Letter calls on Commissioners to defend eco-innovation budget
Three business and environment organisations have together called upon the European Commission not to reduce funding for eco-innovation during the next period of 2007 to 2013. The European Association of Craft, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (UEAPME), the European Committee of Environment of Environmental Technology Suppliers Associations (EUCETSA) and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) wrote to three Commissioners on 3 April. The letter called on Commission President José Manuel Barroso, Enterprise and Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen and Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas to prevent a reduction in funding fro eco-innovation. Following the European Council in December 2005, the Commission was under pressure to reduce its overall support for innovation by some 30 per cent. This cut is likely to affect the budget for eco-innovation, which was originally set at 520 million euro for the seven year period, and is to be funded under the new Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP). The organisations claim that if the budget is reduced significantly, it will be difficult for the Commission to show leadership in promoting eco-innovation in the coming years. The letter therefore calls on the Commission for 'urgent action' to ensure that cuts to the eco-innovation budget are not out of proportion in comparison to general cuts. The letter also points to the conclusions of the Spring European Council, which endorsed a set of actions, including the 'strong promotion and diffusion of eco-innovations and environmental technologies'.