Decision (EU) 2024/1167 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 amending Decision (EU) 2017/1324 as regards the continuation of the Union’s participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe

1 The Union shall participate in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), an institutionalised European partnership as referred to in Article 10(1), point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Horizon Europe), jointly undertaken by Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey (Participating States), in accordance with the conditions laid down in this Decision and upon notification of their participation in the activities of PRIMA by signing a letter of commitment.

2 Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco shall continue to be Participating States for the purposes of the activities of PRIMA funded under Article 3(1), point (a) For the purpose of their participation in activities of PRIMA funded under Article 3(1), point (b), they shall be considered to be Participating States only upon the conclusion of an agreement, in the form of Exchange of Letters, amending and supplementing the existing international agreements for scientific and technological cooperation with the Union and setting out the new terms and conditions of their participation in PRIMA.

3 Any Member State and any third country associated to Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe, other than those listed in paragraph 1 of this Article, may participate in PRIMA, provided that they fulfil the condition laid down in Article 4(1), point (c) and comply, in particular, with Article 11(5). They shall sign a letter of commitment confirming the terms and conditions of their participation in PRIMA with regard to Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe as applicable. Member States and third countries associated to Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe that fulfil the conditions set out in the first subparagraph shall be considered to be Participating States for the purposes of this Decision.

4 Any third country not associated to Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe, other than those listed in paragraph 2 of this Article, may participate in PRIMA provided that: (a) it fulfils the condition laid down in Article 4(1), point (c) and complies, in particular, with Article 11(5); (b) the implementation structure for PRIMA (PRIMA-IS) approves its participation in PRIMA after examining the relevance of its participation towards achieving the objectives of PRIMA; and (c) it concludes an international agreement for scientific and technological cooperation with the Union setting out the terms and conditions of its participation in PRIMA. Third countries that fulfil the conditions set out in the first subparagraph shall be considered to be Participating States for the purposes of this Decision.

1 PRIMA shall support a wide range of research and innovation activities, as described in its annual work programme, by means of: (a) indirect actions within the meaning of Regulations (EU) No 1290/2013 and (EU) No 2021/695 funded by PRIMA-IS in accordance with Article 7 of this Decision, mainly in the form of grants following transnational open, transparent and competitive calls for proposals organised by PRIMA-IS, including: (i) research and innovation actions, as well as innovation actions; (ii) coordination and support actions focusing on dissemination and outreach to promote PRIMA and maximise its impact; (b) activities funded by the Participating States without the Union financial contribution referred to in Article 3(1) that contribute to the objectives of PRIMA or that are directly linked to the uptake of results from projects under PRIMA and that consist of: (i) activities selected following transnational open, transparent and competitive calls for proposals organised by PRIMA-IS, managed by the national funding bodies under the national programmes of the Participating States, providing financial support mainly in the form of grants; (ii) activities under the national programmes of the Participating States including transnational projects.

2 PRIMA shall be implemented on the basis of annual work programmes covering activities to be undertaken from 1 January to 31 December in a given year (reference year). PRIMA-IS shall adopt the annual work programmes by 31 March of the reference year, after obtaining approval from the Commission. In adopting the annual work programmes, both PRIMA-IS and the Commission shall act without undue delay. PRIMA-IS shall make the annual work programme publicly available.

3 Activities referred to in paragraph 1, points (a) and (b), may be launched only in the reference year and only after the adoption of the annual work programme for that year.

4 If the annual work programme is adopted during the reference year, the Union financial contribution referred to in Article 3(1) may be used to reimburse the administrative costs of PRIMA-IS incurred from 1 January of that reference year in line with the annual work programme concerned. However, the Union financial contribution referred to in Article 3(1) may reimburse the administrative costs of PRIMA-IS as incurred from 7 August 2017 in line with the first annual work programme.

5 Activities may be funded under PRIMA only if they are set out in the annual work programme. The annual work programme shall distinguish between the activities referred to in paragraph 1, point (a), of this Article, the activities referred to in paragraph 1, point (b), of this Article and the administrative costs of PRIMA-IS. It shall provide for their corresponding expenditure estimates as well as for the budget allocation to activities funded with the Union financial contribution referred to in Article 3(1) and to activities funded by the Participating States without the Union financial contribution referred to in Article 3(1). The annual work programme shall also include the estimated value of the Participating States’ in-kind contributions referred to in Article 5(2), point (b).

6 Amended annual work programmes for a reference year and annual work programmes for subsequent reference years shall take into account the results of previous calls for proposals. They shall endeavour to address insufficient coverage of scientific topics, in particular those initially addressed in activities under paragraph 1, point (b) that could not be adequately funded.

7 The final activities to be funded, including the final calls for proposals under the relevant annual work programmes shall be launched by 31 December 2027. In duly justified cases, they may be launched by 31 December 2028.

8 Activities to be funded by the Participating States without the Union financial contribution referred to in Article 3(1) may be included in the annual work programme only following the positive outcome of their external independent evaluation by international peer review with regard to the objectives of PRIMA, as organised by PRIMA-IS.

9 Activities included in the annual work programme that are funded by the Participating States in accordance with paragraph 1, point (b), of this Article shall be implemented in compliance with common principles to be adopted by PRIMA-IS, after obtaining approval from the Commission. The common principles shall take into account the principles set out in this Decision, in Title VIII of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 and in Chapter II of Regulation (EU) 2021/695. PRIMA-IS shall also adopt, after obtaining approval from the Commission, the reporting requirements of the Participating States to PRIMA-IS, including with regard to indicators inserted into each of those activities.

10 The activities referred to in paragraph 1, point (b)(i), shall, in addition to the common principles referred to in paragraph 9, comply with the following conditions: (a) the proposals shall be for transnational projects, with a minimum participation of at least three independent legal entities, which are established in three different countries that are considered to be Participating States in accordance with this Decision by the submission deadline under the relevant call for proposals, of which: (i) at least one is established in a Member State or third country associated to Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe, as applicable, and does not fall under point (ii); and (ii) at least one is established in a third country listed in Article 1(2), or in a third country bordering the Mediterranean Sea; (b) the proposals shall be selected following transnational calls for proposals and shall be evaluated by at least three independent experts, on the basis of the following award criteria: excellence, impact, and quality and efficiency of implementation; (c) the proposals shall be ranked according to the results of the evaluation referred to in point (b), the selection shall be made by PRIMA-IS and follow that ranking, and the Participating States shall agree on an adequate funding mode that allows for maximising the number of proposals above threshold to be funded on the basis of that ranking, in particular, by providing reserve amounts to the national contributions for calls for proposals. With regard to the ranking referred to in point (c), in the event that one or more projects cannot be funded, the projects following directly in the ranking may be selected.

11 PRIMA-IS shall monitor and report annually to the Commission on the implementation of all activities included in the annual work programme.

12 Any communication or publication relating to the activities of PRIMA, and performed in cooperation with PRIMA, whether undertaken by PRIMA-IS, a Participating State, the national funding bodies of a Participating State, or participants in an activity, shall be labelled or co-labelled as follows: “[name of the activity] is part of PRIMA co-funded by the European Union.

1 PRIMA-IS shall be considered to be a funding body as defined in Article 2, point (11), of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 and in Article 2, point (14), of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, as applicable, and shall provide financial support to indirect actions referred to in Article 6(1), point (a), of this Decision in accordance with the rules set out in the relevant Regulations and subject to the derogations set out in this Article.

2 In accordance with Article 17(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/695 and by way of derogation from Article 9(1), point (b), of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013, and from Article 22(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, the minimum number of participants shall be three legal entities established in three different countries considered to be Participating States by the submission deadline under the relevant call for proposals, of which at least one is established: (a) in a Member State or in a third country associated to Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe, as applicable, which does not fall under point (b) of this Article; (b) in a third country listed in Article 1(2), or in a third country bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

3 By way of derogation from Article 9(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 and from Article 22(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, in duly justified cases provided for in the annual work programme, the minimum condition shall be the participation of one legal entity established in a Participating State by the submission deadline under the relevant call for proposals.

4 By way of derogation from Article 10(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 and from Article 23(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, the following participants shall be eligible for funding by PRIMA-IS: (a) any legal entity established in a Participating State or created pursuant to Union law; (b) any international European interest organisation, as defined in Article 2(1), point (12), of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 for activities of PRIMA funded under Article 3(1), point (a), of this Decision or any international European research organisation, as defined in Article 2, point (15), of Regulation (EU) 2021/695 for activities of PRIMA funded under Article 3(1), point (b), of this Decision.

5 In the case of a participating international organisation or of a participating legal entity established in a country that is not a Participating State, neither of which is eligible for funding in accordance with paragraph 4, funding by PRIMA-IS may be granted provided that at least one of the following conditions is fulfilled: (a) participation of the international organisation or legal entity concerned is deemed to be essential by PRIMA-IS for implementing the action; (b) participation of such entities is foreseen in the annual work programme and the possibility of such funding is provided for under a bilateral scientific and technological agreement or under any other arrangement that ensures the protection of the financial interests of the Union, which is concluded between the Union and the international organisation or, for an entity established in a country that is not a Participating State, the country in which that legal entity is established.

6 Without prejudice to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046, the applicable model grant agreement may lay down that legal entities established in countries which are not Participating States and which receive funding from PRIMA-IS shall also provide appropriate financial guarantees.

7 The Union shall conclude agreements with third countries that provide for the protection of the financial interests of the Union.

1 PRIMA-IS shall provide the Commission and, where applicable, the authorities of the Participating States with access to all information related to the indirect actions it funds. Such information shall include contributions and results of beneficiaries participating in indirect actions, or any other information deemed necessary for developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating Union or where applicable Participating States’ policies or programmes. Such access rights shall be limited to non-commercial and non-competitive use and shall comply with applicable confidentiality rules.

2 For the purpose of developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating Union policies or programmes, PRIMA-IS shall provide the Commission with the information included in submitted proposals. That requirement shall apply mutatis mutandis to Participating States regarding proposals which include applicants established in their respective territories.

1 The activities of PRIMA, including their efficiency and transparency, as well as their success rates, shall be continuously monitored and subject to periodic reviews to ensure the highest impact, scientific excellence and the most effective and efficient use of resources. The outcome of the monitoring and of the periodic reviews shall feed into the monitoring of European partnerships as part of the Horizon Europe evaluations pursuant to Articles 50 and 52 of Regulation (EU) 2021/695.

2 PRIMA-IS shall organise the continuous monitoring and reporting of the management and the implementation of their activities and the periodic reviews of the outputs, results and impact of the funded indirect actions implemented in accordance with Article 50 of Regulation (EU) 2021/695 and Annex III to that Regulation.

3 The Commission shall carry out an interim evaluation of PRIMA by 31 December 2025 and a final evaluation by 31 December 2031 in the framework of the Horizon Europe evaluations pursuant to Article 52 of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, with the assistance of external independent experts selected on the basis of an open and transparent process. The Commission shall prepare reports on the basis of those evaluations, which shall include conclusions of the evaluations and the Commission’s observations. The Commission shall submit its report on the final evaluation to the European Parliament and to the Council by 30 June 2032.

4 The interim and final evaluations referred to in paragraph 3 shall examine the success rates and the participation rates, including of the Southern Mediterranean Participating States, and PRIMA’s fulfilment of its mission and objectives, and shall cover all its activities and evaluate its European added value, effectiveness, efficiency, including its openness and transparency, the relevance of the activities pursued, including in industry and by SMEs, non-governmental organisations and in civil society, and their consistency and complementarity with relevant regional, national and Union policies, including synergies with other parts of Horizon Europe, such as other partnerships, missions, clusters and thematic or specific programmes. The evaluations shall take into account the views of a wide range of stakeholders, at Union and national level. They shall include, where relevant, an assessment of the most effective policy intervention mode for any future action, as well as the relevance and coherence of any possible renewal of PRIMA, given the overall policy priorities and the research and innovation support landscape, including the positioning against other initiatives supported through Horizon Europe. When carrying out those evaluations, the Commission shall fully consider and seek to reduce the administrative impact on PRIMA and shall ensure that the evaluation process is kept simple and fully transparent.

5 The Commission shall publish and disseminate the results and conclusions of the evaluations referred to in paragraph 3.

Without prejudice to Article 11a, PRIMA-IS shall ensure the protection of confidential information, the disclosure of which beyond the Union institutions, bodies, offices or agencies, has the potential to damage the interests of PRIMA-IS, its members or of the participants in the activities of PRIMA. Such confidential information shall include personal, commercial, sensitive non-classified and classified information.

1 PRIMA-IS, its bodies, members and staff shall avoid any conflict of interest in carrying out their activities.

2 PRIMA-IS shall adopt rules for the prevention, avoidance and management of conflicts of interest in respect of its staff, the members and other persons serving in any of its bodies or groups of PRIMA-IS, in accordance with Article 61 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046.

3 PRIMA-IS shall establish a code of conduct for the members of its bodies, which shall include the publication of declarations of professional activities, financial interests and conflicts of interest in accordance with data protection rules.

Actions or activities of PRIMA-IS or commitments by the Participating States referred to in this Decision initiated or undertaken under Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 shall continue to be governed by that Regulation except where otherwise provided for in this Decision.

This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.