EU:n budjettikehys 2027 eteenpäin (MFF)​ 

​​European Commission​ 

Subject: ​EU:n budjettikehys 2027 eteenpäin (MFF)​ 

The mission of Finnish Education Employers (Sivista) is to ensure that Finland is a prosperous, open, and attractive country with the best-educated people, where skills and creativity are used to make a better world. Sivista also asserts that highly educated, innovative, and skilled Europeans constitute the cornerstone for a flourishing, prosperous and open Europe.   

Sivista supports the commission in its efforts towards striving for a more focused, simplified, and effective EU budget that aligns with the EU’s strategic priorities, embodying the ambition of being an ’investment Commission’.  

Education and skills development are the foundation  

Skilled workforce is a critical issue for competitiveness, industrial renewal and for prosperous Europe.  Achieving growth is heavily reliant on education and skills. Companies succeed in competition and generate economic growth through competence. In all sectors, skilled employees can work more efficiently and productively, leading to higher output and economic growth. Educated individuals also possess the ability to innovate, which is essential for the development of new products, services, and technologies. Education improves people’s quality of life and promotes well-being, thereby enhancing societal stability in Europe.  

Sivista considers it essential to deepen European higher education cooperation and for member states to commit to the implementation agreed in the Bologna process to reduce administrative and legislative barriers to cross-border cooperation. European cooperation in higher education is crucial for research, development and innovation. Therefore, there should be sufficient financial support in the MFF especially for higher education cooperation and the further development of European university alliances. We see the European label/degree as an interesting initiative, which may be a positive step for enhancing the cooperation and the brand of European higher education institutions. Further clarification and discussions on the implementation are needed.  

Research, innovation and knowledge diffusion at the core  

The EU economy suffers from a skills gap, exacerbated by a decreasing workforce compared to competing economies. Therefore, Enrico Letta’s report suggests the so-called fifth freedom to enhance research, innovation and education in the Single Market: “The fifth freedom entails embedding research and innovation drivers at the core of the Single Market, thereby fostering an ecosystem where knowledge diffusion propels both economic vitality, societal advancement and cultural enlightenment.“ As well, Sivista emphasizes the importance of research, innovation and mobility as stated by Enrico Letta but also culturally strong Europe  as a driver for competitiveness. 

Sivista strongly advocates for a significant increase in the budget for research, development, and innovation (RDI) and that a larger share of the EU’s cohesion funds is used for measures that promote research and innovation. Sivista considers that it is crucial to create excellent conditions for top-quality research, development and innovations withing the Single Market. 

MFF – a refocused EU budget 

The EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is the main instrument for implementing EU policies. The current MFF includes several funding programs that support competitiveness, investments, and research, development, and innovation. These include Horizon Europe, InvestEU, and the EU Space Program. For the new Commission’s term, a competitiveness fund aimed at promoting investments is envisaged, which would consolidate several EU funding programs into one entity and possibly be included in the next MFF. 

Sivista understands the need to consolidate fragmented programs into a more cohesive structure but considers it important to maintain a stable and ambitious framework program (FP10) for research, development and innovation. It is also crucial to have an ambitious budget to effectively serve the needs of higher education and companies. 

Sivista also believes it is essential to retain quality-based competition as the guiding principle of the FP10 framework program. It is also commendable that the FP10 framework program should promote cooperation between research and industry, and that the requirement for actions aimed at industrial renewal remains the main condition for funding. The funding criteria should not be relaxed to allow support for maintaining declining industries. Sivista also believes that strong investments in artificial intelligence are necessary. 

RDI policy builds security, supply readiness, and self-sufficiency. Therefore, the use of European Investment Bank and EU competitiveness development funding could be allowed for the development of defense industry and dual-use products. High-quality research and technology infrastructures, top researchers, RDI-friendly regulations, and European capital ensure EU competitiveness. 

Helsinki, ​May 6, 2025​ 

Sivistysala ry – Finnish Education Employers  

​​Heikki Kuutti Uusitalo​, ​Policy Director​ 

​​Further information: Paula Tuovinen​, ​policy adviser, paula.tuovinen@sivista.fi​, mob. ​+358503034873​