European Competitiveness Fund

This procedure establishes the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), including a specific programme for defence research and innovation. Amendments address cross-border and critical infrastructure (energy, transport, digital, security, defence, space, water), an independent Investment Committee, democratic oversight by the European Parliament, and dedicated shares for SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups. They also cover agriculture and food security, ports, space and Earth-observation activities, eastern border and outermost regions, animal disease prevention, skills and lifelong learning, and reducing regional innovation disparities.