RFCS Fund 2026: What Changes for Steel Companies and Research Centers

Key data

Steel companies and research centers that access European grants in the coal and steel sector must be aware of this change: Council Decision (EU) 2026/1545, of 29 June 2026, completely renews the legal framework governing the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS), repealing Decision 2003/76/CE which had been in force for more than two decades.

This fund is not new: it was established with the residual assets of the ECSC Treaty when it expired in 2002, and since then it has financed R&D projects in the coal and steel sectors through periodic calls managed by the European Commission. What is changing now is the legal framework that regulates its operation and governance.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision (EU) 2026/1545 establishes the provisions necessary for the application of Protocol No. 37, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, relating to the financial consequences of the expiration of the ECSC Treaty.

In practical terms, this means:

• Decision 2003/76/CE is repealed, which had established the original RFCS management rules for more than 20 years.
• The financial and governance provisions of the fund are updated to adapt them to the current institutional reality of the EU.
• The management of the fund continues to correspond to the European Commission, which periodically calls for R&D projects in the coal and steel industries.
• The fund maintains its origin: the residual assets of the ECSC Treaty, which expired in 2002.

Economic and operational impact

The RFCS is a specific European funding source for R&D in the coal and steel sectors. The periodic calls launched by the European Commission allow companies, universities and technology centers to access grants for research projects in these industries.

The update of the legal framework has concrete operational implications:

• New governance bases: Future RFCS calls will be governed by the provisions of Decision 2026/1545, not those of 2003. Entities already participating in the program must verify whether their internal application and justification procedures are adapted to the new framework.
• Fund continuity: The RFCS does not disappear or merge with other instruments. It maintains its identity and funding source (ECSC residual assets), but with modernized management rules.
• Opportunity for new participants: The regulatory update may open the door to entities that had not participated before, by simplifying or adapting access requirements to the current institutional context.

Who does it affect?

• Steel companies that participate or want to participate in RFCS R&D calls at European level.
• Coal mining sector companies with activity in the EU.
• Universities and research centers that develop projects in steel or coal technologies.
• Spanish technology centers specialized in metallurgy, steel production or extractive industries.
• R&D departments and European project offices of large industrial groups in the sector.
• Advisors and consultants on European funds who manage RFCS applications for their clients.

In Spain, the direct impact is concentrated on technology centers and steel companies that already participate in European research programs financed by the RFCS.

Practical example

A Spanish technology center specialized in metallurgy that has participated in RFCS calls under the rules of Decision 2003/76/CE must now review its usual procedure for applying for and justifying projects. The new governance provisions of Decision 2026/1545 may modify formal requirements, eligibility criteria or reporting procedures to the European Commission.

Similarly, a steel company that is planning to apply for the next RFCS call must ensure that its proposal complies with the updated framework, and not with the 2003 rules that have already been repealed. Submitting an application based on obsolete criteria could result in exclusion from the selection process.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if you participate in RFCS calls: Verify whether your entity has applied for or received funding from the Research Fund for Coal and Steel in recent years. If so, the new framework directly affects you.
2. Review the new legal framework: Consult Decision (EU) 2026/1545 in the EU Official Journal to identify specific changes in financial and governance provisions compared to the repealed Decision 2003/76/CE.
3. Update internal procedures: If you have templates, checklists or application procedures based on the 2003 rules, update them to the new framework before submitting any proposal to the European Commission.
4. Monitor upcoming calls: The European Commission periodically launches RFCS calls. With the new framework in force, stay alert to upcoming publications on the EU financing portal so you don't miss deadlines.
5. Consult with advisors specialized in European funds: If you manage European R&D projects, consider a review of your RFCS access strategy in light of the new legal framework.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601545