Atividade Parlamentar EPP shadow rapporteur for the EIT

Today, in the budget committee was adopted the amendment of regulation Establishing the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.

Maria da Graça Carvalho, EPP shadow rapporteur for this opinion in the budget committee, agreed with all the amendments proposed and believes that these reports, part of the Horizon 2020 package, "have been well-conceived and offer a comprehensive vision of the way ahead". 

The EPP member believes that "by increasing significantly the budget allocation for the next 7-year period, the EIT will also attract significant private sector funds for its activities, reinforcing the innovation capacity of the EU".

Under the budget perspective, Ms Carvalho believes that actions should be done in order to increase the EIT return on investment. According to her, the EIT "should improve the delivery of its outputs by increasing the number of sustainable start ups and the number of graduates and post-graduates".

Maria da Graça Carvalho defends that excellence should be the main driver for EIT as a whole while promoting the widening of participation in order to stimulate excellence across Europe, including the concept of "stairway to excellence", to encourage the participation of strong units of embryonic excellence.

For Ms Carvalho, it is important to ensure the implementation of simplification measures. Also, the EIT shall build greater synergy and as much complementarity as possible with the structural funds.

Maria da Graça Carvalho, who is substitute member of the Budgets Committee, has been appointed EPP shadow Rapporteur for the different reports concerning science and innovation.