European Economic Security Strategy
The EU is one of the most attractive destinations for global companies and for investment. Our economies thrive on open and rules-based trade and investment, on secure cross-border connectivity and collaboration on research and innovation.
However, with geopolitical tensions rising and global economic integration deeper than ever before, certain economic flows and activities can present a risk to our security.
The recent European Economic Security Strategy sets out a framework for a robust assessment and management of risks to economic security at EU, national and business level while preserving and increasing our economic dynamism.
Achieving this will depend on
- promoting our own competitiveness
- protecting ourselves from economic security risks
- partnering with the broadest possible range of countries who share our concerns or interests on economic security.
The Economic Security Strategy recognises that the openness of our system is the ‘bedrock for our innovative economies’, but that the EU needs a comprehensive strategic approach to economic security, de-risking and promoting its technological edge in critical sectors. It identifies ‘risks related to technology security and technology leakage’ as one of four main categories of risks.
In January 2024 the European Commission adopted an ‘Economic Security Package’, which includes two initiatives related to Research and Innovation: a White Paper on Enhancing R&D Support Involving Technologies with Dual-Use Potential, and a Proposal for a Council Recommendation on Research Security.
White Paper on Enhancing R&D Support Involving Technologies with Dual-Use Potential
As part of the Economic Security Package, under the ‘promote’ pillar, the Commission has presented a White Paper on Enhancing R&D Support Involving Technologies with Dual-Use Potential.
This White Paper launches a broad public consultation of Member States, the European Parliament, stakeholders and civil society. Input received will contribute to the preparation of the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (successor to Horizon Europe).
Contribute to the Public Consultation on ‘R&D on Dual-Use technologies: Options for Support’ – open until 30 April 2024.
Factsheet: White Paper: options for enhancing R&D support for technologies with dual-use potential
Research Security
Openness, international cooperation, and academic freedom are at the core of Europe’s world-class research and innovation. With growing international tensions and the increasing geopolitical relevance of research and innovation, European researchers and academics are increasingly confronted with risks when cooperating internationally.
These risks may result in European research and innovation being affected by malign influence and being misused in ways that affect our security or infringe our ethical norms. It is therefore vital that European research performing organisations are supported and empowered to address these risks to research security. Targeted safeguarding measures are needed to keep international cooperation open and safe.
In research and innovation, Europe’s Global Approach strategy outlines the measures to be undertaken to achieve a level playing field and reciprocity in international cooperation. This includes agreeing on targeted bilateral roadmaps with prioritised non-EU country partners, with commitments on framework conditions to secure a level playing field and shared values.
Measures to support Member States and stakeholders
While national governments are best placed to reach out to their universities and other research performing organisations and support them in taking the necessary measures, EU-level cooperation and coordination facilitates peer learning and promotes consistency of approach across the Union.
A toolkit to mitigate foreign interference in research and innovation has been developed, together with Member States. The toolkit outlines best practices to support EU Higher Education Institutions and Research Performing Organisations in safeguarding their fundamental values, including academic freedom, integrity and institutional autonomy, as well as to protect their staff, students, research findings and assets.
The Commission has also published recommendations on a Code of Practice on the management of intellectual assets for knowledge valorisation in the European Research Area.
In January 2024, as part of the Economic Security Package, under the ‘protect’ pillar, the Commission made a Proposal for a Council Recommendation on Research Security, presenting principles for responsible internationalisation that should underpin all research security policies, such as academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and non-discrimination.
It includes practical safeguarding measures that can be taken by the Member States, including through their funding agencies. These recommended measures are based on best practices from across Europe as well as from our international partners. It also proposes setting up a European Centre of Expertise on Research Security, through using the open method of coordination (using existing governance modalities of the European Research Area.
Such a Council Recommendation would be a critical element in Europe’s efforts to avoid undesirable transfer of critical technology and to counter hybrid threats. Once adopted by the Council, it will ensure political commitment and involvement of all Member States, and it provides a solid basis for further steps in the months and years to come.
The Commission is currently developing an online one-stop shop, that will bring together relevant documents and resources on the issue of research security, and which will be launched in 2024.
Factsheet: Council recommendation on research security
Factsheet: Research Security: Building blocks for risk appraisal
Research Security in Horizon Europe
The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe, is designed to be as open as possible and as closed as necessary. The openness of the work programme to international cooperation is balanced with the need to safeguard EU interests in strategic areas, in particular to promote the EU’s strategic autonomy and its technological leadership and competitiveness. The Horizon Europe safeguards toolbox includes:
- Article 22.5 of the Horizon Europe regulation: In a limited number of cases, for actions related to Union strategic assets, interests, autonomy or security, actions can be limited to cooperation between legal entities established in Member States only, Member States and (certain) Associated Countries, and/or certain third countries (‘eligible countries’).
Furthermore, for duly justified and exceptional reasons, the work programme may also exclude the participation of legal entities, established in eligible countries or other third countries that are directly or indirectly controlled by non-eligible third countries or by legal entities of non-eligible third countries from individual calls for proposals, or make their participation subject to conditions set out in the work programme.
- Article 22.6 of the Horizon Europe regulation: where appropriate and duly justified additional eligibility criteria may be inserted in a work programme, to take into account specific policy requirements or the nature and objectives of the action, including the number of legal entities, the type of legal entity and the place of establishment.
- Article 40 of the Horizon Europe regulation: describes the rules around transfer and licencing of results, including the right, where justified, for the Commission or the relevant funding body to object to transfers of ownership of results, or to granting of an exclusive licence regarding results.
- Security appraisal: Guidance designed to provide applicants and beneficiaries of EU projects with an overview of the additional procedures to be followed follow if a project involves security sensitive or classified information.
- Ethics screening: Guidance for applicants and beneficiaries of EU projects to ensure ethics-compliance.