European funding for research is distributed through the framework programme. The current programme (FP7) runs from 2007 to 2013, and allocates just over EUR 5.1bn for energy research. By contrast, Europe plans to spend EUR 9.05bn on information and communication technologies and EUR 6.1bn on health research.

The IEA review says that it is questionable whether current funding levels for energy research are 'commensurate with the ambitions of the commission in the energy field'. It calls on the commission to redirect more funding to energy R&D during the lifetime of the FP7 programme. Funding for fusion research is singled out by the report as a 'potentially serious flaw'. The IEA recommends that the commission act with urgency to shift investment away from fusion research into other forms of energy as, it says, developments in fusion will not mature in time to help meet the EU target of obtaining 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.