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

Union policy on the environment shall contribute to pursuit of the following objectives: — preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment, — protecting human health, — prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources, — promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems, and in particular combating climate change. (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: — speeding up the adjustment of industry to structural changes, — encouraging an environment favourable to initiative and to the development of undertakings throughout the Union, particularly small and medium-sized undertakings, — encouraging an environment favourable to cooperation between undertakings, — fostering better exploitation of the industrial potential of policies of innovation, research and technological development. (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: (a) common rules applicable to international transport to or from the territory of a Member State or passing across the territory of one or more Member States; (b) the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate transport services within a Member State; (c) measures to improve transport safety; (d) any other appropriate provisions. (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: — To manage all phases in the lifetime of specific projects. — To carry out all operations necessary to manage the EU programmes, in particular budget implementation including awarding contracts and grants. — To gather, analyse and pass on to the Commission all the information needed to guide the implementation of the programmes as well as to promote coordination and synergy among the programmes. — As regards the EIP, to be in charge of project and network management by the Enterprise Europe Network, eco-innovation pilot and market replication projects, and innovation actions with a high degree of standardisation (IP Base project).

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 (A) 203,1 (204,8) million euro (100 % general budget of the EU). The EACI implements the operational budget under the responsibility of the Commission: — for IEE 72,1 (55,8) million euro, — for EIP-eco-innovation 32,2 (27,9) million euro, — for EIP-Networks 32,0 (82,8) million euro, — for MP 66,9 (38,3) million euro. (B) 13,3 (11,5) million euro (100 % Union subsidy) for the administrative budget for which the EACI is autonomous. 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 (a) Operational tasks: 118 (110) (b) Administrative tasks: 23 (21).