or  its  national  funding  bodies,  or 
participants to an activity, shall be labelled or co-labelled as being co-funded by the 
Metrology Partnership under Horizon Europe. 

Article 8 

Rules for participation and dissemination 

EURAMET  shall  be  considered  a  funding  body  within  the  meaning  of  Article  2, 
point 13 of Regulation [(EU) [XXX] [Horizon Europe Regulation] and shall provide 
financial  support  to  indirect  actions  referred  to  in  Article  6(1),  point  (a),  of  this 
Decision in accordance with Articles 6(2), of Regulation (EU) [XXX]. 

In accordance with the Article 13 (1) of the HE Regulation, in duly justified cases, 
the annual work programme may provide for a limitation of the coordinator role in 
indirect actions to NMIs and DIs of the Participating States in order to ensure that the 
objectives and Participating States’ contribution targets are met. 

EURAMET shall ensure appropriate interactions with NMIs and DIs in the indirect 
actions  referred  to  in  Article  6(1),  point  (a),  according  to  the  designation  by  the 
appropriate  national  authority.  EURAMET  shall  also  encourage  and  support  the 
participation of other entities in all calls.  

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Article 9 

Agreements between the Union and EURAMET 

Provided  an  equivalent  level  of  protection  of  the  financial  interest  of  the  Union  is  ensured, 
EURAMET  shall  be  entrusted  with  the  implementation  of  the  Union  contribution  in 
accordance with Article 62(3) and Article 154 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046. 

Article 10 

Termination, reduction or suspension of the Union’s financial contribution 

If  the  Metrology  Partnership  fails  to  meet  the  conditions  under  which  the  Union’s 
financial  contribution  is  entrusted,  the  Commission  may  terminate,  proportionally 
reduce or suspend the Union’s financial contribution referred to in Article 3. 

If  the  Participating  States  do  not  contribute  to  the  financing  of  the  Metrology 
Partnership,  contribute  only  partially  or  do  not  respect  the  time  frames  for  the 
contributions referred to in Article 5, the Commission may terminate, proportionally 
reduce  or  suspend  the  Union’s  financial  contribution  referred  to  in  Article  3.  The 
Commission’s decision shall not hinder the reimbursement of eligible costs already 
incurred  by  the  Participating  States  before  the  decision  to  terminate,  proportionally 
reduce  or  suspend  the  Union’s  financial  contribution  is  notified  to  the  Metrology 
Partnership.  

Article 11 

Ex post audits 

The ex post audits of expenditure on indirect actions referred to in Article 6(1), point 
(a), shall be carried out by EURAMET in accordance with Article 48 of Regulation 
…[Horizon Europe](EU) [XXX] []. 

The Commission may decide to carry out the audits referred to in paragraph 1 itself. 
In such cases, the Commission shall do so in accordance with the applicable rules, in 
particular Article 48(3) of Regulation (EU) [XXX] [Horizon Europe] and Article 127 
of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046. 

Article 12 

Protection of the financial interests of the Union 

The  Commission  shall  take  appropriate  measures  to  ensure  that,  when  actions 
financed under this Decision are implemented, the financial interests of the Union are 
protected  by  the  application  of    preventive  measures  against  fraud,  corruption  and 
any other illegal activities, by effective checks and, if irregularities are detected, by 
the  recovery  of  the  amounts  wrongly  paid  and,  where  appropriate,  by  effective, 
proportionate and dissuasive penalties. 

In  implementing  the  Metrology  Partnership,  the  Participating  States  shall  take  the 
legislative,  regulatory,  administrative  and  other  measures  necessary  to  protect  the 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

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3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

financial interests of the Union, in particular, to ensure full recovery of any amounts 
due to the Union in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046. 

EURAMET  shall  grant  Commission  staff  and  other  persons  authorised  by  the 
Commission, as well as the Court of Auditors, access to its sites and premises and to 
all  the  information,  including  information  in  electronic  format,  needed  in  order  to 
conduct their audits.  

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out investigations, including on-
the-spot  checks  and  inspections,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  and  procedures 
laid down in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and 
of the Council16 and Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/9617 with a view to 
establishing  whether  there  has  been  fraud,  corruption  or  any  other  illegal  activity 
affecting  the  financial  interests  of  the  Union  in  connection  with  an  agreement,  a 
decision or a contract funded under this Decision.  

The  European  Public  Prosecutor’s  Office  (EPPO)  may  carry  out  investigations  in 
accordance  with  the  provisions  and  procedures  laid  down  in  Council  Regulation 
(EU)  2017/193918,  with  a  view  to  investigating  criminal  offences  affecting  the 
financial interests of the Union as set out in Article 4 of that Regulation.  

Without  prejudice  to  paragraphs  3,  4  and  5,  agreements,  decisions  and  contracts 
resulting from the implementation of this Decision shall contain provisions expressly 
empowering  the  Commission,  EURAMET,  the  Court  of  Auditors,  the  EPPO  and 
OLAF  to  conduct  such  audits,  on-the-spot  checks  and  investigations  in  accordance 
with their respective competences.  

Article 13 

Governance of the Metrology Partnership 

1. 

The bodies governing the Metrology Partnership shall include at least the following: 

(a) 

the Metrology Partnership Committee; 

(b) 

the Steering Group. 

(c) 

the Secretariat of EURAMET. 

16 

17 

18 

Regulation  (EU,  Euratom)  No  883/2013  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  11 
September 2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and 
repealing Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council 
Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999 (OJ L 248, 18.9.2013, p. 1). 
Council  Regulation  (Euratom,  EC)  No  2185/96 of  11  November  1996  concerning  on-the-spot  checks 
and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial 
interests against fraud and other irregularities (OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2). 
Council  Regulation  (EU)  2017/1939  of  12  October  2017  implementing  enhanced  cooperation  on  the 
establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (‘the EPPO’)(OJ L 283, 31.10.2017, p. 1). 

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Article 14 

The Metrology Partnership Committee 

1. 

2. 

The  Metrology  Partnership  Committee  shall  manage  the  Metrology  Partnership  in 
order to ensure that the Metrology Partnership as executed meets its objectives. 

The  Metrology  Partnership  Committee  shall  be  composed  of  representatives  of 
EURAMET members from  all the Participating States. The voting weights  shall be 
calculated  from  the  national  commitments  according  to  the  square  root  of  the 
commitment. 

3. 

The Metrology Partnership Committee shall, in particular: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

take decisions on the strategic research and innovation agenda; 

take decisions on the planning of calls for proposals and the evaluation review 
procedure;  

adopt the annual work programme after obtaining the Commission’s approval 
and after consulting the Steering Group referred to in Article 15;  

take  decisions  on  the  selection  of  the  projects  to  be  funded  according  to  the 
ranking  lists  following  the  evaluations  of  the  call  of  proposals  referred  to  in 
Article 6(1) point (a); 

(e)  monitor the progress of the funded projects; 

(f) 

approve the participation in the Metrology Partnership of any third country not 
associated  to  Horizon  Europe,  provided  that  third  country  has  concluded  an 
international agreement with the Union, referred to in Article 1(3). 

The  Commission  shall  have  observer  status  in  the  meetings  of  the  Metrology 
Partnership Committee. However, the adoption of the annual work programme by the 
Metrology Partnership Committee shall require the Commission’s prior consent. The 
Metrology  Partnership  Committee  shall  invite  the  Commission  to  its  meetings  and 
shall send the Commission all relevant documents. The Commission may take part in 
the Metrology Partnership Committee’s discussions. 

The  Metrology  Partnership  Committee  shall  elect  its  Chairperson  and  their  Deputy 
according  to  the  voting  weights  explained  in  paragraph  2.  The  Chairperson  of  the 
Metrology  Partnership  Committee  shall  represent  EURAMET  in  matters  related  to 
the Metrology Partnership. 

Article 15 

The Steering Group 

The  Commission  shall  set  up  a  Steering  Group.  The  Steering  Group  shall  be  an 
advisory body of the Metrology Partnership and it shall give advice to the Metrology 
Partnership  on  the  emerging  priorities  for  metrology  research  at  European  level.  It 
shall in particular: 

(a) 

(b) 

identify  emerging  technologies  and  markets  where  metrology  research  could 
become relevant in the future; 

identify  research  areas  contributing  to  the  smooth  functioning  of  the  single 
market, including to relevant regulations and standards; 

4. 

5. 

1. 

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(c) 

the  Metrology  Partnership  on  priorities  for 

advise 
programmes.   

their  future  work 

2. 

The Steering Group shall be composed of 12 members:  

(a) 

4 representatives from European standard setters and regulators designated by 
EURAMET; 

(b)  5  representatives  from  different  European  partnerships  set  up  in  accordance 
with  Regulation  [(EU)  [XXX][Horizon  Europe]  with  private  partners 
representing the industry. The Commission shall designate the representatives 
in an open and transparent manner; 

(c)  Chairperson of the EURAMET; 

(d)  1  representative  designated  by  the  Commission,  and  1  representative  of  a 
national  ministry  who  is  not  a  staff  member  of  a  national  metrology  institute 
represented in EURAMET. The ministry representative should beappointed by 
the Metrology Partnership Committee. 

At  least  50%  of  the  members  referred  in  paragraph  2,  points  (a)  and  (b),  shall  be 
rotated at the latest after the interim evaluation referred to in Article 18(1).  

The  Steering  Group  shall  be  jointly  chaired  by  the  representatives  referred  to  in 
paragraph 2, point (d).    

Article 16 

The Secretariat of EURAMET 

The  Secretariat  of  EURAMET,  providing  general  administrative  support  for 
EURAMET, shall keep the bank accounts for the Metrology Partnership. 

A  Management  support  unit  shall  be  established  as  part  of  the  Secretariat  of 
EURAMET  and  shall  be  responsible  for  the  implementation  and  day-to-day 
management of the Metrology Partnership. 

 Article 17 

Communication of information 

At  the  request  of  the  Commission,  EURAMET  shall  provide  the  Commission  with 
any information necessary for preparing the evaluation reports referred to in Article 
18.  

The  Participating  States  shall  submit  to  the  Commission,  through  EURAMET,  any 
information requested by the European Parliament, by the Council or by the Court of 
Auditors concerning the financial management of the Metrology Partnership. 

The  Commission  shall  include  the  information  referred  to  in  paragraph  2  in  the 
evaluations referred to in Article 18. 

3. 

4. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

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Article 18 

Evaluation  

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

The  Commission  shall  conduct  an  interim  evaluation  and  a  final  evaluation  of  the 
Metrology  Partnership  in  the  framework  of  the  Horizon  Europe  evaluations,  as 
specified in Article 47 of Regulation (EU) …. [Horizon Europe].  

The evaluations shall examine how the Metrology Partnership fulfils its mission and 
objectives,  cover  all  its  activities  and  evaluate  its  European  added  value, 
effectiveness,  efficiency,  including  its  openness  and  transparency,  the  relevance  of 
the  activities  pursued  and  their  coherence  and/or  complementarity  with  relevant 
regional, national and Union policies, including synergies with other parts of Horizon 
thematic/specific  programmes).  The 
Europe  (such  as  missions,  clusters  or 
evaluations shall take into account the views of stakeholders, at both European and 
national level and shall, where relevant, also include an assessment of the long-term 
scientific,  societal,  economic,  technological  impacts  of  the  preceding  initiatives. 
They  shall  include,  where  relevant,  an  assessment  of  the  most  effective  policy 
intervention  mode  for  any  future  action,  as  well  as  the  relevance  and  coherence  of 
any possible renewal of the Metrology Partnership, given the overall policy priorities 
and the research and innovation support landscape, including the positioning against 
other initiatives supported through the Horizon Europe framework programme.  

Article 19 

Access to results and information on proposals  

EURAMET  shall  provide  the  Commission  access  to  all  information  related  to  the 
indirect  actions  it  funds.  Such  information  shall  include  results  of  beneficiaries 
participating  in  indirect  actions  of  the  Metrology  Partnership  or  any  other 
information  deemed  necessary  for  developing,  implementing,  monitoring  and 
evaluating  Union  policies  or  programmes.  Such  access  rights  are  limited  to  a  non-
commercial  and  non-competitive  use  and  shall  comply  with  applicable 
confidentiality rules. 

For  the  purposes  of  developing,  implementing,  monitoring  and  evaluating  Union 
policies or programmes, EURAMET shall provide the Commission with information 
included in submitted proposals.  

Article 20 

Confidentiality 

Without  prejudice  to  Article  17,  EURAMET  shall  ensure  the  protection  of  confidential 
information  whose  disclosure  beyond  Union  institutions  and  other  Union  bodies,  offices  or 
agencies could damage the interests of its members or of participants in the activities of the 
Metrology Partnership. Such confidential information includes but is not limited to personal, 
commercial, sensitive non-classified and classified information. 

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Article 21 

Conflict of interest 

1. 

2. 

EURAMET, its bodies and staff, and the bodies of the Metrology Partnership, shall 
avoid any conflict of interest in the implementation of their activities. 

EURAMET  shall  adopt  rules  for  the  prevention,  avoidance  and  management  of 
conflicts  of  interest  in  respect  of  the  staff  of  EURAMET,  the  members  and  other 
persons serving in the  Metrology Partnership Committee and in the other bodies or 
groups  of  EURAMET  and  the  Metrology  Partnership,  in  accordance  with  Article 
154(4), point (d) of the Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046. 

Article 22 

Entry into force 

This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in 
the Official Journal of the European Union. 

Article 23 

Addressees 

This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 

Done at Brussels, 

For the European Parliament 
The President 

For the Council   
The President  

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LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

1. 

FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE  

1.1.  Title of the proposal/initiative  

1.2.  Policy area(s) concerned in the ABM/ABB structure 

1.3.  Nature of the proposal/initiative  

1.4.  Objective(s)  

1.5.  Grounds for the proposal/initiative  

1.6.  Duration and financial impact  

1.7.  Management mode(s) planned  

2. 

MANAGEMENT MEASURES  

2.1.  Monitoring and reporting rules  

2.2.  Management and control system  

2.3.  Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities  

3. 

ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE  

3.1.  Heading(s)  of  the  multiannual  financial  framework  and  expenditure  budget 
line(s) affected  

3.2.  Estimated impact on expenditure  

3.2.1. Summary of estimated impact on expenditure  

3.2.2. Estimated impact on operational appropriations  

3.2.3. Estimated impact on appropriations of an administrative nature 

3.2.4. Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework 

3.2.5. Third-party contributions  

3.3.  Estimated impact on revenue

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LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

1. 

FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE  

1.1. 

Title of the proposal/initiative  

Proposal  for  a  Decision  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  on  the 
participation  of  the  Union  in  the  European  Partnership  on  Metrology  jointly 
undertaken by several Member States 

1.2. 

Policy area(s) concerned (Programme cluster) 

Activity: Horizon Europe 

Cluster 4: Digital, industry and space 

1.3. 

The proposal/initiative relates to:  

 a new action  
 a new action following a pilot project/preparatory action19  

 the extension of an existing action  

 a merger or redirection of one or more actions towards another/a new action  

1.4. 

Grounds for the proposal/initiative  

1.4.1.  Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term including a detailed timeline for 

roll-out of the implementation of the initiative 

The  initiative’s  main  objectives  can  be  divided  up  in  a  scientific,  economic  and 
societal  objective.  The  scientific  objective  is  to  develop  a  sustainable  coordinated 
world-class  metrology  system  on  a  European  level.  The  economic  objective  is  to 
ensure that state-of-the-art metrology capabilities are taken up directly by innovators 
in their ecosystems. The societal objective is to increase the impact of metrology on 
societal  challenges  in  relation  to  the  implementation  of  policies,  standards  and 
regulations to make them fit for purpose. 

The  initiative  is  expected  to  start  operating  in  the  second  or  third  quarter  of  2021 
(depending  on  the  adoption  date  of  its  basic  act  by  the  Council  and  the  European 
Parliament).  

The  main  activity  of  the  initiative  is  supporting  collaborative  research  actions 
between metrology institutes and external metrology stakeholders. There will be an 
initial  ramp-up phase in  the call  years of 2021 and 2022, in  order to  reach a stable 
call budget for the years 2023 – 2026. For the last call year in 2027 it is estimated to 
reduce  the  call  budget  to  allow  for  a  gradual  phasing  out.  At  the  same  time,  the 
national  funding  is  providing  the  funds  to  create  European  Metrology  Networks  in 
strategic technological and societal areas. The first Networks are being built up from 
the  start  of  the  initiative  with  the  potential  of  new  Networks  being  launched  every 
year of implementation.  

19 

As referred to in Article 58(2)(a) or (b) of the Financial Regulation. 

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By  2030,  all  the  general  and  specific  objectives  will  be  achieved  and  subject  to  an 
ex-post evaluation. 

1.4.2.  Added  value  of  Union  involvement  (it  may  result  from  different  factors,  e.g. 
coordination gains, legal certainty, greater effectiveness or complementarities). For 
the purposes of this point 'added value of Union involvement' is the value resulting 
from  Union  intervention,  which  is  additional  to  the  value  that  would  have  been 
otherwise created by Member States alone. 

Reasons for action at European level (ex-ante):  

The problems addressed by the initiative are of a nature and magnitude that EU-level 
concerted action will be more appropriate than individual Member States developing 
their  own  initiatives.  This  will  enable  more  coherent  and  coordinated  efforts,  and 
avoid duplication. 

The  primary  reason  for  the  Union  financial  contribution  to  the  intiative  is  the 
opportunity  to  fund  trans-national  research  actions  directly  targeting  joint  strategic 
priorities  for  metrology.  An  Article  185  initiative  also  gives  the  legal,  long-term 
certainty of institutional funding with commitments both from the Union as well as 
the institutional funding available at national level. 

Expected generated Union added value (ex-post): 

The EU involvement allows for creating economies at scale and for consolidating the 
metrology  research  capacity.  The  EU  involvement  will  also  ensure  leverage  of  the 
national resources to create an European metrology capacity fit for common societal 
challenges and technological transitions in line with the needs of the Single Market. 

These  issues  are  addressed  further  in  the  Impact  Assessment  document  attached  to 
this proposal. 

1.4.3.  Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past 

By  achieving  a  significant  level  of  integration  of  national  metrology  efforts,  EU 
action  under  the  Seventh  Framework  Programme  and  Horizon  2020  has  enabled 
Europe  to  establish  global  leadership  in  many  fields  of  metrology.  As  metrology 
research  grows  in  importance  as  an  enabler  of  emerging  technologies,  other  global 
regions  are  increasing  significantly  their  metrology  investments  and  targeting  them 
strategically. EU action at this stage is needed, therefore, to maintain the momentum 
of integration so that it becomes embedded along the metrology value chain and so 
increases  engagement  of  metrology  stakeholders  including  regulators  and  standard 
setters,  industry  and  societal  end-users,  as  well  as  citizens.  This  is  the  key  to 
achieving the long-term sustainability of integrated metrology research in Europe. 

It is critical that such EU action is maintained now in order to achieve sustainability. 
Otherwise, as the 2017 mid-term evaluation points out, metrology efforts in Europe 
risk  becoming  fragmented  again,  with  capacity  building  in  smaller  National 
Metrology  Institutes  (NMIs)  being  stunted  while  larger  NMIs  conclude  bilateral 
arrangements  with  their  counterparts  in  other  world  regions,  so  undermining 
Europe’s technological sovereignty. 

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1.4.4.  Compatibility and possible synergy with other appropriate instruments 

According  to  the  Horizon  Europe  Regulation,  all  European  Partnerships  need  to 
ensure  coordination  and/or  joint  activities  with  other  relevant  research  and 
innovation  initiatives  to  secure  optimum  level  of  interconnections  and  ensure 
effective synergies.  

Strong synergies should be established with the other European Partnerships that are 
closely  related  to  measurement-intensive  applications.  In  addition,  the  Article  185 
instrument  allows  for  seamless  integration  of  national  funding  programmes  which 
are aligned to national priorities for metrology. 

It  will  align  in  particular  with  other  instruments  under  the  European  priorities  “A 
Europe  fit  for  the  digital  age”,  “An  Economy  that  works  for  people”,  and  “A 
European Green Deal”, and will be able to engage with all programmes and actions 
under  the  proposed  Horizon  Europe  framework  programme  for  research  and 
innovation,  including  all  clusters  under  Pillar  2  “Global  Challenges  and  Industrial 
Competitiveness”. 

Monitoring of synergies and collaboration will be done through the Annual Activity 
Report. 

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1.5. 

Duration and financial impact  

 limited duration  

–    in effect from [01/01]2021 to [31/12]2031  

–    Financial impact from 2021 to 2027 for commitment appropriations and from 

2022 to 2032 for payment appropriations.  

 unlimited duration 

–  Implementation with a start-up period from YYYY to YYYY, 

–  followed by full-scale operation. 
1.6.  Management mode(s) planned20  

 Direct management by the Commission 

–   by its departments, including by its staff in the Union delegations;  

–    by the executive agencies  

 Shared management with the Member States  

 Indirect management by entrusting budget implementation tasks to: 

–   third countries or the bodies they have designated; 

–   international organisations and their agencies (to be specified); 

–  the EIB and the European Investment Fund; 

–   bodies referred to in Articles 70 and 71 of the Financial Regulation; 

–   public law bodies; 

–   bodies governed by private law with a public service mission to the extent that 

they provide adequate financial guarantees; 

–   bodies governed by the private law of a Member State that are entrusted with 
the  implementation  of  a  public-private  partnership  and  that  provide  adequate 
financial guarantees; 

–    persons  entrusted  with  the  implementation  of  specific  actions  in  the  CFSP 

pursuant to Title V of the TEU, and identified in the relevant basic act. 

– 

If more than one management mode is indicated, please provide details in the ‘Comments’ section. 

Comments 

EURAMET is an association (Eingetragener Verein, e.V.) under German law, and is entrusted 
by  the  Member  States  and  other  European  countries  to  represent  them  as  the  Regional 
Metrology Organisation for Europe. The Union’s financial contribution  to  the initiative will 
be provided through this organisation. 

20 

Details of management modes and references to the Financial Regulation may be found on the 
BudgWeb site: 
https://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/budgweb/EN/man/budgmanag/Pages/budgmanag.aspx  

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EN 

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2. 

MANAGEMENT MEASURES  

2.1.  Monitoring and reporting rules  

In  line  with  Horizon  Europe  Regulation,  the  partnership  shall  adopt  a  monitoring 
system that is in line with the requirements set out in Article 45, Annex III and Annex 
V of Horizon Europe Regulation, and feed into the same single database as the other 
components  of  Horizon  Europe.  The  reporting  and  monitoring  system  shall  provide 
key  management  and  implementation  data  (including  microdata  at  the  level  of 
individual  entities),  allow  to  track  progress  according  to  the  Key  Impact  Pathways 
(including the progress to deliver on EU priorities), and the partnership criteria. The 
partnership shall report on specific indicators (that are not covered by the Key Impact 
Pathways)  allowing  to  track  progress  made  in  the  short,  medium  and  long  term 
towards  delivering  on  the  vision  and  specific  and  operational  objectives  of  the 
partnership as set out in the Regulation establishing the Partnership, including on the 
targets set by 2030. The indicators, data sources and methodologies shall allow for an 
assessment over time of achievements, progress towards impacts, including delivery 
on  EU  policy  objectives,  and  the  identification  of  potential  needs  for  corrective 
measures.  It  should  consider  both  qualitative  and  quantitative  data,  identify 
responsibilities  for  data  collection,  and  set  out  concrete  approaches  to  develop 
realistic baseline, targets and/or benchmarks to identify progress, where relevant, and 
in line with Horizon Europe impact approach. All the information collected shall be 
provided in close to real-time to Commission services based on common data models 
and  fed  into  a  single  database  as  specified  in  Article  45  of  the  Horizon  Europe 
Regulation.  For  that  purpose,  appropriate  reporting  systems  shall  be  put  in  place  to 
support a continuous and transparent reporting, including on committed and actually 
provided  financial  and  in-kind  contributions,  visibility  and  positioning  in  the 
international context, impact on research and innovation-related risks of private sector 
investments. Reporting should be in line with the standard Horizon Europe reporting 
requirements. The development of the reporting systems in the context of the strategic 
involve  Member  States  and  partnership 
coordinating  process 
representatives in order to ensure synchronization and coordination of reporting and 
monitoring  efforts,  including  on  the  division  of  data  collection  and  reporting  tasks. 
The  reporting  system  at  project  level  shall  include  detailed  information  on  the 
projects  funded,  their  results,  their  diffusion  and  use  by  key  target  groups,  and  the 
overall  difference  this  is  making  for  science,  the  economy,  society  and/or  the 
environment,  in  line with the projects’ objectives and targeted impacts.  This  should 
be complemented by relevant data on the added value and impact of the partnership at 
European,  national  and  regional  level.  Appropriate  data  sharing  mechanism  with 
common Horizon Europe monitoring and reporting databases needs to be ensured. 

shall  also 

By  31  December  2024,  the  Commission  will  conduct  an  interim  evaluation  of  the 
initiative  and  will  communicate  the  conclusions  thereof,  accompanied  by  its 
observations, to the European Parliament and to the Council by 30 June 2025. Within 
six months of the winding up of the initiative, but no later than two  years after the 
decision  to  wind  it  up,  the  Commission  will  conduct  a  final  evaluation  of  the 
initiative.  The  results  of  the  final  evaluation  will  be  presented  to  the  European 
Parliament and to the Council.  

By  15  February  of  each  year,  EURAMET  will  present  to  the  Commission,  for 
approval,  an  annual  activity  report  on  the  progress  made  by  the  Partnership  in  the 

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previous  calendar  year,  in  particular  in  relation  to  the  work  plan  for  that  year.  The 
report  will  include  information  on  the  research  performed,  innovation  and  other 
actions  and  the  corresponding  expenditure;  the  proposals  submitted,  with  a 
breakdown  by  participant  type,  and  by  country;  the  indirect  actions  selected  for 
funding,  with  a  breakdown  by  participant  type,  and  by  country,  and  indicating  the 
contribution of the Union to the individual participants and actions. 

2.2.  Management and control system(s)  

2.2.1. 

Justification of the management mode(s), the funding implementation mechanism(s), 
the payment modalities and the control strategy proposed 

Indirect management is justified because the European Partnership on Metrology is a 
public-public partnership with part of the funding brought in under form  of in kind 
contributions by the Participating States. 

Each year, the decision on the contribution to the European Partnership on Metrology 
will be taken by virtue of the EU Budget adopted for that year. 

A Delegation Agreement signed between the European Commission and EURAMET 
will indicate that for the tasks to be carried out each year the Commission will pay a 
contribution  upon  conclusion  of  a  Transfer  of  Funds  agreement  with  EURAMET. 
The  Delegation  Agreement  should  be  preceded  by  an  ex-ante  assessment  of 
EURAMET to assess its internal control framework and financial management. 

The Commission will ensure that the rules applicable to the European Partnership on 
Metrology fully comply with the requirements of the Financial Regulation. 

Monitoring  arrangements,  including  through  the  Union  supervision  into  the 
governance of the Partnership, as well as reporting arrangements will ensure that the 
Commission  services  can  meet  the  accountability  requirements  both  to  the  College 
and to the Budgetary Authority. 

The  internal  control  framework  for  EURAMET  for  the  implementation  of  the 
European Partnership on Metrology is built on: 

the  implementation  of  the  Internal  Control  Standards  offering  at  least 

• 
equivalent guarantees to those of the Commission; 

procedures for selecting the best projects through independent evaluation, and 

• 
for translating them into legal instruments; 

• 

project and contract management throughout the lifetime of every project; 

ex-ante  checks  on  100%  of  claims,  including  receipt  of  audit  certificates  and 

• 
ex-ante certification of cost methodologies; 

ex-post  audits  on  a  sample  of  claims  as  part  of  the  Horizon  Europe  ex-post 

• 
audits; 

• 

scientific evaluation of project results 

2.2.2. 

Information concerning the risks identified and the internal control system(s) set up 
to mitigate them 

(1)  Capacity of the dedicated implementation structure EURAMET to manage the 
Union’s budget and to protect the EU’s financial interests. 

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The  control  method  will  be  in  line  with  the  requirements  as  laid  out  in  the  EU 
financial  regulations,  and  in  particular  that  the  Commission  retains  the  right  to 
terminate, reduce or suspend its contribution if the implementation is not acceptable 
or appropriate. 

(2)  Capacity  of  participating  states 
programme. 

to  finance 

their  contributions 

to 

the 

EU  funds  can  only  be  released  upon  evidence  of  national  financial  commitments, 
both  at  annual  financing  agreement  level  and  at  the  level  of  payments  towards 
national  participants  in  the  projects.  Another  safeguard  is  that  EU  funding  cannot 
exceed 50% of the total public funding provided in the programme and EU funding 
cannot cover administrative expenditure. 

2.2.3.  Estimation and justification of the cost-effectiveness of the controls (ratio of "control 
costs ÷ value of the related funds managed"), and assessment of the expected levels 
of risk of error (at payment & at closure)  

As  the  rules  for  participation  of  Horizon  Europe  applicable  to  the  Metrology 
Partnership  are  similar  if  not  to  those  that  the  Commission  will  use  in  its  Work 
Programme, and with a population of beneficiaries with a similar risk profile to those 
of  the  Commission,  it  can  be  expected  that  the  error  margin  will  be  similar  to  that 
foreseen  by  the  Commission  for  Horizon  Europe,  i.e.  to  give  reasonable  assurance 
that the risk of error over the course of the multiannual expenditure period is, on an 
annual  basis,  within  a  range  of  2-5%,  with  the  ultimate  aim  to  achieve  a  residual 
error rate as close as possible to 2% at the closure of the multi-annual programmes, 
once the financial impact of all audits, correction and recovery measures have been 
taken into account. 

See  the  Legislative  Financial  Statement  for  Horizon  Europe  for  full  details  of  the 
error rate expected with respect to participants. 

2.3.  Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities  

Specify existing or envisaged prevention and protection measures, e.g. from the Anti-Fraud Strategy. 

The Commission will ensure that procedures to fight against fraud at all stages of the 
management process are applied by the European Partnership for Metrology.  

The  proposals  for  Horizon  Europe  have  been  subject  to  fraud  proofing  and  an 
assessment  of  their  impact.  Overall,  the  measures  proposed  should  have  a  positive 
impact on the fight against fraud, especially the greater emphasis on risk-based audit 
and reinforced scientific evaluation and control. 

The Commission will ensure that appropriate measures are in place to guarantee that, 
when actions financed under this Regulation are implemented, the financial interests 
of the Union are protected by the application of preventive measures against fraud, 
corruption  and  any  other  illegal  activities,  by  effective  checks  and,  if  irregularities 
are detected, by the recovery of the amounts wrongly paid and, where appropriate, by 
effective, proportionate and deterrent penalties. 

While  implementing  the  current  Article  185  EMPIR  initiative,  EURAMET  already 
cooperates with the Commission services in matters relating to fraud and irregularity. 
The Commission will ensure that this will continue and be strengthened.  

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The Court of Auditors shall have the power of audit, on the basis of documents and 
on-the-spot,  over  all  grant  beneficiaries,  contractors  and  subcontractors  who  have 
received Union funds under the Programme. 

The  European  Anti-Fraud  Office  (OLAF)  may  carry  out  on-the-spot  checks  and 
inspections on economic operators concerned directly or indirectly by such funding 
in  accordance  with  the  procedures  laid  down  in  Regulation  (Euratom,  EC)  No 
2185/96 with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any 
other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union in connection with 
a grant agreement or grant decision or a contract concerning Union funding. 

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3. 

3.1. 

Heading of 
multiannual 
financial 
framework 

ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE  

Heading  of  the  multiannual  financial  framework  and  new  expenditure  budget 
line(s) proposed  

Budget line 

Type of  
expenditure 

Contribution  

Heading 1 

Single  Market,  Innovation  and  Digital  – 
Horizon Europe 

Diff./Non-
diff.21 

from 
EFTA 
countries22 

from 
candidate 
countries23 

from 
third 
countrie
s 

within the 
meaning of 
Article [21(2)(b)] 
of the Financial 
Regulation  

01 02 02 40 - Cluster Digital, Industry 
and Space 

1 

Diff. 

YES 

YES 

YES 

YES 

21 
22 
23 

Diff. = Differentiated appropriations / Non-diff. = Non-differentiated appropriations. 
EFTA: European Free Trade Association.  
Candidate countries and, where applicable, potential candidates from the Western Balkans. 

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3.2. 

Estimated impact on expenditure  

3.2.1. 

Summary of estimated impact on expenditure  

Heading of multiannual financial  
framework  

1 

Heading  Single Market, Innovation and Digital 
Horizon Europe 

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Operational  appropriations  (split  according  to 
the budget lines listed under 3.1)  

Commitments 

Payments 

Appropriations of an administrative nature 
financed from the envelope of the programme24  

Commitments = 
Payments 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

2021 

2022 

2023 

2024 

2025 

2026 

2027 

Post 
2027 

TOTAL 

26.000 

43.000 

51.000 

51.000 

47.000 

43.000 

39.000 

300.000 

0 

11.700 

31.050 

44.900 

50.200 

49.200 

45.600 

67.350 

300.000 

 0.381  

 0.389  

 0.396  

 0.405  

 0.413  

 0.420  

 0.430  

 -    

 2.834  

TOTAL appropriations for the envelope 
of the programme 

Commitments 

=1+3 

26.381 

43.389 

51.396 

51.405 

47.413 

43.420 

39.430 

302.834 

Payments 

=2+3 

 0.381  

 12.089  

31.446  

45.305  

50.613  

49.620  

46.030  

67.350  

 302.834  

Heading of multiannual financial  

7 

‘Administrative expenditure’ 

24 

Technical and/or administrative assistance and expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, 
direct research. Covering the administration of the Horizon Europe actions. The FTE costs are determined on the basis of the  average yearly cost to be used as from 
2021 for salaries for Permanent Staff (EUR 0.127) and other administrative costs (EUR  0.025) referred to buildings and IT costs for Indirect Research staff..  An 
annual indexation of 2%  has  been applied for the period 2022-27. The indication of staff needs in the Commission  DGs is as  well of indicative  and non-binding 
nature. 

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EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
 
framework  

This section should be filled in using the 'budget data of an administrative nature' to be firstly introduced in the Annex to the Legislative 
Financial Statement , which is uploaded to DECIDE for interservice consultation purposes. 

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2021 

2022 

2023 

2024 

2025 

2026 

2027 

Post 
2027 

TOTAL 

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Human resources  
Other administrative expenditure  
TOTAL appropriations under HEADING 
7 of the multiannual financial framework 

(Total  commitments  = 
Total payments) 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

2021 

2022 

2023 

2024 

2025 

2026 

2027 

Post 
2027 

TOTAL 

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

TOTAL appropriations  
across HEADINGS  
of the multiannual financial framework  

Commitments 

26.381 

43.389 

51.396 

51.405 

47.413 

43.420 

39.430 

302.834 

Payments 

 0.381  

 12.089  

31.446  

45.305  

50.613  

49.620  

46.030  

67.350  

 302.834  

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3.2.2. 

Summary of estimated impact on appropriations of an administrative nature 

–    The  proposal/initiative  does  not  require  the  use  of  appropriations  of  an 

administrative nature  

–    The proposal/initiative requires the use of  appropriations of an administrative 

nature, as explained below: 

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Years 

2021 

2022 

2023 

2024 

2025 

2026 

2027 

TOTAL 

HEADING 7 
of the multiannual 
financial framework 

Human resources  

Other administrative 
expenditure  

Subtotal HEADING 7 
of the multiannual 
financial framework  

Outside HEADING 725 
of the multiannual 
financial framework  

Human resources  

Other expenditure  
of an administrative 
nature 

Subtotal  
outside HEADING 7 
of the multiannual 
financial framework  

TOTAL 

0 

The  appropriations  required  for  human  resources  and  other  expenditure  of  an  administrative  nature  will  be  met  by 
appropriations from the DG that are already assigned to management of the action and/or have been redeployed within the 
DG,  together  if  necessary  with  any  additional  allocation  which  may  be  granted  to  the  managing  DG  under  the  annual 
allocation procedure and in the light of budgetary constraints. 

25 

Technical  and/or  administrative  assistance  and  expenditure  in  support  of  the  implementation  of 
EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research.  

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42 

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3.2.2.1.  Estimated requirements of human resources 

–    The proposal/initiative does not require the use of human resources.  

–    The  proposal/initiative  requires  the  use  of  human  resources,  as  explained 

below26: 

Estimate to be expressed in full time equivalent units 

Years 

2021 

2022 

2023 

2024 

2025 

2026 

2027 

 Establishment plan posts (officials and temporary staff) 

Headquarters and Commission’s 
Representation Offices 

Delegations 

Research 

- 

2.5 

- 

2.5 

- 

2.5 

- 

2.5 

- 

2.5 

- 

2.5 

- 

2.5 

 External staff (in Full Time Equivalent unit: FTE) - AC, AL, END, INT and JED 27 
Heading 7 

Financed from 
HEADING 7 of 
the multiannual 
financial 
framework  

- at Headquarters 

- in Delegations  

Financed from the 
envelope of the 
programme 28 

- at Headquarters 

- in Delegations  

Research 

Other (specify) 

TOTAL 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2.5 

2.5 

2.5 

2.5 

2.5 

2.5 

2.5 

The human resources required will be met by staff from the DG who are already assigned to management of the 
action  and/or  have  been  redeployed  within  the  DG,  together  if  necessary  with  any  additional  allocation  which 
may  be  granted  to  the  managing  DG  under  the  annual  allocation  procedure  and  in  the  light  of  budgetary 
constraints. 

Description of tasks to be carried out: 

Officials and temporary staff 

For programme supervision and policy guidance (PO and LO) and evaluation/governance 
administrative tasks and responsibilities for the Commission. 

External staff 

n/a 

26 
27 

28 

The indication of staff needs in the Commission DGs is as well of indicative and non-binding nature. 
AC=  Contract  Staff;  AL  =  Local  Staff;  END  =  Seconded  National  Expert;  INT  =  agency  staff; 
JPD= Junior Professionals in Delegations.  
Sub-ceiling for external staff covered by operational appropriations (former ‘BA’ lines). 

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3.2.3.  Third-party contributions  

The proposal/initiative: 

–    does not provide for co-financing by third parties 

–    provides for the co-financing by third parties estimated below: 

Appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Years 

2021 

2022 

2023 

2024 

2025 

2026 

2027 

TOTAL 

Participating States  

TOTAL appropriations 
co-financed  

31.000 

52.000 

62.000 

62.000 

57.000 

52.000 

47.000 

363.000 

31.000 

52.000 

62.000 

62.000 

57.000 

52.000 

47.000 

363.000 

3.3. 

Estimated impact on revenue  

–    The proposal/initiative has no financial impact on revenue. 

–    The proposal/initiative has the following financial impact: 

 

 

on own resources  

on other revenue 

please indicate, if the revenue is assigned to expenditure lines  

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Impact of the proposal/initiative29 

2021 

2022 

2023 

2024 

2025 

2026 

2027 

Budget revenue line: 

Article …………. 

For assigned revenue, specify the budget expenditure line(s) affected. 

[…] 

Other  remarks  (e.g.  method/formula  used  for  calculating  the  impact  on  revenue  or  any  other 
information).  

[…] 

29 

As regards traditional own resources (customs duties, sugar levies), the amounts indicated must be net 
amounts, i.e. gross amounts after deduction of 20 % for collection costs. 

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