European Union leaders failed to reach an agreement over the EU budget in late June, but Janez Potocnik, European Commissioner for Research, says it doesn't have to be a setback for research in the region. Potocnick put a positive spin on the budget summit collapse, saying it could now open up a new debate about EU spending. "If a real discussion now starts about having a budget that looks forward to the future and spends more on science and research, then it could turn out to be a good thing," says his spokesperson, Antonia Mochan.

Potocnik's comments may help reassure European scientists concerned that the collapse of the EU summit and the failure to agree on a budget could have negative consequences for research, delaying projects and slashing funds, and potentially hindering the formation of a new European Research Council (ERC).

The European Commission had proposed a doubling of the research budget to €70 billion for the next EU budget cycle, covering 2007 to 2013. This plan is widely seen by European scientists as the best chance for catching up with the United States. But ahead of the budget meeting, the European science community had been anticipating major cutbacks.

"If there are cuts, as is realistically to be expected, [the question is] how to cut and what? Personally, I strongly think that linear cuts must be avoided and that preference should be given to the new elements of the Seventh Framework Programme, that is, to the ERC and JETIs [Joint European Technology Initiatives]," says Helga Nowotny, the head of the European Research Advisory Board, an independent body that advises the European Commission on science. "Despite the dark cloud on the financial perspectives, I think that politically the ERC cannot be killed."

Talks on the long-term EU budget collapsed after the British government insisted that it would only consider a reduction in its £3 billion rebate in return for a commitment that much of the £32 billion that the European Union currently spends on agricultural subsidies would be channeled into research and competitiveness instead.

The United Kingdom is due to take over the rotating presidency of the European Union this month, and has stated that it intends to use its presidency to press for an agreement on the budget. "I hope that the UK presidency will succeed in opening a wider debate on priorities, especially on where we stand with investment into research, education, and innovation," says Nowotny.

Mochan says that the earliest date that a budget agreement could be made would be in October, when the UK government is expected to hold a summit in Brussels.