Businesses and green groups rally for EU eco-tech funds

Small and medium-sized businesses, environmental technology suppliers and green campaigners join calls to maintain funding for eco-innovation in the 2007-2013 EU budget.

Three EU interest groups – the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME), the European Committee of Environmental Technology Suppliers Associations (EUCETSA) and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) – have written a joint letter to the Commission on Monday (3 April) “to prevent a major reduction of funding available for eco-innovation support in the period 2007-2013”.

The three organisations say EU leaders at their December summit last year slashed some 30% off the €520 million originally foreseen for eco-innovation in the Commission budget planning for the seven year period (see our LinksDossier on the financial perspectives 2007-2013).

UEAPME, EUCESTA and EEB say the reduction in funds will make it “rather difficult for the Commission to show leadership in promoting eco-innovation in the coming years”.

They point to the last EU spring summit of 24 March, which endorsed a set of actions that include the “strong promotion and diffusion of eco-innovations and environmental technologies”.

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