EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 19.7.2023
SWD(2023) 260 final
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT
EU Missions two years on: An assessment of progress in shaping the future we want and reporting on the review of Mission Areas and areas for institutionalised partnerships based on Articles 185 and 187 TFEU
Accompanying the document
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
EU Missions two years on: assessment of progress and way forward
{COM(2023) 457 final}
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Structure of the Staff Working Document
I.
Assessment of EU Missions
1Overall aim of the assessment
2Adaptation to Climate Change: support at least 150 European regions and communities to become climate resilient by 2030
2.1Mission goal and objectives
2.2The Mission’s selection process
2.3Management arrangements and governance structure
2.4Progress to date
2.5Budget and funding leveraged
2.6Key conclusions from the external assessment
2.7Self-assessment of the Mission Adaptation to Climate Change
2.7.1An ambitious yet realistic Mission goal
2.7.2The Mission’s added value
2.7.3The Mission’s R&I content
2.7.4Ensuring implementation is feasible, measurable, and time-bound
2.7.5Securing buy-in
2.7.6Citizens and stakeholder engagement
2.7.7Progress, achievements, and milestones
2.7.8Current estimation of the budget
3Cancer: improve the lives of more than 3 million people by 2030 through better prevention, cure and quality of life
3.1Mission goal and objectives
3.2The Mission’s selection process
3.3Management arrangements and governance structure
3.4Progress to date
3.5Budget and funding leveraged
3.6Key conclusions from the external assessment
3.7Self-assessment of the Mission Cancer
3.7.1An ambitious yet realistic Mission goal
3.7.2The Mission’s added value
3.7.3The Mission’s R&I content
3.7.4Ensuring implementation is feasible, measurable, and time-bound
3.7.5Securing buy-in
3.7.6Citizens and stakeholder engagement
3.7.7Progress, achievements, and milestones
3.7.8Current estimation of the budget
4Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030
4.1Mission goal and objectives
4.2The Mission’s selection process
4.3Management arrangements and governance structure
4.4Progress to date
4.5Budget and funding leveraged
4.6Key conclusions from the external assessment
4.7Self-assessment of the Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030’
4.7.1An ambitious yet realistic Mission goal
4.7.2The Mission’s added value
4.7.3The Mission’s R&I content
4.7.4Ensuring implementation is feasible, measurable, and time-bound
4.7.5Securing buy-in
4.7.6Citizens and stakeholder engagement
4.7.7Progress, achievements, and milestones
4.7.8Current estimation of the budget
5100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030
5.1Mission goal and objectives
5.2The Mission’s selection process
5.3Management arrangements and governance structure
5.4Progress to date
5.5Budget and funding leveraged
5.6Key conclusions from the external assessment
5.7Self-assessment of the Mission ‘100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030’
5.7.1An ambitious yet realistic Mission goal
5.7.2The Mission’s added value
5.7.3The Mission’s R&I content
5.7.4Ensuring implementation is feasible, measurable, and time-bound
5.7.5Securing buy-in
5.7.6Citizens and stakeholder engagement
5.7.7Progress, achievements, and milestones
5.7.8Current estimation of the budget
6A Soil deal for Europe: 100 living labs and lighthouses to lead the transition towards healthy soils by 2030
6.1Mission goal and objectives
6.2The Mission’s selection process
6.3Management arrangements and governance structure
6.4Progress to date
6.5Budget and funding leveraged
6.6Key conclusions from the external assessment
6.7Self-assessment of the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’
6.7.1An ambitious yet realistic Mission goal
6.7.2The Mission’s added value
6.7.3The Mission’s R&I content
6.7.4Ensuring implementation is feasible, measurable, and time-bound
6.7.5Securing buy-in
6.7.6Citizens and stakeholder engagement
6.7.7Progress, achievements, and milestones
6.7.8Current estimation of the budget
II.
Review of Mission Areas
1Overall aim of the review
2Mission Area: Adaptation to Climate Change, including Societal Transformation
2.1Scope and definition of the Mission Area
2.2Developments influencing the Mission Area
2.3Key conclusions from the external review of the Mission Area
3Mission Area: Cancer
3.1Scope and definition of the Mission Area
3.2The role of R&I in addressing the challenges
3.3Developments influencing the Mission Area
3.4Key conclusions from the external review of the Mission Area
4Mission Area: Healthy Oceans, Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters
4.1Scope and definition of the Mission Area
4.2The role of R&I in addressing the challenges
4.3Developments influencing the Mission Area
4.4Key conclusions from the external review of the Mission Area
5Mission Area: Climate-Neutral and smart cities
5.1Scope and definition of the Mission Area
5.2The role of R&I in addressing the challenges
5.3Developments influencing the Mission Area
5.4Key conclusions from the external review of the Mission Area
6Mission Area: Soil Health and Food
6.1Scope and definition of the Mission Area
6.2The role of R&I in addressing the challenges
6.3Developments influencing the Mission Area
6.4Key conclusions from the external review of the Mission Area
III.
Review of areas for institutionalised partnerships based on Articles 185 and 187 TFEU
1Article 185 and Article 187 partnership areas
2Results
2.1Relevance of the 8 areas for institutionalised partnerships
2.2Comprehensiveness of the 8 areas for institutionalised partnerships
2.3Conclusions
2.4Forward-looking considerations
Annex A: Methodology for the assessment of EU Missions
Annex B: Methodology for the review of Mission Areas
Annex C: Methodology for the review of areas for institutionalised partnerhsips
Structure of the Staff Working Document
This Staff Working Document is organised as follows:
-Part I: Assessment of the five EU Missions
This part presents key insights to the assessment of the five EU Missions (from paragraph 1 to paragraph 6 of each Mission-specific chapter). In addition, each Mission secretariat has developed additional evidence which is presented under paragraph 7 ‘self-assessment’.
-Part II: Review of the five Mission Areas
The five Mission Areas are those identified in Annex VI of the Horizon Europe Regulation. The analysis presented in this part is underpinned by an externally produced study
-Part III: Review of the areas for institutionalised partnerships based on Articles 185 and 187 TFEU
The eight areas for possible institutionalised European partnerships established pursuant to Article 185 or 187 TFEU. The analysis presented has been elaborated by the European Commission on the basis of the methodology developed by the expert group on support of the coordinating strategic process for European partnerships (2023).
-Annex A: Methodology for the assessment of EU Missions
-Annex B: Methodology for the review of Mission Areas
-Annex C: Methodology for the review of areas for institutionalised partnerships
I.Assessment of EU Missions
The EU introduced Missions as a new initiative in Horizon Europe. Subsequently, Mission boards, consisting of top independent experts, were appointed to elaborate visions for the future and concrete goals in five areas:
-Mission Area 1: adaptation to climate change including societal transformation;
-Mission Area 2: cancer;
-Mission Area 3: healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters;
-Mission Area 4: climate-neutral and smart cities;
-Mission Area 5: soil health and food;
Starting in autumn 2019, five foresight on demand projects supported the work of the Mission boards with foresight expertise and methodology (
). Based on proposals that the Mission boards handed over to the Commission in September 2020 (
), five Missions were identified in the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan:
-Adaptation to Climate Change;
-Cancer;
-Ocean, Seas and Waters;
-Climate Neutral and Smart Cities;
-Soil Health and Food (
).
On 29 September 2021, the European Commission adopted a Communication on EU Missions (
), which are a new and innovative way to tackle big challenges in health, climate and the natural environment, and achieve ambitious and inspiring goals in these areas.
Since then, Missions went through a preparatory phase during which detailed implementation plans, including objectives, budgets and indicators, were developed. EU Missions succeeded in preparing three Horizon Europe Missions’ work programmes to ensure fast roll-out of their actions. They engaged with policy actors, citizens and stakeholders, ensuring that their efforts can tap into existing initiatives and networks at EU, national and regional level. At the same time, new governance structures were put in place to steer the implementation of the Missions.
1Overall aim of the assessment
As formulated in the Horizon Europe Regulation (Article 8.5): “An assessment of the first Missions established under the Programme shall take place no later than 2023 (…). The results of that assessment shall be made public and shall include, but not be limited to, an analysis of their selection process and of their governance, budget, focus and progress to date”.
The evidence underpinning the assessment of EU Missions presented in this chapter has been gathered in the context of an externally procured study. The overall approach and methodology used in the study are presented in Annex A of this Staff Working Document.
The structure of each Mission-specific chapter is organised around the following dimensions:
1.The Mission’s goal and objectives;
2.The selection process of each EU Mission;
3.The Mission’s governance structures and functioning arrangements;
4.The progress towards the fulfilment of the Mission’s objectives;
5.The Mission’ s budget and funding arrangements.
In addition to the analysis and evidence carried out in the context of the external study, each Mission secretariat has developed additional evidence which is presented under the paragraph ‘self-assessment’. Each Mission-specific paragraph therefore complements the assessment analysis developed through the external study and is organised around the initial ‘Mission selection criteria’ () used for selecting the initial 5 EU Missions.
The self-assessment section is organised as follows:
1.An ambitious yet realistic Mission goal;
2.The Mission’s added value;
3.The Mission’s R&I content;
4.Ensuring implementation is feasible, measurable and time-bound;
5.Securing buy-in;
6.Citizens and stakeholder engagement (this criterion was added at a later stage);
7.Progress, achievements and milestones ((this criterion was added at a later stage);
8.Budget.
The data related to the Missions’ calls presented in this Staff Working Document can also be accessed via the Horizon R&I projects Dashboard (). By the end of 2023, this framework will be completed with some additional monitoring indicators and will integrate the data stemming from the R&I projects that have been identified as relevant for the Missions.
The external study underpinning the assessment of EU Missions
An external contractor carried out a study (EFIS; RTD/2022/SC/022)(
) to provide evidence to help the Commission assess the selection process, the governance structure, the functioning arrangements, the policy focus, progress and funding arrangements of the 5 EU Missions. In particular, the study collected and analysed views and feedback from different stakeholder groups, governance levels, individual Missions, and actors who contributed to the design and implementation of Missions. Consultations included targeted interviews, an online survey and Mission-specific policy workshops. The publication of this study is foreseen for the summer 2023.
A detailed description of the methodology used for assessing the EU Missions is provided in Annex A.
2Adaptation to Climate Change: support at least 150 European regions and communities to become climate resilient by 2030
