According to the Horizon Europe regulation, the less R&I advanced countries eligible to coordinate widening actions.

These are 15 EU Member States, 14 Associated Countries with equivalent characteristics in terms of R&I performance, as well as the Outermost Regions (defined in Art. 349 TFEU).

  • The Widening EU Member states include: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia.
  • Widening Associated Countries include: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine.
  • Nine Outermost Regions:
  • Five French overseas departments – Martinique, Mayotte, Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Réunion;
  • One French overseas community – Saint-Martin;
  • Two Portuguese autonomous regions – Madeira and the Azores;
  • One Spanish autonomous community – the Canary Islands.

Some EU Member States have part of their territory located in areas of the globe that are remote from Europe. These regions with a population of round 5 million people, known as the Outermost Regions (ORs), have to deal with a number of difficulties related to their geographical characteristics, in particular remoteness, insularity, small size, difficult topography and climate. They are economically dependent on a few products (often agricultural products or natural resources).

These features act as constraints on their future development potential. Source: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/100/outermost-regions-ors-

Rationale

Widening countries play a key role in building a more balanced and inclusive European Research Area. While the European Commission prioritises the use of research results to drive innovation across all regions, many of these countries still face barriers that limit their ability to fully benefit.

The 2024 European Innovation Scoreboard shows a clear divide—most Widening countries and outermost regions are still catching up in innovation, especially when it comes to creating and managing intellectual property.

Limited resources, a lack of experienced research staff, and weak systems for managing research outcomes make it harder for organisations in these regions to thrive. Challenges with funding, skills, and trust in partnerships only add to the problem.

Horizon Europe’s Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence programme is designed to tackle these issues, helping these countries not just take part in research—but lead it. Because supporting Widening countries is essential to unlocking Europe’s full innovation potential.