EU research ministers do not expect to have a reduced role during negotiations on the future Horizon Europe programme, despite Council plans to assign parts of it to finance ministers via the ad hoc working party on the next multiannual EU budget. “Does that leave us as research ministers in a reduced role? However, there “is indeed a risk” that their role will be downgraded, one member state diplomat told Science|Business. “I have confidence in the ability of science ministries everywhere to talk to their finance ministers and make sure it remains in the Horizon Europe regulation.”Long road to a dealDuring Tuesday’s meeting, research ministers had their first official debate on the European Commission’s proposal for the post-2027 Horizon Europe programme. The Danish presidency of the Council wants to make quick progress with the Horizon Europe negotiations.