How to watch the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)

CEF joint ITRE–TRAN meeting: opening and ITRE rapporteur

Borys Budka and 2 others

Chairs reopen the joint ITRE–TRAN meeting on the Connecting Europe Facility, adopt the agenda and minutes, and the ITRE rapporteur presents priorities for CEF 2028–2034 on energy interconnections, critical infrastructure protection, fossil fuel phase‑out, fund complementarity, governance and distinct budget lines.

In this chapter

1. Opening of joint ITRE–TRAN meeting: CEF agendaBorys Budka
2. ITRE rapporteur: CEF energy priorities and governanceKamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz

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CRMA amendment: Commission justification and closing of debate

Joan Canton and 4 others

The Commission explains the rationale of the amendment in light of Chinese export restrictions and early CRMA implementation, defends obligations on large users and inclusion of different waste streams, followed by additional interventions on predictability and recycling, the rapporteur’s closing push for clear waste definitions and frequent calls, a Renew call for proportionate obligations and a strong CRM Centre, and the formal closure of item 10 with a transition to the next agenda point.

In this chapter

1. Commission (DG GROW): rationale for CRM amendmentsJoan Canton
2. Catch-the-eye: Eriksson on predictability and recycling focusSofie Eriksson
3. Rapporteur’s closing remarks: calls, waste definitions and coalition-buildingMohammed Chahim

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CRMA amendment: shadows’ positions on obligations and waste

Susana Solís Pérez and 4 others

Political group shadows set out their positions on Commission powers over large companies, delegated acts, manufacturing and pre‑consumer waste definitions, export restrictions on waste streams, administrative burdens and Member State involvement, with differing views on how far to tighten obligations while preserving competitiveness and legal coherence.

In this chapter

1. EPP shadow: industry obligations, labeling and waste definitionsSusana Solís Pérez
2. Shadow on behalf of Gjerk: oppose Commission binding powersViktória Ferenc
3. Vivaldini: strategic autonomy and export restrictionsMariateresa Vivaldini
4. Greens/ELA shadow: risk preparedness and pre‑consumer wasteSara Matthieu

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CRMA item 10: opening and rapporteur’s proposal

Borys Budka and 1 other

The chair opens item 10 on the Critical Raw Materials Act amendment, sets the speaking order, and the rapporteur outlines his main proposals on calls for strategic projects, full value-chain coverage, risk-preparedness obligations, recycling priorities, export restrictions on waste and financial de‑risking tools.

In this chapter

1. Opening of item 10: Critical Raw Materials ActBorys Budka
2. Rapporteur: objectives of CRM amendmentMohammed Chahim

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Topical debate: advanced manufacturing and EU tools

Borys Budka and 10 others

Opening of the topical debate on advanced manufacturing as a strategic asset, followed by the Commission’s presentation of energy, state-aid, dual-use, R&I instruments and MEPs’ questions on data, benchmarking and AI uptake for EU industrial competitiveness.

In this chapter

1. Topical debate and Commission framingBorys Budka
2. EU instruments for energy, dual‑use and R&I
3. MEPs’ follow‑up on data, benchmarking and AIBorys Budka

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Cohesion mega‑fund and European Business Wallet

Borys Budka and 6 others

MEPs debate the 2028–2034 unified cohesion mega‑fund and NRPP priorities, including regional autonomy, competitiveness and SME access, and then turn to the European Business Wallet proposal on scope, SME burden, interoperability and EU digital sovereignty ahead of amendment deadlines.

In this chapter

1. 2028–2034 Cohesion mega-fund (NRPP): Priorities and regional concernsBorys Budka
2. European Business Wallet: Scope, SME impact and digital sovereigntyBorys Budka

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Opening of ITRE meeting and energy research files

Borys Budka and 4 others

Chair Budka opens the ITRE meeting with procedural announcements, then the committee examines the RFCS reform mandate and political group positions, followed by the Euratom research programme proposal focusing on fission, budget, ITER and SMR/AMR priorities with Commission and advisory‑body feedback.

In this chapter

1. Opening of ITRE meeting and agendaBorys Budka
2. RFCS reform: Mandate, group positions and next stepsBorys Budka
3. Euratom research programme: Fission focus and institutional feedbackSophie Wilmès

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MEPs Q&A: energy costs, ETS and European preference

Stéphane Séjourné and 2 others

MEPs question Sejourne on the 20% industry target, energy price gap, ETS revenues, administrative burden, sovereignty, treatment of steel, scope of ‘partners of trust’ and procurement reciprocity, with Sejourne defending targeted European‑preference rules, simplified permitting and a calibrated Competitiveness Fund.

In this chapter

1. Extended Q&A: energy prices, ETS and sovereigntyStéphane Séjourné
2. Targeted Q&A: steel, partners of trust and European preferenceStéphane Séjourné

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Commission: Industrial Accelerator Act presentation

Stéphane Séjourné

Vice‑President Sejourne outlines the new EU industrial doctrine and key elements of the draft Industrial Accelerator Act, followed by initial political reactions from EPP and S&D stressing urgency, industrial job losses, energy costs and financing needs beyond existing tools.

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Horizon Europe specific programme: governance architecture and Commission limits

Stéphane Séjourné and 1 other

The rapporteur and shadows present a package strategy for the regulation and specific programme, seeking to move governance provisions into the regulation, strengthen ERC/EIC autonomy, create sectoral plans and agency‑style roles, and rebalance excellence and widening, while the Commission invokes treaty constraints, warns against new expert councils and defends current benchmarks, prompting clarifications on ERC‑anchored sectoral plans and an invitation to continue technical work before amendments.

In this chapter

1. Horizon Europe specific programme: package strategy, ERC/EIC and sectoral plansStéphane Séjourné
2. Horizon Europe specific programme: Commission objections and rapporteur clarificationStéphane Séjourné

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Horizon Europe regulation: political mandate and stakeholder positions

Stéphane Séjourné and 6 others

The committee opens the Horizon Europe regulation file, with the rapporteur and political groups setting out priorities on budget size and protection, Pillar II governance, ERC/EIC autonomy, widening versus excellence, dual‑use and defence demarcation, and links to the Competitiveness Fund, followed by opinions from other committees, the Commission’s defence of its proposal on simplification and governance, and the rapporteur’s call for a united Parliament line ahead of amendments.

In this chapter

1. Horizon Europe regulation: meeting opening and rapporteur prioritiesStéphane Séjourné
2. Horizon Europe regulation: political groups’ positions on budget, governance and wideningStéphane Séjourné
3. Horizon Europe regulation: committee opinions, Commission response and rapporteur closingStéphane Séjourné

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Nuclear decommissioning instrument: debate and closure

Borys Budka and 2 others

The committee examines the EU nuclear safety and decommissioning instrument, with rapporteur, political groups and Commission addressing objectives, governance, liability transfer, SMRs, transparency, Ukraine support and security aspects, before concluding with procedural details and amendment deadlines.

In this chapter

1. Nuclear safety cooperation instrument: objectives and parliamentary scrutinyBorys Budka
2. Political groups: positions on nuclear decommissioning instrumentBorys Budka
3. Commission and rapporteur conclusions: procedural closingBorys Budka

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Ignalina nuclear decommissioning: funding and EU added value

Borys Budka and 2 others

The committee examines Ignalina decommissioning as a case of EU solidarity and nuclear safety, debating funding certainty, staff and security needs, and how to capitalise on Ignalina know‑how for EU technological sovereignty, before the Commission and rapporteur narrow the scope to core dismantling tasks and knowledge dissemination and the Chair sets the amendment deadline.

In this chapter

1. Ignalina decommissioning: rapporteur and political group prioritiesBorys Budka
2. Ignalina decommissioning: Commission position and closing procedureBorys Budka

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Chile mission debrief and EU Space Act framework

Borys Budka PPE

Members first report on the Chile mission’s findings on energy transition, raw materials and sustainability implications for EU trade and industrial policy, then move to open the Space Act item where the rapporteur and groups set out the proposed EU framework for space safety, resilience and sustainability, including governance, authorisation, SME regimes and equivalence with third countries.

In this chapter

1. Mission to Chile: energy transition and raw materials for EU policyBorys Budka
2. Space Act item opened: legislative context and rapporteur’s proposalBorys Budka
3. Space Act: political groups, committee opinions and Commission positionsBorys Budka

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Topical debate launch and political lines on Russian energy

Eva Maydell and 5 others

The Chair introduces a topical debate on ending dependence on Russian energy and nuclear, then political groups set out contrasting positions on nuclear phase‑out, sanctions, affordability, renewables and security of supply.

In this chapter

1. Topical debate introduction: ending dependence on Russian energy and price competitivenessEva Maydell
2. Political group positions on Russian nuclear phase‑out and energy strategyAndrea Wechsler

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MEP–Commission Q&A on Horizon, ERA, EU Inc and Innovation Act

Eva Maydell and 12 others

MEPs from EPP, PFE, ECR, Renew, Greens, Left and S&D question the Commissioner on associated country funds, scientific freedom, the Innovation Act, dual‑use research, EU Inc design, labour and tax implications, and researcher careers, with a second short round on the Einstein Telescope and practical EU Inc implementation.

In this chapter

1. EPP (Ehler): associated country funds, association agreements and scientific freedomEva Maydell
2. Innovation Act, dual use and investment coordination: PFE, ECR and Renew Q&AJulie Rechagneux
3. EU Inc design, workers’ rights and researcher careers: Greens, Left and S&DEva Maydell
4. Second round: Einstein Telescope and practical implementation of EU IncEva Maydell

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Opening of ITRE meeting and Commission priorities

Eva Maydell and 1 other

The Chair opens the ITRE meeting and sets up the structured dialogue, followed by Commissioner Zakharyova’s overview of priorities on the ERA Act, Horizon Europe, EU Inc, innovation and international association.

In this chapter

1. Opening, agenda adoption and setup of structured dialogueEva Maydell
2. Commissioner Zakharyova: priorities for ERA, EU Inc and Horizon EuropeEkaterina Zaharieva

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Commission: Steel and Metals Action Plan and strategic resilience

Borys Budka PPE

The Commission details the six implementation pillars of the Steel and Metals Action Plan (energy, CBAM and anti-circumvention, overcapacity, circularity, ecosystem engagement, and de-risking of decarbonisation investments) and then addresses strategic resilience, explaining the treatment of strategic assets like the Liberty Galați plant, links with the Critical Raw Materials Act, capacity targets, and future funding tools such as the European Competitiveness Fund and MFF revision.

In this chapter

1. Commission response: implementation pillars of the Steel and Metals Action PlanBorys Budka
2. Commission: Romanian steel plant, strategic assets and resilience

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Item 16: Steel and Metals Action Plan: political debate

Borys Budka PPE

Opening of the topical debate on the Steel and Metals Action Plan with political group interventions on energy prices, state aid, dumping, circularity and national crises, including calls for stronger trade defence and strategic treatment of scrap and green steel.

In this chapter

1. Item 16 opened: Steel and Metals Action Plan and first political statementsBorys Budka
2. National cases, scrap markets and trade consistencyBorys Budka

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Item 15: FP10 hearing: MEP Q&A and conclusions

Borys Budka and 1 other

Two rounds of MEP questions and expert replies on ERC autonomy, FP10 governance, widening design, evaluation and sectoral priorities, including national co‑funding practices and links to cohesion policy, bringing the Horizon Europe segment to a close.

In this chapter

1. MEP Q&A round 1: ERC autonomy, FP10 governance, widening, partnershipsBorys Budka
2. Expert replies round 1: ERC model, mixed funding logic, evaluation and governanceBorys Budka
3. Second MEP round: transition from widening, national R&I efforts, sector focusBorys Budka
4. Final expert answers: widening best practices, ERC support tools and sectoral pointsBorys Budka

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Item 15: FP10 hearing: expert statements

Borys Budka PPE

Launch of the Horizon Europe FP10 hearing and initial expert contributions from ERC, industry and academia on budget needs, global competition, governance architecture, TRL balance, widening and the proposed European Competitiveness Fund.

In this chapter

1. Item 15 launched: Horizon Europe FP10 hearing and expert panelBorys Budka
2. ERC President: FP10 budget, global competition and ERC autonomyBorys Budka
3. Siemens: industry priorities: high TRLs, unified governance, agilityBorys Budka

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Item 14: EU software and cyber dependencies

Borys Budka and 1 other

Opening of the ITRE meeting, presentation of the study on European software and cyber dependencies, and structured exchange between MEPs and the expert on digital sovereignty, procurement, open source and ‘buy European’ approaches, concluding with the Chair closing Item 14.

In this chapter

1. Opening of ITRE meeting and Item 14 setupBorys Budka
2. Study presentation: European software and cyber dependenciesBorys Budka
3. MEPs’ first reaction: digital sovereignty, openness and costsBorys Budka
4. Author’s replies and open‑source exchange; closure of Item 14Borys Budka

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Second MEP Q&A: excellence, sectoral targeting and intervention logic

Wouter Beke and 7 others

A second round of MEP questions probes excellence versus geographic balance, sectoral prioritisation, ‘picking winners’, and the ECF’s capacity to match US/China, with experts responding on micro‑level intervention logic, competition‑based support for firms and ideas, excellence and impact criteria, and mechanisms to diffuse innovation without rigid quotas.

In this chapter

1. Second MEP round: excellence vs geography, picking winners and sectoral focusWouter Beke
2. Second expert replies: intervention logic, excellence and convergenceYvan Verougstraete

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First MEP Q&A: ECF mandate, instruments and competitiveness scope

Christian Ehler and 4 others

Rapporteur and MEPs question the ECF’s objectives, financial instruments, strategic focus and implementation challenges, followed by expert replies clarifying definitions of competitiveness, the role of autonomy, conditions for earmarking, governance by independent experts, and risks and design of European preference.

In this chapter

1. First MEP round: mandate, instruments, scope and strategy of ECFChristian Ehler
2. First expert replies: competitiveness definition, autonomy and European preferenceYvan Verougstraete

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Opening of hearing and expert statements on ECF

Yvan Verougstraete Renew

Chair frames the hearing’s objectives and procedure, then expert witnesses present analytical perspectives on the European Competitiveness Fund covering industrial policy design, productivity gaps, governance and accountability, the link to decarbonisation and ETS, and Europe’s innovation and single market shortcomings.

In this chapter

1. Opening of hearing and agenda settingYvan Verougstraete
2. Ericsson: industrial policy lessons and ECF designYvan Verougstraete
3. Lungu: historical trade blocs, productivity gaps and policy priorities

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