European Institute of Technology (EIT): EP votes to create a pointless white elephant
The European Parliament today voted to endorse the creation of a European Institute of Technology. A Green amendment calling for the rejection of the proposal was defeated and Green MEPs voted against the report. Following the vote Green MEP David Hammerstein said:
"The proposals for an EIT that were endorsed by the European Parliament today would create a pointless white elephant. While the Greens supported the original plans for an EIT, the initiative has degenerated into a farce: poorly defined and lacking a realistic, workable budget. We voted against the report because we believe no EIT would be better than an ill-conceived and under-funded EIT.
"The amount of the budget due to come from direct EU funds (at 308 million euro) is a fraction of that deemed necessary by the Commission in its original proposals (1). With no clear indication as regards how the EIT should generate further necessary funding, this is clearly an invitation to cannibalise other EU projects, such as the 7th framework programme for research (2). Commission President Barroso launched his lofty plans for an EIT as a rival to the MIT in the US but with such a meagre budget this is a joke. If the Commission is serious about the EIT it should re-open negotiations on the financial perspectives and create a proper budget for it, as it is proposing for Galileo.
"Apart from the budgetary mess, the Greens believe a cluster EIT, as recommended by the independent impact assessment commissioned by the EP (3), is clearly preferable to what is currently on the table."
Editors notes:
(1) In making the original proposal, the Commission stated that 2.3 billion euro would be necessary for the creation of six Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). Under scaled-back proposals, there are only "two or three" KICs; the 308 million euro foreseen under the EU budget would be clearly insufficient as a proper working budget for these KICs.
(2) With such insufficient funding the EIT's workhorses, the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) will have to go through lengthy application procedures for existing Community programmes and seek co-financing from Member States, in order to raise funds.
(3) The feasibility and possible impact study regarding the establishment of a European Institute of Technology (IP/A/ITRE/IC/2006-157), commissioned by Parliaments Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, highlights serious concerns regarding almost all aspects of the Commission proposal. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/comparl/itre/pe382188_en.pdf
