Areas of Union competence deriving from the Treaty

Competences of the Agency as defined in Commission Decision 2004/20/EC amended by Decision 2007/372/EC

Governance

Resources available to the Agency in 2009

(Data for 2008)

Activities and services provided in 2009

Union policy on the environment shall contribute to pursuit of the following objectives:

(Article 191(1) TFEU)

The Union and the Member States shall ensure that the conditions necessary for the competitiveness of the Union’s industry exist.

For that purpose, in accordance with a system of open and competitive markets, their action shall be aimed at:

(Article 173(1) TFEU)

For the purpose of implementing Article 90, and taking into account the distinctive features of transport, the European Parliament and the Council shall, acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and after consulting the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, lay down:

(Article 91(1) TFEU)

Objectives

Within the framework of the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs, the European Union has adopted measures to promote and develop competitiveness and innovation. These measures include the establishment of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) 2007-2013 (Decision No 1639/2006/EC), notably with the programmes Intelligent Energy — Europe (IEE) and Entrepreneurship and Innovation (EIP). The measures also include the Marco Polo (MP) programme (Regulation (EC) No 1692/2006).

The main objectives are to foster competitiveness of enterprises, in particular SMEs; to promote all forms of innovation, as well as eco-innovation; to promote energy efficiency and new and renewable energy sources in all sectors, including transport.

Under these EU programmes, the Agency is responsible for all implementing tasks concerning EU aid, except for programme evaluation, monitoring of legislation and strategic studies, or any other action which comes under the exclusive competence of the European Commission.

Tasks

Implementing the EU programmes according to the delegations received from the Commission:

1 —   Management Board

Comprises five members appointed by the European Commission. It adopts the Agency's annual work programme after approval by the European Commission. In addition, it adopts the administrative budget of the Agency and its annual activity report.

2 —   Director

Appointed by the European Commission.

3 —   External Audit

Court of Auditors.

4 —   Discharge authority

Parliament, acting on a recommendation from the Council.

Budget

Staff at 31 December 2009

37 (36) posts listed in the establishment plan, of which 28 (27) occupied.

Contract staff: 110 (108) posts planned, 113 (104) were occupied.

Total staff: 141 (131)

Allocated to

For the Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) programme, the Agency monitored 388 ongoing IEE projects and signed 57 new grant agreements related to the 2008 call for proposals. For the 2009 call, the Agency selected 59 projects out of 372 proposals submitted. As happens every year, European Info Day (400 participants) was organised, and National Info Days attended (15 days with 2 500 participants). The latter increased by almost 70 % in comparison to last year.

The Agency disseminated information about the programme and its results via the IEE website with a 66 % increase in page views (2 million), a searchable project database, five new project brochures, two new News Reviews and nine electronic news alerts mailed to 13 600 subscribers. Since September, the Agency has also managed the contract for the Sustainable Energy Campaign. Through numerous channels, the Agency fed back results from IEE projects to the Commission, e.g. on the energy performance of the buildings Directive.

The EIP programme — Enterprise Europe Network was launched at the beginning of 2008. The Network offers a ‘one-stop shop’ to meet the business and innovation needs of SMEs and companies in the EU. The Agency manages 92 ongoing projects with 532 partners as well as a grant for ‘intellectual property rights awareness and enforcement for SMEs’ as well as eight cooperation agreements with Armenia, Chile, China, Egypt, Russia, Switzerland, Syria, and the USA.

For the Network animation, the EACI developed the Network's visual identity and branching, a video news release with 2,2 million viewers, five newsletters and several training sessions for Network partners of which one ‘train the trainers’. Together with the Swedish EU Presidency, the Agency organised an annual conference with more than 800 participants, including an award competition for best practices.

For the eco-innovation market replication projects, the Agency monitored 44 ongoing projects from the 2008 call for proposals. The 2009 call attracted almost 50 % more proposals (202) than the previous one. It was promoted via one European and 13 National Info Days with 1 355 participants (8 % increase). The programme website was viewed by half a million, like last year, however the number of subscribers to the news alert increased by 65 % (5 100). Efforts to promote the scheme also include a graphical charter, posters and flyers.

For the Marco Polo programme the Agency monitored 64 ongoing projects and signed 28 new grant agreements related to the 2008 call for proposals. In 2009, the Agency organised the first European Info Day with 300 participants; the 2009 call attracted 70 proposals, which is an increase of 60 % in comparison with last year. The Agency promotes the programme through a dedicated website with 0,4 million viewers (25 % increase) and electronic news alerts with 57 % more subscribers (1 300) than last year. Communication efforts also include a regional conference, participation in 17 MP events throughout Europe, a graphical charter, a brochure and leaflet as well as a video that attracted 5 million viewers.