Every new European expenditure programme proposed by the Europen Commission requires an ex-ante evaluation.Together with the proposal for the next research framework programme “Horizon 2020” the European Commission has worked out and published an Impact Assessment Report with annexes. The documents are elaborated as so-called “Staff Working Papers”.

The report thus pertains to: the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation in the European Union (2014-2020) and the specific programme implementing it, which have their legal bases in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; the European Atomic Energy Community Programme (2014-2018) contributing to Horizon 2020, which has its legal basis in the Euratom Treaty; and the Commission Communication providing the overall political narrative and background to these legislative proposals. 

There are three documents

• An Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment“  (SEC(2011) 1428 final)
• The report “Horizon 2020“:„Impact Assessment accompanying the Communication from the Commission ‚Horizon 2020‘ – The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation"  (SEC(2011) 1427 final) Volume 1
• Annexes to the report: „Impact Assessment […]“ Annexes (SEC(2011) 1427 final)