The continuation of the Union’s participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe

Abstract

The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) is an Institutionalised European Partnership under Article 185 TFEU established by Decision (EU) 2017/1324 , in which the EU participates in a research programme undertaken jointly by several Member States. PRIMA aims to build research and innovation capacities and to develop knowledge and common innovative solutions for agro-food systems, to make them sustainable, and for integrated water provision and management in the Mediterranean area. Achieving this strategic objective will make water provision and food systems more climate resilient, efficient, cost-effective and environmentally and socially sustainable, and will contribute to solving water scarcity, food security, nutrition, health, well-being and migration problems upstream. PRIMA currently consists of nineteen Participating States: eleven EU Member States (Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain); three countries associated to Horizon 2020 (Israel, Tunisia and Turkey) and five third countries non-associated to Horizon 2020 (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco). PRIMA started its operation in 2018 under the predecessor Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (R&I) Horizon 2020. The active period for launching R&I calls under Horizon 2020 will last until 2024. The total foreseen Union contribution under Horizon 2020 amounts to EUR 220 million and the original financial commitments of Participating States exceeded EUR 270 million. Currently, the Union’s contribution comes from the Horizon 2020 programme. Until the end of 2022, PRIMA funded 202 collaborative R&I projects with a total budget of EUR 285.7 million with the contribution from the Union’s budget at the level of EUR 142.67 million and with contribution from the Participating States at the level of EUR 143.03 million. PRIMA was subject to an interim evaluation in 2022 published on 31 May 2023 . According to the interim evaluation report, PRIMA has shown to be an effective instrument for R&I collaboration in the Mediterranean, implementing key R&I interests in line with the EU’s geopolitical priorities. Based on their positive experience, a majority of the Participating States declared their long-term commitment to this initiative and called for continued participation of the EU in the current form of an Article 185 TFEU institutionalised European partnership.