The Spanish position on the upcoming 10th Framework Programme (FP10) offers a clear and well-articulated vision for the future of European research and innovation. It strongly reinforces key principles such as excellence, competitiveness, simplification, and international collaboration, while also acknowledging the growing importance of research security.
From an ethical and governance perspective, this is a solid foundation. But it also raises an important question.
Is ethics sufficiently developed as an operational dimension within this vision?
A Clear Commitment to Values
The document explicitly recognises the importance of European values, including gender equality and balance, and stresses the need to preserve them within the future programme .
This is a significant and necessary commitment.
At the same time, these elements are mainly presented at the level of principles. Ethics is acknowledged as part of the normative framework of FP10, but it is not yet fully articulated in terms of how it will be implemented, monitored, or governed in practice.
Research Security as a Key Pillar
One of the most developed aspects of the position is the emphasis on research security. The document highlights the need for:
- Clearer rules and procedures
- Better guidance for participants
- More structured approaches to international collaboration
This reflects a broader shift in European research policy, where openness must be balanced with the protection of strategic interests.
From an ethical standpoint, this is highly relevant. However, the focus remains primarily on security-related risks, while other types of ethical considerations—such as broader societal impacts—are not explicitly addressed in the same level of detail.
Dual-Use Research: An Emerging Area
The position also recognises the growing relevance of dual-use research and supports its inclusion in FP10 .
Importantly, it calls for a clear distinction between:
- Dual-use activities
- And purely military or defence-related initiatives
This distinction is essential. At the same time, the document does not yet define how these boundaries should be operationalised in practice, leaving room for further development in future discussions.
Simplification and Clarity
Simplification is presented as a core objective of FP10, with a strong focus on reducing administrative burden and improving usability for participants .
Notably, the document also recognises that simplification should not lead to:
- Ambiguity
- Or uncertainty in the application of rules
This is a key point. Maintaining clarity and predictability is essential not only for efficient programme management, but also for ensuring transparency and trust.
Governance: A Strong Institutional Focus
The Spanish position provides a detailed reflection on governance, particularly regarding:
- The role of Member States
- Coordination between Horizon Europe and the European Competitiveness Fund
- Decision-making mechanisms and programme committees
This institutional dimension is well developed and demonstrates a strong commitment to improving how the programme is managed.
However, governance is primarily framed in organisational terms. The document does not explicitly address how ethical considerations could be embedded within these governance structures.
Looking Ahead
The Spanish position on FP10 sets out a strong strategic direction and addresses many of the key challenges facing European research and innovation.
At the same time, it highlights an opportunity.
Moving forward, ethics could be further strengthened—not only as a set of guiding values, but as a more explicit and structured component of programme governance and implementation.
Doing so would reinforce the alignment between:
- European values
- Programme design
- And real-world research practicesand contribute to a more robust and trusted research and innovation ecosystem.