ALDE warns against allowing EIT to follow in Galileo's footsteps

10.18.56am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 26th Jun 2007

European Liberals and Democrats welcome today's agreement in the Council of Ministers to create a European Institute of Technology (EIT). The agreed two-step approach will see EIT's long-term strategy evolve on the basis of experience with a limited number of initial Knowledge and Innovation Communities. However, lack of clarity on the public-private financing of the project and ongoing disagreement on where EU funding should come from foretells problems reminiscent of the recent Galileo debacle.

"Bringing together the best talent and technological expertise in Europe is a commendable undertaking that underpins the spirit of the European Union. It is still possible to salvage the original timetable and come to an agreement by the end of the year but we need to find a viable way to finance the project. It would be unacceptable to let it fall entirely on the European taxpayer or eat up the budgetary margin reserved for competitiveness and growth", said European Liberal Democrat Leader Graham Watson. "And when we have the EIT we will need prestigious projects to retain in the EU the brains we train. That is why the Galileo project is so important".

Jorgo Chatzimarkakis (FDP-ALDE) does not downplay the financial difficulties but remains positive. "The Council has taken on board many of Parliament's suggestions such as degrees would be awarded by national universities but with an added EIT label. Both institutions are also working hard together to get the EIT started as soon as possible, hopefully 2008", stressed Chatzimarkakis, who trusts the EP's budget committee to find a viable financial solution.

Tomorrow's vote on the EIT in the EP Committee on Industry Research and Energy is postponed to 9 July 2007.