Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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| INCEPTION IMPACT ASSESSMENT | |
| Inception Impact Assessments aim to inform citizens and stakeholders about the Commission's plans in order to allow them to provide feedback on the intended initiative and to participate effectively in future consultation activities. Citizens and stakeholders are in particular invited to provide views on the Commission's understanding of the problem and possible solutions and to make available any relevant information that they may have, including on possible impacts of the different options. | |
| Title of the initiative | European Metrology Partnership |
| Lead DG (responsible unit) | DG Research and Innovation (RTD.F3) |
| Likely Type of initiative | Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the participation of the Union in a European Partnership on Metrology under Horizon Europe |
| Indicative Planning | Q1 2020 |
| Additional Information | – |
| The Inception Impact Assessment is provided for information purposes only. It does not prejudge the final decision of the Commission on whether this initiative will be pursued or on its final content. All elements of the initiative described by the Inception impact assessment, including its timing, are subject to change. | |
| A. Context, Problem definition and Subsidiarity Check | |
| Context | |
| The proposal for Horizon Europe, the future EU’s future research and innovation (R&I) programme for 2021-2027, outlines the approach (Article 8) and criteria (Annex III) for R&I partnerships under the umbrella term 'European Partnerships'. According to the political agreement between the Council and European Parliament, “European Partnerships shall be established for addressing European or global challenges only in cases where they will more effectively achieve objectives of Horizon Europe than the Union alone and when compared to other forms of support of the Framework programme”. The overall financial framework for the upcoming partnerships still has to be agreed by the co-legislators. Different forms of partnerships can be implemented depending on needs and criteria. One such form is institutionalised partnerships set up under Article 185 or Article 187 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The draft legislation outlines possible areas in which institutionalised partnerships could be set up, including sustainable, inclusive and circular bio-based solutions. In the course of the strategic planning, the Commission, in close cooperation with the Member States, has identified ‘Metrology’ as a candidate for such a partnership.  Metrology, the science and traceability of measurements, is crucial for today’s high-tech world. Metrology plays a part in every aspect of life. Increasingly precise, reliable measurements are essential to drive innovation and economic growth in the EU’s knowledge-based economy. A reliable, traceable measurement system allows the wider scientific community to build better instruments and to do better science. It opens up new avenues for industry, creating space and opportunities to innovate. It underpins and advances understanding and agreement on global challenges such as healthcare and climate change.  An effective metrology system is therefore essential for the functioning of the single market and global trade. Industrialised and technologically advanced countries support a metrology infrastructure because of the benefits it brings and because it is a public good that warrants public intervention. This initiative builds on the European Metrology Research Programme (supported under the seventh framework programme) and the European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (supported under Horizon 2020). | |
| Problem the initiative aims to tackle | |
| Scientific and technological advancement need the support of a good metrology system, in which the crucial measurements are precise and accurate and can be traced back to reference standards. Without a metrology solution or capacity in an emerging scientific field, it is not feasible to use such measurements in a commercial setting. Metrology is also needed to evaluate the potential of any ground-breaking technology likely to contribute to reaching the sustainable development goals related to global challenges.  Since metrology is a feature of all scientific and technological fields, previous EU framework programmes have supported related activities. Recent metrology initiatives have also shown an increased level of research collaboration across Member States and, more importantly, joint strategies for meeting emerging needs in metrology capacity and infrastructure. [1](#footnote2)  There has been tangible progress in capacity building in strategic regions and knowledge transfer, as well as activities to encourage the uptake of research results in standardisation. These European actions have also guided the recent redefinition of relevant measurement base units, adopted worldwide in 2018. [2](#footnote3)    There is a continued need for the metrology community, as endorsed by the Member States, to continue this strategic collaboration and rationalisation of efforts and funding, to tackle specific metrology-related matters that are relevant from a European perspective, and to build joint structures and networks to address these matters in the long term. | |
| Basis for EU intervention (legal basis and subsidiarity check) | |
| The legal basis for EU intervention is the Horizon Europe programme (based on Article 182 TFEU). In implementing the programme, the EU may make provisions for participation in research and development undertaken by several Member States or in programmes run jointly by several Member States (in accordance with Article 185 TFEU), or may set up joint undertakings (in accordance with Article 187 TFEU).  The nature and magnitude of the issues are such that action at EU level is needed, rather than the Member States acting alone. While authorities and stakeholders in Europe are willing to drive cooperation on metrology, the EU is still a long way away from having a sustainable European-wide metrology system and area-specific metrology solutions:  §The measurements that result from metrology need to be understood in the same way across borders, in particular for emerging technologies. National metrology institutes also have a responsibility to ensure metrology capacities. These institutes, along with key stakeholders, will need to match their national capacities with EU priorities to tackle matters they have in common.  §In a closely integrated European market, the metrology infrastructure must be good enough to enable an effective trade system and the industrial uptake of innovation, and to ensure a valid and traceable quality and certification chain across country borders.  §National metrology institutes and their main stakeholders also need to work closely with policymakers to ensure proactive regulatory support at European level. Only action at EU level can provide this support in a strategic, sustainable way. | |
| B. Objectives and Mapping of Policy options | |
| The general objective of a metrology partnership is to create, in collaboration with the national metrology institutes, sustainable European metrology networks for strategic application areas and to support emerging technologies. An additional specific objective is to maintain EU leadership in state-of-the-art metrology solutions. The partnership should also contribute to all Horizon Europe priorities, to the United Nations sustainable development goals, and to scientific advancements in areas such as healthcare, energy, the environment, industry-focused and fundamental research. Finally, it should foster capacity building in Europe, including knowledge transfer and significant leverage of public and private funding.  The relevance of the priority and continuation of support under the Framework programme, including the form of support, will be subject to evaluations and assessments in line with the criteria set out in the Regulation of Horizon Europe.  Option 0: No partnership, calls for proposals under Horizon Europe work programmes.  This option can support projects specifically related to measurements in specific technologies and applications. Under this option, calls for proposals could cover several scientific disciplines.    Compared with implementation through calls for proposals, a European Partnership (options 1 and 2) allows to jointly address priorities with Member States, the private sector, foundations and other stakeholders by adopting a common strategy.    Option 1: co-funded partnership  The partners in a co-funded partnership design a common programme of activities, to be implemented under their responsibility, with financial support from Horizon Europe in the form of a grant agreement.    Option 2: institutionalised partnership (Article 185 TFEU) with an exit strategy  An institutionalised partnership under Article 185 TFEU would enable the metrology community to reach its full potential, including making full use of the governance model, proven to be very effective, both with regard to co-investment and project implementation, and with regard to strategic capacity building across participating states.    Other partnership options are not suitable. Co-programmed partnerships are not suitable for institutionalised funding by governmental organisations, because it would not allow for the integration of national resources and competences. Establishing a new joint undertaking under Article 187 is not appropriate, since implementation by Member States and the implementation structure they have chosen has proven to be efficient. | |
| C. Preliminary Assessment of Expected Impacts | |
| The impact assessment will fully assess the impact of the kind of partnership chosen, taking into account its ability to contribute to the scientific, technological and societal impact, as outlined in Article 3 of the draft Horizon Europe programme, as well as its impact on corresponding EU priorities and objectives. | |
| Likely scientific and economic impacts | |
| Coordination through a European metrology partnership will ensure that the investment in metrology targets the areas with the greatest potential for impact. Trade and investment opportunities will be more targeted and coherent, and industries will be able to boost their competitiveness by taking advantage of harmonised infrastructures across borders. Moreover, a transparent calibration system throughout supply or value chains will increase the quality assurance and added value of commercialised products. Scientific disciplines will benefit from rapid, accurate and precise metrology/calibration services, in particular in emerging fields. | |
| Likely social impacts | |
| The greatest social impacts are likely to be felt in employment and education, for the same reasons as the likely scientific and economic impacts outlined above. In healthcare, social protection and cultural heritage, harmonised measurement and metrology practices enable different organisations to exchange data reliably. European partnerships will result in better collaboration with regulators at European level, and greater social impacts of metrology in all of the areas mentioned above. | |
| Likely environmental impacts | |
| The coordinated response at European level brings the metrology community and European stakeholders together. The metrology networks will be designed according to the needs and interests of stakeholders. Stakeholders, including policymakers and regulators, will be able to have a say in deciding the metrology priorities for each network. For example, the network on climate and ocean observation, currently being considered, would directly address the policy challenges in that area, working with all stakeholders concerned. | |
| Likely impacts on fundamental rights | |
| Metrology makes it possible to obtain the objective evidence required to enforce fundamental rights. For example, it is thanks to metrology, in the form of objective DNA measurements that have overturned subjective evidence used in original trials, and brought to light miscarriages of justice. Looking at the matter from a different angle, metrology institutes provide services to all Member States on the same terms and conditions as they provide said services to their national customers. By doing so, they democratise access to quality infrastructure across Europe. This means that capacity building activities can focus on areas of national priority. | |
| Likely impacts on simplification and/or administrative burden | |
| A simpler, more strategic and coordinated approach to the setting-up and implementation of European Partnerships under Horizon Europe will significantly reduce the administrative burden for applicants and beneficiaries. Horizon Europe legal basis requires thorough assessment as to the necessity for establishing institutionalised partnerships, and whether other, more flexible partnership forms could achieve the identified objectives. In addition, it lays down requirements (e.g. related to central management of financial contributions, access to data, and links with the monitoring and evaluation framework of Horizon Europe etc.) that support further simplification, harmonisation and more effective implementation. | |
| D. Evidence Base, Data collection and Better Regulation Instruments | |
| Impact assessment | |
| An impact assessment is being prepared to inform the Commission's decision on whether to propose the establishment of an institutionalised European Partnership and to support the preparation of this initiative. If this decision is positive, the impact assessment is likely to be made available in the first quarter of 2020. | |
| Evidence base and data collection | |
| A full impact assessment is required for all partnerships, which might be institutionalised based on Articles 185 and 187 TFEU. In this context, an external study will provide coordinated input for the preparation of impact assessments, which could lead to and would accompany the proposals for institutionalised partnerships (based on Articles 185 and 187 TFEU). The study will be based on desk research, Commission and stakeholder consultation, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis and inputs from panels of experts. It will develop a single common methodology to ensure coordinated inputs to individual impact assessment studies of each envisaged partnership. | |
| Consultation of citizens and stakeholders | |
| In line with the Better Regulation guidelines, the Commission seeks to consult stakeholders as widely as possible. The consultation strategy aims to involve a broad range of stakeholders, including national authorities, the research community across the EU, industry, EU institutions and bodies, and others.  A structured consultation of Member States in the Shadow Strategic Configuration of the Programme Committee Horizon Europe in May-June 2019 provided early input into the preparatory work.  A single open public consultation from mid-2019 (in English, French and German) will cover all 12 potential institutionalised partnerships based on Articles 185 and 187 TFEU. It will collect input from a broad range of stakeholders, on both the overall approach and the individual candidates for institutionalised partnerships based on Article 185 or Article 187 TFEU. It can be accessed via the Commission's Have Your Say web portal. As the results are expected to inform debate during the ‘R&I days’ (Brussels, 24-26 September), it might be necessary to shorten slightly the 12 week consultation period.  Once all consultation activities are closed, the Commission will publish a synopsis report (summarising the results) on the consultation page. | |

:   [(1)](#footnoteref2)
     Mid-term evaluation: 
    <https://ec.europa.eu/research/evaluations/pdf/emrp-empir_expgrp_report_final.pdf>
:   [(2)](#footnoteref3)
     Resolution 1 of the 26th CGPM (2018) : 
    <https://www.bipm.org/en/CGPM/db/26/1/>

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