4.2 billion euros for future competitiveness and innovation programme 

On 6 April, the Commission presented its proposals for a seven-year framework programme for competitiveness and innovation. More than 4 billion euros have been earmarked for actions during the next budgetary 2007-2013 period.

The new framework programme merges several already existing measures into one comprehensive programme to boost the competitiveness and productivity of European enterprises (especially SMEs) while at the same time proposing support for eco-innovation and sustainable energy.

The CIP consists of three sub-programmes:

• The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, which brings together activities in the areas of entrepreneurship, SMEs, industrial competitiveness and innovation; 
• The ICT Policy Support Programme,  which will promote the speedy adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and comprises existing measures such as eTEN, eContent or Modinis; 
• The Intelligent Energy-Europe Programme, which bundles actions to accelerate the uptake and promotion of energy efficiency and to increase investments in and awareness-raising of renewable energy sources. Existing measures such as ‘SAVE’, ‘ALTENER’, or ‘STEER’ are part of this subprogramme. 

This Competitiveness and Innovation programme is complementary to the 7^th framework programme for research (FP7). It will be open for participation to members of the EEA, candidate countries, countries of the western Balkans, and under certain conditions also to countries participating in the EU’s neighbourhood policy.

Business federation UNICE welcomed the CIP proposal, highlighting the simplification of Community programmes and the fact that competitiveness "is taken as the overriding theme that must inspire and drive all the sub-programmes". UNICE reiterated its demand that for the financial perspective 2007-2013 "a sufficient allocation of resources to competitiveness-enhancing programmes should be the priority objective".

Eurochambres (the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry) appreciated that "SMEs are to be placed at the core of this strategy". In order to improve the communication concerning this programme to SMEs, Eurochambres proposed working "in close co-operation with Chambers in the provision of support services for enterprises".

UEAPME, the European Crafts and SMEs employers association, welcomed the programme saying that "the proposal for new financial instruments, providing funding for seed and venture capital and business angels, is a positive development for European business. However, this must not come at the expense of traditional financial instruments, such as EIF funding for credit guarantee schemes and micro-credit schemes, which are more relevant for smaller firms." In addition, "actions targeting micro-businesses must be introduced under the CIP if it is to live up to its name."