In today’s Morning Brief:

ERC CALLS 2023 – TENTATIVE DATES

After two rounds of ERC grant competitions that followed an untypical schedule, the ERC intends to return to a normal calendar of calls under the Work Programme 2023. That Programme has yet to be approved, so the dates of the calls are still tentative and subject to change. However, to be transparent and to help applicants plan their work, the ERC is publishing this indicative schedule.

Available in this link.

Europol reform: agreement between EP and Council to boost data analysis and safeguards

EP and Council negotiators have agreed on a reform of Europol’s mandate, intended to boost its capability to process and analyse data while respecting privacy.

Europol will be able to pursue research projects and receive data from private parties. Parliament secured the establishment of a Europol Fundamental Rights Officer. EU Data Protection Supervisor to get new oversight powers over data processing.

Read the full press release here.

EU Taxonomy: Commission presents Complementary Climate Delegated Act to accelerate decarbonization

The European Commission has presented a Taxonomy Complementary Climate Delegated Act on climate change mitigation and adaptation covering certain gas and nuclear activities. The College of Commissioners reached a political agreement on the text, which will be formally adopted once translations are available in all EU languages.

A great deal of private investment is needed for the EU to become climate neutral by 2050. The Act aims to guide private investment to activities that are needed to achieve climate neutrality.

The gas and nuclear activities selected are in line with the EU’s climate and environmental objectives and will allow to accelerate the shift towards a climate-neutral future.

To find more about the Act, click here.

Coimbra Universities opens young researcher mobility scheme

The Coimbra group of universities is offering almost 80 mobility scholarships for young researchers and staff from universities in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and the European neighbourhood.

The scholarships finance short-term research visits to 20 participating European universities in a bid to help scholars from abroad establish academic and research contacts in Europe and make their research more international.

The deadline for submissions is 15 April 2022.

Find out more here.

The launch event of the European Cancer Inequalities Registry (ECIR)

The Joint Research Centre (JRC), the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have launched the European Cancer Inequalities Registry (ECIR).

ECIR is a flagship initiative of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to help Member States address inequalities in cancer care by helping them to better understand strengths and weaknesses, gaps and opportunities.

In addition to looking at geographical and regional differences, ECIR will look at inequalities due to age or gender, inequalities associated with socio-economic factors, such as educational attainment and income level, and disparities between urban and rural areas.

Find out more here.

New approach to enable global leadership of EU standards promoting values and a resilient, green and digital Single Market

The European Commission has presented a new Standardisation strategy, outlining their approach to standards within the Single Market as well as globally. The Strategy is accompanied by a proposal for an amendment to the Regulation on standardisation, a report on its implementation, and the 2022 annual Union work programme for European standardisation.

This new Strategy aims to strengthen the EU’s global competitiveness, enable a resilient, green and digital economy and enshrine democratic values in technology applications.

The Strategy proposes five key sets of actions:

1. Anticipate, prioritise and address standardisation needs in strategic areas;
2. Improve the governance and integrity of the European standardisation system;
3. Enhance European leadership in global standards;
4. Support innovation;
5. Enable the next generation of standardisation experts.

Find out more here.

‘Imperfect but real solution’ – Brussels weathers backlash over gas and nuclear

The European Commission defied angry dissent from EU governments and protests from green campaigners to give a sustainable finance label to investments in both gas and nuclear power.

Critics of nuclear energy point to the threat posed by accidents and nuclear waste, while opponents of gas want to discourage investment in a fossil fuel technology they say only adds to the climate change crisis.

But the EU executive, under pressure from nuclear-powered France and gas-reliant Germany, argues both have a role to play as cleaner power sources during the transition to a net-zero carbon future.

Don’t miss this piece by EURACTIV to read more reactions to this announcement.