The next Commission’s objectives, ambitions and actions in the field of research, innovation and education will be prioritised as a tool to boost Europe’s prosperity, competitiveness and skilled workforce as part of a planned prosperity drive.

In order to put research and innovation, science and technology at the centre of our economy, the Commission will:

• Intensify co-operation between research departments, universities and businesses, in particular by strengthening university alliances.
• increase research spending to ensure a stronger focus on strategic priorities, breakthrough basic research and disruptive innovation, and scientific excellence; by expanding the European Research Council and European Innovation Council
• Adopt a proposal for the establishment of a European AI Research Council to pool resources, similar to CERN.
• Put forward a strategy for the European Data Union, a new European Biotech Act and invest in new public-private partnerships.

To overcome the shortage of skilled labour in Europe, it will:

• create a Union of Skills to embed lifelong learning in education and careers, including the promotion of teacher training and the career prospects of teachers.
• Propose a strategic plan for STEM education to raise achievement in maths, computing, science and technology to address the shortage of qualified teachers and attract more girls and women into STEM education and careers.
• realign and increase funding in the EU budget for skills development for the green and digital transitions. This can also increase the attractiveness of Germany as a university location.
• continue to work towards a European degree.
• Propose an initiative for the portability of competences.

The Commission will:

• Support Member States and businesses in legal migration in response to the skills needs of our economies and regions, and help to attract skilled third-country nationals, making it easier to attract professionals from third countries through harmonised rules for the recognition of qualifications.
• Deepen existing strategic partnerships under the new Compact for the Mediterranean and establish new partnerships with clear responsibilities and obligations, in particular in areas of common interest such as investment in education, infrastructure and the economy, talent partnerships and legal migration pathways.

To strengthen the resilience of communities, the Commission will work towards a European civil protection mechanism that takes into account all aspects of crisis and disaster management.

The Commission will:

• Propose a European defense shield for democracy.
• Establish a European network of fact-checkers
• consolidate the rule of law report, in particular through improved monitoring and follow-up of the implementation of recommendations.
• Ensure that future long-term budget planning includes strong safeguards for the rule of law.

In the face of geopolitical rivalries, the Commission will:

• Continue to prioritise Ukraine’s freedom within the EU and internationally.
• Advocate for a new foreign economic policy, with economic security, trade and investment in partnerships as core elements; advocate for a sharp-sighted risk assessment, based on the principle of ‘reducing risk, but not decoupling’.
• Intensify relations with like-minded partners and friends inside and outside the G7, including the United Kingdom.
• Work towards a just and more comprehensive EU strategy for the Middle East, an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, an increase in humanitarian aid to the Gaza population and a two-state solution in Israel.
• Provide more support to candidate countries in their preparations, with investments such as the Ukraine Facility.
• Appoint one Commissioner each for enlargement and for the Mediterranean region
• Propose a new EU-India strategic agenda.
• Intensify cooperation with the ASEAN region
• strengthen co-operation with Africa and Latin America through Global Gateway investments.
• work with Japan, Korea, New Zealand and Australia, ‘which face similar challenges,’ including to ‘use the full range of our collective room for manoeuvre to prevent China from unilaterally changing the status quo by military means, in particular with regard to Taiwan.’
• Reshape multilateralism for today’s world, with Europe playing a leading role in reforming the international system.

The Commission will propose a new, strengthened, long-term budget in 2025, with:

• a sharper focus on the EU’s priorities and objectives (‘the budget should be as flexible as possible’ and ‘policy-driven, not programme-driven’.
• a simpler structure with fewer programmes and a plan for each country
• a reorganisation of the financial instruments for the EU’s external relations (more effective and targeted funding for partners, better alignment with the EU’s strategic interests).