Amendment by Jean Marie Beaupuy Amendment 1 Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the Commission’s view that the regions should be involved in devising and implementing national reform programmes, and calls on the Member States to ensure that they are, in particular by adjusting the programmes to better suit local needs, through more intensive dialogue between the Commission, the Member States and the regions, through clearer and more decentralised sharing of responsibilities and through improving interaction within the regions themselves; Or. fr

Amendment by Elisabeth Schroedter Amendment 2 Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the Commission’s view that the regions should be involved in devising and implementing national reform programmes, and calls on the Member States to publish the information on the national reform programme guidelines, to ensure early participation, and to carry out a public consultation; Or. de

Amendment by Vladimír Železný Amendment 3 Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the Commission’s view that the regions alongside towns and cities should be involved in devising and implementing national innovation-driven reform programmes, and calls on the Member States to take this view into account; Or. en

Amendment by Lambert van Nistelrooij Amendment 4 Paragraph 2 2. Recognises a unique added value of the regional policy in the implementation of the Lisbon objectives; calls attention to the fact that for the programming period 2007-2013 the EU- 15 are asked to earmark 60% of expenditure for the Structural Funds' Convergence objective and 75% of expenditure for the Regional Competitiveness and Employment objective in order to pursue the Lisbon agenda objectives; notes that the Seventh Framework Programme on Research and Development and the First Framework Programme on Competitiveness and Innovation who also focus on the Lisbon objectives, underline the importance of the role of the regions in their programs; stresses that (deletion) innovation strategies can best be implemented at regional level through clustering with industry, SMEs, and education and technology centres, with civil society involved as a partner; Or. en

Amendment by Zita Pleštinská Amendment 5 Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Member States and regional authorities to support innovative projects involving public procurement and to expand public-private partnerships involving enterprises, particularly SMEs, universities and education and technology centres, with civil society involved as a partner; Or. sk

Amendment by Vladimír Železný Amendment 6 Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that all decision-making levels have a key role to play in promoting innovation (deletion). Needed innovation strategies can be implemented for example at regional level through interactions and networking between enterprises, particularly SMEs, and education and technology centres in partnership with the civil society (deletion); Or. en

Amendment by Marian Harkin Amendment 7 Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that the regional level has a key role to play in promoting innovation, as innovation strategies can be implemented at regional level through interaction between enterprises, particularly SMEs, universities, and education & technology centres, with civil society involved as a partner; Or. en

Amendment by Mieczysław Edmund Janowski Amendment 8 Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that the regional level has a key role to play in promoting and applying innovation, as innovation strategies can be implemented at regional level through interaction between enterprises, particularly SMEs, and education and technology centres, with civil society involved as a partner; Or. pl

Amendment by Zita Pleštinská Amendment 9 Paragraph 3 deleted Or. sk

Amendment by Elisabeth Schroedter Amendment 10 Paragraph 3 3. Takes the view that measures must be taken to ensure greater participation of SMEs in research and development and to enable them to apply the results; therefore calls on the Member States to make better use of the possibilities of State aid for this purpose and to safeguard investment in the applications of innovations through microfunds and risk capital funds; regrets that the communication contains no concrete proposals in this regard; Or. de

Amendment by Mieczysław Edmund Janowski Amendment 11 Paragraph 3 3. Takes the view that action must be taken to ensure greater participation of SMEs in research and development and regrets that the Commission communication 'Putting knowledge into practice: A broad-based innovation strategy for the EU' contains no concrete proposals in this regard; Or. pl

Amendment by Vladimír Železný Amendment 12 Paragraph 3 3. Takes the view that measures must be taken to ensure greater participation of SMEs in research and development and creation of scientific-technological parks and clusters, and regrets that the communication contains no concrete proposals in this regard; Or. en

Amendment by Bairbre de Brún Amendment 13 Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Believes the Commission should encourage pilot projects linking innovation to the social economy and to local marginalised communities which would increase participation in community based entrepreneurial activity; Or. en

Amendment by Marian Harkin Amendment 14 Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Takes note of the difficulties faced by start-up companies in accessing risk capital, and stresses the value of tax and other incentives in this regard; Or. en

Amendment by Marian Harkin Amendment 15 Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Calls on the Commission to raise awareness among SMEs of the need to comply with Kyoto targets, helping them, where necessary, overcome related costs; Or. en

Amendment by Elisabeth Schroedter Amendment 16 Paragraph 4 4. Calls on the relevant actors at regional level to make promotion of innovation a key part of the operational programmes and to devote a significant proportion of funding from the Structural Funds to investment in knowledge and innovation, which among other benefits will create jobs and counter emigration trends; calls on the Member States to support this effort through further public investment in higher education institutions, universities and technical colleges with a view to promoting talent ; Or. de

Amendment by Jan Olbrycht Amendment 17 Paragraph 4 4. Calls on the relevant actors at regional level to make promotion of innovation a key part of the operational programmes and to secure the conditions for investment in knowledge and innovation, which among other benefits will create jobs and counter emigration trends; Or. pl

Amendment by Marian Harkin Amendment 18 Paragraph 4 4. Calls on the relevant actors at regional level to make promotion of innovation a key part of the operational programmes and to devote a significant proportion of funding from the Structural Funds to investment in knowledge, innovation and further training, which among other benefits will enhance employability, create jobs and counter the 'brain-drain' and depopulation trends; Or. en

Amendment by Mieczysław Edmund Janowski Amendment 19 Paragraph 4 4. Calls on the relevant actors at regional and local level (particularly in the case of large urban centres) to make promotion of innovation a key part of the operational programmes and to devote a significant proportion of funding from the Structural Funds to investment in knowledge and innovation, which among other benefits will create jobs and counter emigration trends; Or. pl

Amendment by Vladimír Železný Amendment 20 Paragraph 4 a (new) 4. Calls on the relevant actors at all levels including the regional level to make promotion of innovation a key part of the national operational programmes and to devote a significant proportion of funding from the Structural Funds to investment in knowledge and innovation, which among other benefits will create jobs and counter emigration trends; Or. en

Amendment by Elisabeth Schroedter Amendment 21 Paragraph 5 5. Agrees with the Commission that ‘cluster policy’ is an important part of the Member States’ innovation policy; points out however that innovation policy should not be limited to clusters, but that centres of innovation and technology and innovation agencies in urban and rural areas also have considerable development potential; Or. de

Amendment by Jean Marie Beaupuy Amendment 22 Paragraph 5 5. Agrees with the Commission that ‘cluster policy’ is an important part of the Member States’ innovation policy and calls for clusters to be promoted in urban centres and rural areas and directed to cross-border activities; points out that the strength of the clusters lies in having a revitalised local anchor point on which to base the governance and strategy that are needed to become more competitive; stresses the importance of setting up governance structures to bring their various members together and the emergence of strategic research and development projects; Or. fr

Amendment by Gábor Harangozó Amendment 23 Paragraph 5 5. Agrees with the Commission that ‘cluster policy’ is an important part of the Member States’ innovation policy and calls for clusters to be promoted in urban centres and rural areas and directed to cross-border activities; stresses however that a better balance should be reached between urban and rural areas, highly populated and sparsely populated areas, central and peripheral areas so that no region in the Union would be left lagging behind with regard to knowledge and innovation investments; Or. en

Amendment by Zita Pleštinská Amendment 24 Paragraph 5 5. Agrees with the Commission that ‘cluster policy’ is an important part of the Member States’ innovation policy and calls for clusters to be promoted in urban centres and rural areas (deletion). At the same time recommends using the experience of Euroregions, which possess established cross-border structures and which best know the subject of sustainable long-term development of cross-border regions; Or. sk

Amendment by Mieczysław Edmund Janowski Amendment 25 Paragraph 5 5. Agrees with the Commission that the creation of clusters, centres of excellence and regions of knowledge is an important part of the Member States’ innovation policy and calls for Member States and regional authorities to promote these in urban centres and rural areas and for assistance to be provided for their creation across borders; Or. pl

Amendment by Vladimír Železný Amendment 26 Paragraph 5 5. Agrees with the Commission that ‘cluster policy’ is an important part of the Member States’ innovation policy and calls for clusters to be promoted wherever appropriate and directed to interregional and cross-border activities; Or. en

Amendment by Zita Pleštinská Amendment 27 Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Is convinced that it is not enough to support the creation of clusters only at NUTS I level. The minimum level for cluster creation should be NUTS II, which would also give targeted entities above all in outlying regions the opportunity to obtain financial resources from support programmes; Or. sk

Amendment by Oldřich Vlasák Amendment 28 Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Points out the vital need to use the experience of the Euroregions with the aim of making good use of experience and of established social networks in strengthening innovation in the European Union; Or. cs

Amendment by Marian Harkin Amendment 29 Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses that rural and peripheral areas must not be left behind, and must be encouraged and helped to develop eco-innovation and agri-tourism; Or. en

Amendment by Mieczysław Edmund Janowski Amendment 30 Paragraph 6 6. Draws attention to the difficulties that less developed regions encounter in obtaining (deletion) investment capital, and calls on Member States and regional authorities to increase the number of public-private partnerships in the area of innovation activities; Or. pl

Amendment by Bairbre de Brún Amendment 31 Paragraph 6 6. Draws attention to the difficulties that less developed regions encounter in obtaining private investment capital, and calls for more public-private partnerships or greater use of the EIB borrowing facilities in the area of innovation activities; Or. en

Amendment by Marian Harkin Amendment 32 Paragraph 6 6. Draws attention to the difficulties that less developed regions encounter in obtaining private investment capital, and calls for more public-private partnerships in the area of innovation activities, with special regard to Best Practice and value for Public money; Or. en

Amendment by Lambert van Nistelrooij Amendment 33 Paragraph 7 7. Takes the view, with the Commission, that, in order to be successful, the new lead market initiative must concentrate on the creation and marketing of new innovative products and services in promising areas; Or. en

Amendment by Jean Marie Beaupuy Amendment 34 Paragraph 7 7. Takes the view that the new lead market initiative must be started up particularly in fields where there is a large potential demand (deletion); Or. fr

Amendment by Elisabeth Schroedter Amendment 35 Paragraph 7 7. Takes the view that the new lead market initiative must be started up particularly in fields where there is a large potential demand in less developed regions, and that these regions should equally be taken into account in national decisions on aid to support investment; Or. de

Amendment by Mieczysław Edmund Janowski Amendment 36 Paragraph 7 7. Takes the view that the new lead market initiative must be started up, particularly in the fields of innovative products and services, where there is a large potential demand in less developed regions; Or. pl

Amendment by Jan Olbrycht Amendment 37 Paragraph 7 7. Takes the view that the new lead market initiative must be started up, including in fields where there is a large potential demand in less developed regions; Or. pl

Amendment by Elisabeth Schroedter Amendment 38 Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Notes that the Member States have by no means yet fully used up the possibilities of aid in the field of environmental innovations, and points out once more that innovative environmental technologies of this kind can give the European Union a significant competitive advantage worldwide; Or. de

Amendment by Mieczysław Edmund Janowski Amendment 39 Paragraph 8 8. Encourages the relevant actors at regional level to include experimental and therefore riskier ventures in funding from the Structural Funds; Or. pl

Amendment by Zita Pleštinská Amendment 40 Paragraph 9 9. Considers that innovation activities should be better supported through information campaigns and emphasises the need to share information obtained from completed projects. At the same time recommends that lessons be learnt from incorrect procedures in unsuccessful projects and that warnings be given against similar mistakes in other regions of the EU; Or. sk

Amendment by Mieczysław Edmund Janowski Amendment 41 Paragraph 9 9. (Does not affect English version.) Or. pl

Amendment by Zita Pleštinská Amendment 42 Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Considers that supporting European Information Centres also at regional level helps provide civil society and the wider business community with transparent access to information. Relevant information provided quickly is a key factor for innovative activities, and these centres can therefore be an asset in terms of deepening cooperation within national borders and in the context of cross-border cooperation; Or. sk

Amendment by Mieczysław Edmund Janowski Amendment 43 Paragraph 10 10. Considers that Member States and regional authorities should take measures (deletion) to increase interest (including from women) in studies in science, engineering and technology. Or. pl

Amendment by Zita Pleštinská Amendment 44 Paragraph 10 10. Considers that great credit should be given to following a scientific career and that measures are needed to increase the number of science and technology graduates, particularly female graduates, by supporting attractive conditions, providing grants and incentives and giving awards. It is also necessary to inspire students to begin research while still at university; Or. sk

Amendment by Jamila Madeira Amendment 45 Paragraph 10 10. Considers that measures are needed to increase the number of science and technology graduates, particularly female graduates, and that the ‘People’ Programme encompassed within the seventh framework programme for research, technological development, and demonstration activities should be one of the means to be employed to that end. Or. pt

Amendment by Elisabeth Schroedter Amendment 46 Paragraph 10 10. Considers that measures are needed to increase the number of science and technology graduates, particularly female graduates, and to encourage women in particular, through mentoring projects and other forms of support, to set up innovative enterprises; Or. de

Amendment by Vladimír Železný Amendment 47 Paragraph 10 10. Considers that measures are needed to increase the number of science and technology graduates and scientists involved in primary research. Or. en

Amendment by Zita Pleštinská Amendment 48 Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Considers that research and development infrastructures, which are a necessary condition to forming and retaining scientists and researchers particularly in outlying regions, need to be built up. A financial contribution from the seventh Framework Programme and the structural funds aimed at improving research infrastructure in cohesion regions with good research potential would be an effective investment if the results of science and research activities lead to innovative products and services; Or. sk

Amendment by Jean Marie Beaupuy Amendment 49 Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. In view of the scale of the human and financial resources that have been mobilised, asks the Commission, in partnership with the Member States, regions and actors concerned, to evaluate the results obtained, in such a way as to reinforce more effectively the effects of the competent authorities’ efforts but not to be a substitute for their political assessments and decisions; Or. fr

Amendment by Bairbre de Brún Amendment 50 Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Considers that paid learning leave to facilitate the upgrading of skills and knowledge can help workers' skills keep pace with innovation in their region. Or. en

Amendment by Marian Harkin Amendment 51 Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Takes the view that a pre-condition for innovative capacity-building in the EU is free or low-cost broadband access, which serves to facilitate knowledge-based enterprise; Or. en

Amendment by Marian Harkin Amendment 52 Paragraph 10 b (new) 10b. Calls on the Commission, Member States, regional and local authorities to ensure universal access to information and communication technology-based working, in order to facilitate e-learning and e-working generally; Or. en

Amendment by Marian Harkin Amendment 53 Paragraph 10 c (new) 10c. Recalls the importance of funding for high-quality physical and technological infrastructure in order to attract investment and facilitate labour mobility. Or. en

Amendment by Marian Harkin Amendment 54 Paragraph 10 d (new) 10d. Recalls the value of State Aid for Regions and notes the need for flexibility allowing Regions to compete in the global economy. Or. en