Economy Minister Valon Saraqini and EU Ambassador Aivo Orav promoted Monday the 2012 Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP).

The 2007-2013 programme has a total budget exceeding EUR 3 billion, divided in three operational programmes - entrepreneurship and innovation, information communication technologies and intelligent energy Europe.

"This is an interesting programme for our companies and the business community, since there are EU funds they can use by applying with quality and sustainable projects. Republic of Macedonia has thus far utilized a small portion of the available funds, i.e. EUR 1,5 million for six projects. I believe this number is insignificant and there is room for improvement", said Saraqini.

According to him, this year's CIP includes EUR 320 million for the entrepreneurship and innovation programme, EUR 150 million for the information communication technologies policy support programme, and about EUR 120 million for intelligent energy.

"I urge Macedonian companies to apply as much as possible for such funds. The Economy Ministry is EU's partner in the project's implementation. We will launch active training and presentation of these programmes as of May 1, because I do not know why our companies fail to apply - is it lack of information or administrative capacity", added Minister Saraqini.

EU Ambassador Aivo Orav stressed the European Commission has submitted a proposal to the European Parliament over the extension of the programme beyond 2013. The new Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (COSME) is expected to run from 2014 to 2020, having a budget of EUR 2,5 billion.

"I hope that initiated business reforms will resume in 2012. If effective, they will result in fresh investments, new jobs, increase export of local companies, and have effect on the citizens' living standard in general", said Orav, adding the EU would continue to be the country's partner and support its accession.