Regulation (EU) 2024/795 establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), and amending Directive 2003/87/EC and Regulations (EU) 2021/1058, (EU) 2021/1056, (EU) 2021/1057, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) 2021/1060, (EU) 2021/523, (EU) 2021/695, (EU) 2021/697 and (EU) 2021/241

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Series Details 2024/795
Publication Date 29/02/2024
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Summary:

Regulation (EU) 2024/795 - adopted by the co-legislators on 29 February 2024 - establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). It amends Directive 2003/87/EC and Regulation (EU) 2021/1058, Regulation (EU) 2021/1056, Regulation (EU) 2021/1057, Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, Regulation (EU) No 223/2014, Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, Regulation (EU) 2021/523, Regulation (EU) 2021/695, Regulation (EU) 2021/697 and Regulation (EU) 2021/241.

Further information:

This Regulation establishes a Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) to support critical and emerging strategic technologies and their respective value chains in relevant sectors. The Act lays down the objectives of the STEP, the amount of financial support available under the STEP, and rules for the implementation of the Sovereignty Seal and Sovereignty Portal as well as for reporting on the STEP objectives.

This Platform is a response to the need for a more structural solution the investment needs of industries across the European Union (EU), and it seeks to preserve a European edge on critical and emerging technologies relevant to the green and digital transitions. It should also help to mobilise private capital to support the competitiveness of European business in these technologies in the global arena, which in turn should lead to domestic capacity building.

STEP builds on existing funding programmes, and it comprises a dynamic structure to direct existing funding towards STEP projects and speed up implementation in areas which have been identified for the EU's leadership. A Sovereignty Seal is awarded to projects contributing to the STEP objectives and it enables better access to funding across EU-funded instruments. The Sovereignty Portal is an online One-Stop-Shop aimed at support projects' promoters and Member States in their STEP investments supported by the different EU funds.

The initiative was first announced during the 2022 State of the European Union (SOTEU) address. The draft law was adopted by the European Commission on 20 June 2023 as part of the mid-term review of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period between 2021 and 2027. The plenary of the European Parliament adopted a negotiating position on this proposal on 17 October. The Council of the European Union adopted a partial general approach on 10 January 2024, excluding budgetary considerations negotiated as part of the proposed amendments to the MFF. National leaders reached an agreement on the mid-term review of the MFF on 1 February 2024, and on 7 February the co-legislators agreed on a compromise text for this file. This was formally endorsed by the Parliament on 27 February and by the Council on 28 February. The Act was signed by the co-legislators on 29 February 2024 and published in the Official Journal on the same day.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/795/oj
Related Links
Official
EUR-LEX: COM(2023)225: Proposal for a Regulation establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) and amending Directive 2003/87/EC, Regulations (EU) 2021/1058, (EU) 2021/1056, (EU) 2021/1057, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) 2021/1060, (EU) 2021/523, (EU) 2021/695, (EU) 2021/697 and (EU) 2021/241 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2023:335:FIN
European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) (2023/0199(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2023/0199(COD)
European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-a-europe-fit-for-the-digital-age/file-strategic-technologies-for-europe-platform-(%E2%80%98step%E2%80%99)
European Commission: Strategy and Policy: Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/strategic-technologies-europe-platform_en
European Commission: Press Release, 20/06/2023: EU budget: Commission proposes Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) to support European leadership on critical technologies https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_3364
EU: Committee of the Regions (CoR): Territorial Impact Assessment, October 2023: Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform https://cor.europa.eu/en/our-work/Documents/5039-TIA-report.pdf
S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 16/10/2023: S&Ds: The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform means money for high-tech industry and high-quality jobs https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/sds-strategic-technologies-europe-platform-means-money-high-tech-industry-and-high-quality
Council of the European Union: Press Release, 10/01/2024: Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform: Council agrees its partial negotiating mandate https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/01/10/strategic-technologies-for-europe-platform-council-agrees-its-partial-negotiating-mandate/
European Commission: Press Release, 07/02/2024: Commission welcomes the provisional agreement to reinforce the EU long-term budget and to boost Europe's competitiveness and sovereignty https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_681
Council of the European Union: Press Release, 07/02/2024: Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform: provisional agreement to boost investments in critical technologies https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/02/07/strategic-technologies-for-europe-platform-provisional-agreement-to-boost-investments-in-critical-technologies/
Council of the European Union: Press Release, 28/02/2024: EU long-term budget for 2021-2027: Council concludes the mid-term revision https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/02/28/eu-long-term-budget-for-2021-2027-council-concludes-the-mid-term-revision/

News
EurActiv: Topics: Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) https://www.euractiv.com/topics/strategic-technologies-for-europe-platform-step/
Research Professional News, 23/09/2023: Move to increase proposed EU technology fund gains support https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-europe-innovation-2023-9-move-to-increase-proposed-eu-technology-fund-gains-support/
Science Business, 05/10/2023: MEPs vow to stop diversion of €800M from Horizon Europe https://sciencebusiness.net/news/horizon-europe/meps-vow-stop-diversion-eu800m-horizon-europe
Science Business, 15/02/2024: The EU’s plan for critical technologies ends up as a shadow of the promised sovereignty fund https://sciencebusiness.net/news/industry/eus-plan-critical-technologies-ends-shadow-promised-sovereignty-fund

Commentary and Analysis
Ernst&Young (EY), 20/07/2023: European Commission proposes more funding for strategic technologies https://www.ey.com/en_be/tax/subsidies--grants-and-incentives/european-commission-proposes-more-funding-for-strategic-technologies
European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), 27/09/2023: Adopted Position on Economic Security Strategy and the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) https://www.etuc.org/en/document/adopted-position-economic-security-strategy-and-strategic-technologies-europe-platform
European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): At a Glance, 11/10/2023: Strategic technologies for Europe platform https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2023)754546
Transport&Environment (T&E), 17/10/2023: European lawmakers call for more EU money in global cleantech race https://www.transportenvironment.org/discover/european-lawmakers-call-for-more-eu-money-in-global-cleantech-race/
Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, 24/10/2023: The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) https://www.svensktnaringsliv.se/english/the-strategic-technologies-for-europe-platform-step_1204088.html
European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Policy Podcast, 15/11/2023: Strategic technologies for Europe platform (STEP) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2tGk4M6oy4
European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP): Events, 06/12/2023: STEP: Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform https://clustercollaboration.eu/content/step-strategic-technologies-europe-platform
European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 15/02/2024: Strategic technologies for Europe platform (STEP) https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2023)754547
PwC Belgium: News, 16/02/2024: Net Zero Industrial Act and the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform: Forging a Synergy for the European Industry of the Future https://news.pwc.be/net-zero-industrial-act-and-the-strategic-technologies-for-europe-platform-forging-a-synergy-for-the-european-industry-of-the-future/
European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): At a Glance, 22/02/2024: Strategic technologies for Europe platform https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2024)759583

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