Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India
Date: 2025-03-26
Institutions: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission
Subjects: India, cooperation agreement (EU), renewal of an agreement, research and development, scientific cooperation, technology

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 26.3.2025  COM(2025) 128 final 2025/0066 (NLE)  Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India  
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

• 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL  

Reasons for and objectives of the proposal 

'Agreement  for  scientific  and  technological  cooperation  between  the  European 
The 
Community  and  the  Government  of  the  Republic  of  India'1  ('the  Agreement')  was  signed  in 
New Delhi on 23 November 2001 and entered into force on 14 October 2002. Article 11(b) 
provides that 'This Agreement shall be concluded for an initial period of five years and may 
be renewed by mutual agreement between the Parties after evaluation during the last year of 
the aforementioned period'. To date the Agreement has been renewed three times: in 20092, in 
20153 and in 20204 for additional periods of 5 years each time.  

The current Agreement is due to expire on 17 May 2025.  

The  Evaluation  of  the  EU-India  Science  and  Technology  Agreement  carried  out  by  the 
Commission,  published  on  25  February  20255,  clearly  demonstrates  that  the  Agreement 
continues  to  provide  a  crucial  framework  for  facilitating  cooperation  between  the  EU  and 
India in  common  science and technology (S&T) priority areas, resulting  in  mutual  benefits. 
This  is  demonstrated  by  the  three  flagship  joint  calls  focused  on  Water,  Influenza  Vaccine, 
and Integrated Local Energy Systems (Smart Grids)  that led to 12 joint projects with  a total 
funding of EUR 98 million under the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and 
Innovation. These projects involve 220 research entities from Europe and India, showcasing 
promising results and delivering innovative, sustainable, and affordable technologies. 

A  co-funding  mechanism  was  established  with 
three  Indian  ministries/departments 
(Department  of  Science  &  Technology,  Department  of  Biotechnology,  Ministry  of  Earth 
Science),  assuring  funding  to  Indian  entities  successfully  participating  in  Horizon  2020  and 
Horizon  Europe.  Since  2020,  the  Indian  Government  has  earmarked  around  15  calls  falling 
within  the  scope  of  Horizon  Europe  Pillar  II  ‘Global  Challenges  and  European  Indutrial 
Competitiveness’  for  co-funding,  receiving  over  50  proposals,  with  10  successful  proposals 
co-funded in areas such as AI, polar research, environment, and health. 

In  November  2020,  the  second  Implementing  Arrangement  between  the  Indian  Council  of 
Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the European Commission was signed to facilitate the 
mobility of Indian researchers to European Research Council (ERC) grantee teams in the field 
of  social  science  and  humanities.  Additionally,  in  August  2024  the  Indian  Council  of 
Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  (CSIR)  decided  to  set  up  a  co-funding  mechanism  to 
support Indian entities successful in the MSCA-Staff Exchange scheme. Its objective will be 
to incentivise the participation of Indian organisations in MSCA and to set-up partnerships for 

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L 

(OJ 

213, 

Decision 

Decision 

2009/501/EC 

2002/648/EC 

Council 
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2002/648/oj). 
Council 
(OJ 
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2009/501/oj). 
Council 
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2015/1788/oj). 
Council 
2020/789/EC 
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2020/789/oj). 
Evaluation of the EU-India science and technology agreement - Publications Office of the EU 

2015/1788/EU 

01.07.2009, 

07.10.2015, 

09.06.2020, 

9.8.2002, 

Decision 

Decision 

193, 

260, 

171, 

(OJ 

(OJ 

p. 

p. 

p. 

L 

L 

L 

17, 

18, 

p. 

29–29, 

ELI: 

ELI: 

3, 

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staff exchanges, as a stepping-stone for the identification of more ambitious and strategic R&I 
partnerships between EU and Indian stakeholders. 

An innovation platform, the Horizon 2020 project INNOCENTER was implemented between 
2021  and  2023,  resulting  in  100  EU  companies  benefiting,  with  63  undergoing  market 
validation  and  13  establishing  a  local  presence  in  India.  The  initiative  supported  more  than 
160 startups, facilitated more than 320 EU-India business matches, and helped 13 European 
companies successfully enter the Indian market. 

The  cooperation  under  the  S&T  Agreement  continues  to  develop  also  under  the  EU-India 
Trade and Technology Council (TTC) launched in 2023. One of the three  Working Groups 
established  under  the  TTC    focuses  on  the  development  of  Green  and  Clean  Energy 
Technologies. Under the scope of this Working Group 2, three coordinated calls with India on 
marine  plastic  litter,  battery  recycling,  and  waste-to-hydrogen  are  in  preparation.  The 
European Commission is committed to invest €30 million in these calls, with India expected 
to  match  the  amount.  In  addition,  in  2024  the  EU  and  India  joined  forces  to  promote 
collaboration  between  start-ups  on  recycling  of  e-vehicles  batteries  and  launched  a  similar 
initiative to promote solutions for marine plastic litter. 

It is in the interest of the EU to renew the Agreement to continue engaging in scientific and 
technological  cooperation  in  areas  of  mutual  interest  and  leading  to  technological  advances 
benefitting the EU scientific community and to increase market access to India through joint 
cooperation. This coperation  also addresses global challenges such as climate change, health 
pandemics,  and  sustainable  development.  By  leveraging  complementary  strengths,  it  fosters 
technological  advancements,  drives  economic  growth,  and  enhances  competitiveness.  Joint 
cooperation  benefits  the  European  scientific   and  business  community,  increases  market 
access  to  India,  and  supports  innovation  ecosystems.  This  collaboration  contributes  to  the 
overall well-being of societies in both regions through shared research initiatives and funding 
opportunities. 

The Agreement is instrumental to understand each other's scientific and innovation landscape 
and establish together priority areas of mutual interest on international cooperation in  research 
and  innovation.  It  offers  a  legal  and  administrative  framework  in  which  the  modalities  of 
cooperation can be discussed ensuring a sound and fair allocation of research and innovation 
funding in  areas  that are in  line with  the EU's interests and policies and  can be adapted and 
adjusted to India's interests and needs.  

The  Agreement  also  offers  a  useful  forum  to  assess  past  cooperation  and  determine  future 
actions,  including  on  topics  making  the  cooperation  effective  such  as  through  the 
implementation of Open access and Open Innovation principles. 

At  the  last  India  –  EU  Joint  Steering  Committee  on  Science  and  Technology  Cooperation, 
meeting, established by Article 6 of the Agreement, held in Brussels on 25 September 2024, 
both  Parties  expressed  their  intention  to  renew  the  Agreement  for  another  five-year  period 
(2025-2030)  in  line  with  its  Article  11(b)  and  following  the  above-mentioned  evaluation 
carried  out  by  the  Commission.  Both  parties  also  confirmed  that  they  would  initiate  their 
respective  internal  procedures  to  conclude  the  renewal  before  the  expirty  of  the  current 
Agreement in May 2025. 

The substance of the renewed Agreement will be identical to that of the current Agreement, as 
discussed  and  agreed  with  the  Indian  counterparts.  It  will  not  create  new  rights  and 

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obligations for the EU, but instead it will extend in time the existing framework between the 
Parties under the Agreement. 

Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area 

• 
This initiative is fully in line with the EU’s international cooperation strategy for R&I6. The 
EU’s strategy clearly states the importance of science and technology agreements as vehicles 
for defining and implementing multiannual roadmaps for cooperation with non-EU countries. 
The Agreement is also a means of implementing the EU’s international cooperation strategy 
for R&I, which calls for more internationalisation and openness in the EU’s R&I landscape. 
The Agreement is  also  in line with  the  aim  of the EU-India Trade and Technology  Council 
(TTC)7  as  a  high-level  coordination  platform  allowing  the  EU  and  India  to  tackle  strategic 
challenges at the nexus of trade, trusted technology and security, and to deepen their bilateral 
relationship. 

Consistency with other Union policies 

• 
The  Agreement  is  instrumental  in  fulfilling  the  objectives  of  the  EU  Strategy  on  India8  to 
jointly  tackling  global  challenges,  supporting  India’s  sustainable  modernisation,  opening 
business opportunities and increasing scientific excellence and competitiveness.9 It is also in 
line with the Roadmap to 2025 of the EU-India Strategic Partnership10. 

2. 

• 

LEGAL BASIS AND SUBSIDIARITY  

Legal basis 

The EU’s power to act internationally in research and technological development is based on 
Article 186 TFEU. The procedural legal basis for the proposal is Article 218(6) point (a)(v) of 
the  TFEU. 

• 

Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)  

The EU and its Members States have parallel shared competence in the area of research and 
technological  development  in  accordance  with  Article  4(3)  TFEU.  Therefore  EU's  action 
cannot be replaced by an action of Member States. 

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10 

Communications  from  the  Commission  to  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council,  the  European 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  and  the  Committee  of  the  Regions:  “Enhancing  and  focusing  EU 
international  cooperation  in  research  and  innovation:  a  strategic  approach”  COM(2012)  497  and 
“Global  Approach  to  Research  and  Innovation:  Europe's  strategy  for  international  cooperation  in  a 
changing world”, COM (2021) 252. 
The TTC was launched in New Delhi on 25 April 2022 by the President of the European Commission 
and the Indian Prime Minister. 
Joint  Communication  to  the European  Parliament  and  the Council  -  ‘Elements  for an  EU  strategy  on 
India” JOIN(2018) 28. 
EU Strategy on India – Council conclusions 14634/18 (10 December 2018, p.3). 
“EU-India  Strategic  Partnership:  A  Roadmap  to  2025”  endorsed  by  the  15th  EU-India  Summit  of  15 
July 2020. 

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3. 

• 

RESULTS 
CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS 

EX-POST 

EVALUATIONS, 

OF 

STAKEHOLDER 

Regulatory fitness and simplification 

This initiative is not part of the REFIT agenda.  

4. 

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS 

The  proposal  does  not  require  additional  resources  as  set  out  in  the  Legislative  Financial 
Statement.  The  human  resources  required  will  be  met  within  the  relevant  heading  by  staff 
from  the  DG  who  are  already  assigned  to  the  management  of  the  action  and/or  have  been 
redeployed within the DG or other Commission services. 

In the light of the above considerations, the Commission requests that the Council:  

-  approves,  on  behalf  of  the  Union,  and  with  the  consent  of  the  European  Parliament,  the 
renewal of the 'Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European 
Community  and  the  Government  of  the  Republic  of  India',  for  an  additional  period  of  five 
years (i.e.from 17.05.2025 until 16.05.2030). 

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2025/0066 (NLE) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between 
the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European  Union,  and  in  particular 
Article 186, in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a)(v) thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, 

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

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By  Decision  2002/648/EC11,  the  Council  approved  the  conclusion  of  the  Agreement 
for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the 
Government of the Republic of India (the ‘Agreement’). The Agreement was signed in 
New Delhi on 23 November 2001 and entered into force on 14 October 2002. 

In  accordance  with  Article  11,  point  (b)  of  the  Agreement,  the  Agreement  was 
concluded  for  a  period  of  five  years  and  may  be  renewed  by  mutual  agreement 
between the Parties after evaluation during the last year of the aforementioned period.   
By  Decisions  2009/501/EC12,  2015/1788/EU13  and  2020/789/EU14  the  Council 
approved  the  renewal  of  the  Agreement  for  an  additional  period  of  five  years  each 
time. The Agreement as last renewed is due to expire on 17 May 2025.  
The  evaluation  carried  out  by  the  Commission,  published  on  25  February  202515,   
demonstrates  that  the  Agreement  continues  to  provide  an  important  framework  for 
facilitating  cooperation  between  the  Union  and    the  Republic  of  India  in  common 
Science & Technology priority areas leading to mutual benefits. It is therefore in the 
Union’s interest to renew the Agreement for a new period of five years. 

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p. 

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213, 

India 

09.08.2002, 

Council  Decision  2002/648/EC  of  25  June  2002  concerning  the  conclusion  of  the  Agreement  for 
scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the 
Republic 
ELI: 
http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2002/648/oj). 
Council  Decision  2009/501/EC  of  19  January  2009  concerning  the  conclusion  of  an  Agreement 
renewing the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community 
and the Government of the Republic of India (OJ L 171, 01.07.2009, p. 17, ELI: [please insert the ELI 
link]). 
Council  Decision  2015/1788/EU  of  1  October  2015  concerning  the  renewal  of  the  Agreement  for 
scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the 
Republic of India (OJ L 260, 07.10.2015, p. 18, ELI:  [please insert the ELI link]). 
Council Decision 2020/789/EU of 9 June 2020 concerning the renewal of the Agreement for scientific 
and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic 
of India (OJ L 193, 17.06.2020, p. 3, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2020/789/oj).  
Evaluation of the EU-India science and technology agreement - Publications Office of the EU 

29, 

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(5) 

The decision to proceed with the renewal of the Science & Technology Agremeent for 
a new period of five years was agreed by both sides  at the meeting of the India-EU 
Joint Steering Committee on Science and Technology cooperation held in Brussels on 
25 September 2024.  

(6) 

The renewal of the Agreement should be approved on behalf of the European Union. 

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:  

The  renewal  of  the  Agreement  for  scientific  and  technological  cooperation  between  the 
European Community and the Government of the Republic of India, for an additional period 
of five years, is hereby approved on behalf of the Union. 

Article 1 

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. 

Article 2 

Done at Brussels, 

For the Council 
The President 

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LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL AND DIGITAL STATEMENT 

1. 

1.1. 

1.2. 

1.3. 

FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE ................................................. 3 

Title of the proposal/initiative ...................................................................................... 3 

Policy area(s) concerned .............................................................................................. 3 

Objective(s) .................................................................................................................. 3 

1.3.1.  General objective(s) ..................................................................................................... 3 

1.3.2.  Specific objective(s) ..................................................................................................... 3 

1.3.3.  Expected result(s) and impact ...................................................................................... 3 

1.3.4. 

Indicators of performance ............................................................................................ 3 

1.4. 

1.5. 

The proposal/initiative relates to: ................................................................................. 4 

Grounds for the proposal/initiative .............................................................................. 4 

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

roll-out of the implementation of the initiative ............................................................ 4 

1.5.2.  Added value of EU involvement (it may result from different factors, e.g. 

coordination gains, legal certainty, greater effectiveness or complementarities). For 
the purposes of this section 'added value of EU involvement' is the value resulting 
from EU action, that is additional to the value that would have been otherwise 
created by Member States alone. ................................................................................. 4 

1.5.3.  Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past .................................................. 4 

1.5.4.  Compatibility with the multiannual financial framework and possible synergies with 
other appropriate instruments ....................................................................................... 5 

1.5.5.  Assessment of the different available financing options, including scope for 

redeployment ................................................................................................................ 5 

1.6. 

1.7. 

2. 

2.1. 

2.2. 

2.2.1. 

2.2.2. 

Duration of the proposal/initiative and of its financial impact .................................... 6 

Method(s) of budget implementation planned ............................................................. 6 

MANAGEMENT MEASURES................................................................................... 8 

Monitoring and reporting rules .................................................................................... 8 

Management and control system(s) ............................................................................. 8 

Justification of the budget implementation method(s), the funding implementation 
mechanism(s), the payment modalities and the control strategy proposed .................. 8 

Information concerning the risks identified and the internal control system(s) set up 
to mitigate them............................................................................................................ 8 

2.2.3.  Estimation and justification of the cost-effectiveness of the controls (ratio between 

the control costs  and the value of the related funds managed), and assessment of the 
expected levels of risk of error (at payment & at closure) ........................................... 8 

2.3. 

3. 

3.1. 

Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities ................................................................ 9 

ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE ............ 10 

Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s) 
affected ....................................................................................................................... 10 

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3.2. 

Estimated financial impact of the proposal on appropriations ................................... 12 

3.2.1.  Summary of estimated impact on operational appropriations.................................... 12 

3.2.1.1.  Appropriations from voted budget ............................................................................. 12 

3.2.1.2.  Appropriations from external assigned revenues ....................................................... 17 

3.2.2.  Estimated output funded from operational appropriations......................................... 22 

3.2.3.  Summary of estimated impact on administrative appropriations ............................... 24 

3.2.3.1. Appropriations from voted budget .............................................................................. 24 

3.2.3.2.  Appropriations from external assigned revenues ....................................................... 24 

3.2.3.3.  Total appropriations ................................................................................................... 24 

3.2.4.  Estimated requirements of human resources.............................................................. 25 

3.2.4.1.  Financed from voted budget....................................................................................... 25 

3.2.4.2.  Financed from external assigned revenues ................................................................ 26 

3.2.4.3.  Total requirements of human resources ..................................................................... 26 

3.2.5.  Overview of estimated impact on digital technology-related investments ................ 28 

3.2.6.  Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework.............................. 28 

3.2.7.  Third-party contributions ........................................................................................... 28 

3.3. 

4. 

4.1. 

4.2. 

4.3. 

4.4. 

4.5. 

Estimated impact on revenue ..................................................................................... 29 

DIGITAL DIMENSIONS .......................................................................................... 29 

Requirements of digital relevance .............................................................................. 30 

Data ............................................................................................................................ 30 

Digital solutions ......................................................................................................... 31 

Interoperability assessment ........................................................................................ 31 

Measures to support digital implementation .............................................................. 32 

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1. 

FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE  

1.1. 

Title of the proposal/initiative 

Proposal for a Council Decision on the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and 
technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of 
the Republic of India 

1.2. 

Policy area(s) concerned  

Policy  strategy  and  coordination  of,  in  particular,  the  Directorates-General  RTD, 
AGRI, CLIMA, JRC, EAC, ENER, GROW, CNECT, MARE, MOVE and TRADE 

1.3. 

Objective(s) 

1.3.1.  General objective(s) 

The  present  initiative  will  allow  both  Parties  to  improve  and  intensify  their 
cooperation in scientific and technological areas of common interest in line with the 
EU Strategy on India and the EU- India Strategic Partnership Roadmap. 

1.3.2. 

Specific objective(s) 

Specific objective 

It will allow a further exchange of specific knowledge and a transfer of know-how to 
the benefit of the scientific communities, industry and citizens. A useful forum will 
continue  to  be  offered  to  assess  past  cooperation  and  determine  future  actions,  to 
address  global  challenges  and  to  promote  reciprocal  access  to  programmes  and 
funding. 

1.3.3.  Expected result(s) and impact 

Specify the effects which the proposal/initiative should have on the beneficiaries/groups targeted. 

This decision will allow both the Union and India to derive mutual benefit from the 
scientific  and  technical  progress  achieved  through  research  cooperation  in  their 
respective specific research programmes and facilitate further increased cooperation. 
It  will  allow  the  Union  and  India  to  jointly  tackle  global  challenges,  and  allow  the 
Union to contribute to the sustainable modernisation of India. 

1.3.4. 

Indicators of performance 

Specify the indicators for monitoring progress and achievements. 

The  Commission  services  will  regularly  monitor  all  actions  carried  out  under  the 
Agreement,  including  an  evaluation  on  cooperation  activities.  This  evaluation  will 
consist, among others, of the following elements: 

 (a)  cooperation  indicators  –  analysis  of  the  number  and  type  of  participation  of 
Indian  entities  in  EU  funded  programmes  (e.g.  number  of  proposals,  number  of 
signed grant agreements, main collaboration links, main thematic; generated output) 
and vice-versa (whenever the data is available); 

(b)  performance  indicators  –  success  rate  of  Indian  entities  participating  in  the  EU 
framework  programmes  compared  to  other  third  countries  and  to  Member 
States/Associated Countries; analysis of the quality of the participation (e.g. number 
of  best  ranked  universities  taking  part  on  the  programme,  number  of  patents  and 
publications coming from collaborative projects); 

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(c)  data  collection  regarding  cooperation  activities  and  links  beyond  the  respective 
research funding programmes and  assessment of the impact  of these activities, like 
participation in multilateral initiatives and working groups. 

1.4. 

The proposal/initiative relates to:  

 a new action  
 a new action following a pilot project / preparatory action16  

 the extension of an existing action  

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

1.5. 

Grounds for the proposal/initiative  

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

roll-out of the implementation of the initiative 

This  decision  will  allow  the  two  Parties  to  continue  to  improve  and  intensify  their 
cooperation in scientific and technological areas for mutual benefit. 

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

Reasons  for  action  at  EU  level  (ex-ante):  Cooperation  in  research  &  innovation 
between  India  and  the  Union  has  been  growing  steadily  in  the  past  years.  The 
involvement of the EU allows activities with larger scale and scope for the benefit of 
all Member States. 

The renewal of this Agreement will allow for increased scientific knowledge leading 
to market access opportunities. 

Expected generated  EU added value (ex-post): The extension of this Agreement will 
allow for increased scientific knowledge, to the EU to have easier access to scientific 
knowledge  produced  in  India,  to  engage  in  more  cooperation  activities  leading  to 
additional exchange of knowledge and technologies, and to provide easier access to 
the Indian market for European companies. 

1.5.3.  Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past 

Based  on  the  experience  so  far  in  scientific  and  technological  cooperation,  it  is 
considered  mutually  beneficial  to  continue  research  cooperation  with  India  by 
renewing the Agreement for a further period of 5 years. 

1.5.4.  Compatibility with the multiannual financial framework and possible synergies with 

other appropriate instruments 

The extension of the Agreement with India is considered to be fully coherent and in 
line with the overall policy framework on International Cooperation in Research and 
Innovation, namely the Commission Communication of 18 May 2021 on the Global 
Approach to Research and Innovation, Europe's strategy for international cooperation 
in a changing world (COM(2021)252 final/2). 

16 

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

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Synergies with other Union instruments in the area of EU-India cooperation will be 
sought, notably through various sectoral initiatives of the Commission, in particular 
those of DGs AGRI, CLIMA, JRC, EAC, ENER, GROW, CNECT, MARE, MOVE 
and TRADE, among others. 

1.5.5.  Assessment  of  the  different  available  financing  options,  including  scope  for 

redeployment 

The  appropriations  required  for  human  resources  and  other  expenditure  of  an 
administrative  nature  will  be  met  by  appropriations  from  the  Programme  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. 

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1.6. 

Duration of the proposal/initiative and of its financial impact 

 limited duration  

 

 

in effect from 17/05/2025 to 16/05/2030  

financial impact from 2025 to 2030.  

 unlimited duration 

– 

– 

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

followed by full-scale operation. 

1.7.  Method(s) of budget implementation planned  

 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 European Investment Bank 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 are provided with 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  are provided 
with adequate financial guarantees 

–    bodies  or  persons  entrusted  with  the  implementation  of  specific  actions  in 
the  common  foreign  and  security  policy  pursuant  to  Title  V  of  the  Treaty  on 
European Union, and identified in the relevant basic act 

–  bodies  established  in  a  Member  State,  governed  by  the  private  law  of  a 
Member  State  or  Union  law  and  eligible  to  be  entrusted,  in  accordance  with 
sector-specific  rules,  with  the  implementation  of  Union  funds  or  budgetary 
guarantees, to the extent that such bodies are controlled by public law bodies or 
by  bodies  governed  by  private  law  with  a  public  service  mission,  and  are 
provided  with  adequate  financial  guarantees  in  the  form  of  joint  and  several 
liability by the controlling bodies or equivalent financial guarantees and which 
may be, for each action, limited to the maximum amount of the Union support. 

Comments  

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2. 

MANAGEMENT MEASURES  

2.1.  Monitoring and reporting rules 

Participation  of  legal  entities  from  India  in  the  EU  Framework  Programme  for 
Research and  Innovation and other  cooperative activities under the Agreement will 
be  regularly  followed  through  the  regular  meetings  of  the  Joint  Committee 
established under Art. 6  (b) of the Agreement. 

2.2.  Management and control system(s)  

2.2.1. 

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

The proposed initiative in the context of the Horizon Europe Framework Programme 
for Research & Innovation will be implemented through direct management mode. 

As an activity to  be fully carried out  by  a policy officer of the Commission,  direct 
management  is  the  most  appropriate  implementation  mode.  In  particular,  the 
expected core tasks necessary for a proper implementation of the proposed activity, 
such  as  policy  dialogue,  assessment  of  the  EU-India  research  and  innovation 
cooperation  landscape,  identification  of  joint  priorities  and  similar  tasks,  are 
principal  activities  of  the  implementing  service  of  the  Commission  –  the  'Global 
Approach & International Cooperation in R&I' Directorate of DG R&I. 

Additional  support  tasks  of  organisational,  logistical,  administrative  and  advisory 
nature may be assigned under a future framework contract for support actions for the 
international cooperation in research and innovation. Such support tasks, designed to 
enhance  the  efficiency  and  effectiveness  of  the  proposed  action,  will  be  supervised 
by the Commission and will remain under its direct management.  

2.2.2. 

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

Meetings  and  bilateral  contacts  take  place  on  a  regular  basis  allowing  for  the 
systematic  sharing  of  information  and  control.  No  risks  have  been  identified  in  the 
control system. 

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

N/A 

2.3.  Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities 

When the implementation of the Framework Programme calls for the use of external 
contractors or entails granting financial contribution to third parties, the Commission 
will  carry  out,  where  appropriate,  financial  audits,  in  particular  if  it  has  reason  to 
doubt the realistic nature of work performed or described in the activity reports. 

The  Union’s  financial  audits  will  be  carried  out  either  by  its  own  staff  or  by 
accounting  experts  approved  according  to  the  law  of  the  audited  party.  The  Union 
will choose the latter freely,  while avoiding any risks of conflicts  of interest  which 
might be indicated to it by the party subject to the audit. In addition, the Commission 

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will make sure, in carrying out the research activities, that the financial interests of 
the Union are protected by effective checks and, where irregularities are detected, by 
deterrent and proportionate measures and penalties. 

In order to achieve this aim, rules on checks, measures and penalties, with reference 
to Regulations No 2988/95, No 2185/96 and No 883/2013 will be incorporated in all 
contracts used in the implementation of the framework programme.  

In particular, the following points will have to be provided for in the contracts: 

- the insertion of specific clauses in the contracts to protect the financial interests of 
the EU in carrying out checks and controls in relation to the work performed;  

-  the  carrying  out  of  administrative  checks  as  part  of  anti-fraud  measures,  in 
accordance with Regulations No 2185/96 and No 883/2013; 

-  the  application  of  administrative  penalties  for  all  intentional  or  negligent 
irregularities  in  the  implementation  of  the  contracts,  in  accordance  with  the 
Framework Regulation No 2988/95, including a blacklisting mechanism; 

-  the  fact  that  any  recovery  orders  in  the  event  of  irregularities  and  fraud  must  be 
enforceable  according  to  Article  299  of  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the 
European Union. 

In  addition  and  as  a  routine  measure,  a  programme  of  checks  on  scientific  and 
budgetary  aspects  of  cooperation  will  be  carried  out  by  the  staff  responsible  in  the 
Directorate – General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD). An internal audit will 
be carried out  by the Internal  Audit  unit of DG RTD, and local  inspections will be 
carried out by the European Court of Auditors. 

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3. 

3.1. 

ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE  

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

Existing budget lines  

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines. 

Budget line 

Type of 
expenditure 

Contribution  

Heading of 
multiannual 
financial 
framework 

Heading  1  –  Single  market,  Innovation 
and  Digital  –  Research  and  Innovation  – 
Europe 
Horizon 

Diff./Non-
diff.17 

from 
EFTA 
countries
18 

from 
candidate 
countries 
and 
potential 
candidates
19 

From 
other 
third 
countries 

other assigned 
revenue 

1 

1 

01 01 01 01 

01 01 01 03  

Non-diff. 

YES 

YES 

YES 

YES 

Non-diff. 

YES 

YES 

YES 

YES 

New budget lines requested  

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines. 

Budget line 

Type of 
expenditure 

Heading of 
multiannual 
financial 
framework 

Number  

Diff./Non-
diff. 

from 
EFTA 
countries 

Contribution  

from 
candidate 
countries 
and 
potential 
candidates 

from 
other 
third 
countries 

other assigned 
revenue  

[XX.YY.YY.YY] 

Diff./Non
-diff. 

YES/NO  YES/NO  YES/NO 

YES/NO 

17 
18 
19 

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 financial impact of the proposal on appropriations  

3.2.1. 

Summary of estimated impact on operational appropriations  

– 

The proposal/initiative does not requires the use of operational appropriations, as explained below 

3.2.1.1.  Appropriations from voted budget 

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Heading of multiannual financial  
framework  

1 

‘Single market, Innovation and Digital – Research and Innovation – Horizon 
Europe’ 

Year 
202520 

Year 
2026 

Year 
2027 

Year 
2028 

Year 
2029 

Year 
2030 

TOTAL 

DG: RTD 

 Operational appropriations  

Number of budget line:  

Number of budget line 

Commitments 

Payments 

Commitments 

Payments 

1a 

2a 

1b 

2b 

Appropriations  of  an  administrative  nature  financed  from  the 
envelope of specific programmes21  

Number of budget line: 01 01 01 01 

Number of budget line: 01 01 01 03 

Commitments & 
Payments 
Commitments& 
Payments 

(3) 

TOTAL appropriations 

Commitments 

=1a+1b +3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

20 
21 

Year 2025 is the year in which implementation of the proposal/initiative starts and 2030 the year when it will end. 
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. 

EN 

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for DG RTD 

Payments 

=2a+2b 

+3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

 TOTAL operational appropriations  

Commitments 

Payments 

  TOTAL  appropriations  of  an  administrative  nature 
financed from the envelope for specific programmes  

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

TOTAL appropriations  
under HEADING 1 
of the multiannual financial framework 

Commitments 

=4+ 6 

Payments 

=5+ 6 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

DG RTD 

 Human resources  
 Other administrative expenditure  

TOTAL DG RTD  

Appropriations  

DG RTD 

 Human resources  
 Other administrative expenditure  
TOTAL DG <…….> 

Appropriations  

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL 
MFF 2021-
2027 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL 
MFF 2021-
2027 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

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TOTAL appropriations under HEADING 7 of the multiannual financial 
framework  

(Total 
commitments 
= Total 
payments) 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL appropriations under HEADINGS 1 to 7 

Commitments 

of the multiannual financial framework  

Payments 

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL MFF 
2021-2027 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

3.2.2.  Estimated output funded from operational appropriations (not to be completed for decentralised agencies) 

Year  
2024 

Year  
2025 

Year  
2026 

Year  
2027 

OUTPUTS 

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Enter as many years as necessary to show the 
duration of the impact (see Section1.6) 

TOTAL 

o
N

Cost 

o
N

Cost 

o
N

Cost 

o
N

Cost 

o
N

Cost  N

o

Cost 

o
N

Cost 

Total 
No 

Total 
cost 

Indicate 
objectives and 
outputs  

 

Type
22 

Avera
ge 
cost 

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE No 123… 

- Output 

- Output 

- Output 

22 
23 

Outputs are products and services to be supplied (e.g. number of student exchanges financed, number of km of roads built, etc.). 
As described in Section 1.3.2. ‘Specific objective(s)’  

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12 

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Subtotal for specific objective No 1 

TOTALS 

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3.2.3. 

Summary of estimated impact on administrative appropriations  

– 

– 

   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 

3.2.3.1. Appropriations from voted budget 

VOTED APPROPRIATIONS 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL 
2021 - 2027 

HEADING 7 

Human resources  

Other administrative expenditure  

Subtotal HEADING 7 

Outside HEADING 7 

Human resources  

Other expenditure of an administrative nature 

Subtotal outside HEADING 7 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

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. 

3.2.4.  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 
below 

3.2.4.1.  Financed from voted budget 

Estimate to be expressed in full-time equivalent units (FTEs)24 

VOTED APPROPRIATIONS 

 Establishment plan posts (officials and temporary staff) 

20 01 02 01 (Headquarters and Commission’s Representation Offices) 

20 01 02 03 (EU Delegations) 

01 01 01 01 (Indirect research) 

01 01 01 11 (Direct research) 

Other budget lines (specify) 

• External staff (inFTEs) 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

0 

0 

.0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

.0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

24 

Please specify below the table how many FTEs within the number indicated are already assigned to the 
management of the action and/or can be redeployed within your DG and what are your net needs. 

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20 02 01 (AC, END from the ‘global envelope’) 

20 02 03 (AC, AL, END and JPD in the EU Delegations) 

Admin. Support 
line 
[XX.01.YY.YY] 

- at Headquarters 

- in EU Delegations  

01 01 01 02 (AC, END - Indirect research) 

 01 01 01 12 (AC, END - Direct research) 

Other budget lines (specify) - Heading 7 

Other budget lines (specify) - Outside Heading 7 

TOTAL 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Considering  the  overall  strained  situation  in  Heading  7,  in  terms  of  both  staffing  and  the  level  of 
appropriations,  the  human  resources  required  will  be  met  by  staff  from  the  DG  who  are  already 
assigned  to  the  management  of  the  action  and/or  have  been  redeployed  within  the  DG  or  other 
Commission services. 

Description of tasks to be carried out by: 

Officials and temporary staff 

External staff 

Preparation and management of Joint Committee Meetings foreseen under Article 6(b) 
of the Agreement and missions ensuring the good functioning and implementation, as 
well as regular review, of the Agreement. 

Calculations are done proportionally considering the duration of the Agreement. 

3.2.5.  Overview of estimated impact on digital technology-related investments 

TOTAL Digital and IT appropriations 

Year 

Year 

Year 

2025 

2026 

2027 

TOTAL 
MFF 2021 
- 2027 

HEADING 7 

IT expenditure (corporate)  

Subtotal HEADING 7 

Outside HEADING 7 

Policy IT expenditure on operational 
programmes 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

Subtotal outside HEADING 7 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

3.2.6.  Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework  

– 

The proposal/initiative: 
  can be fully financed through redeployment within the relevant heading of the 
multiannual financial framework (MFF) 

As mentioned above in terms of staffing, the human resources required will be met 
within  the  relevant  heading  by  staff  from  the  DG  who  are  already  assigned  to  the 
management  of  the  action  and/or  have  been  redeployed  within  the  DG  or  other 
Commission services. 

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– 

– 

requires use of the unallocated margin under the relevant heading of the MFF 

 
and/or use of the special instruments as defined in the MFF Regulation 

 

requires a revision of the MFF 

3.2.7.  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) 

Year  
2025 

Year  
2026 

Year  
2027 

Total 

Specify the co-financing body  

TOTAL appropriations co-
financed  

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) 

Budget revenue line: 

Article …………. 

Appropriations 
available for the 
current financial 
year 

Impact of the proposal/initiative25 

Year 2025  Year 2026 

Year 2027 

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). 

4. 

DIGITAL DIMENSIONS 

25 

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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4.1. 

Requirements of digital relevance 

No provisions in the Council Decision regarding the renewal of the EU-India Science and 
Technology  Agreement  address  data  collection,  processing,  generation,  exchange,  or 
sharing; automation or digitalisation of processes; digital solutions; or the delivery of digital 
public services. 

Therefore,  there  are  no  relevant  digital  dimensions  which  should  be  addressed  in  this 
chapter.  

4.2. 

Data 

N.A. 

4.3. 

Digital solutions 

N.A. 

4.4. 

Interoperability assessment 

N.A. 

4.5.  Measures to support digital implementation 

N.A. 

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