Mr President, what exactly does European innovation policy do?

In this respect, European innovation policy should ensure that those who innovate, including small and medium-sized enterprises, receive appropriate support at regional level too.

I have voted in favour of this report, because the Innovation Union initiative is a concrete attempt at an integrated European innovation policy.

A strong Europe cannot live without strong common policies and European energy and European innovation policy should be one of those.

European innovation policy must be focused mainly on devising and specifically meeting objectives relating to the major challenges which the European Union is facing.

The Innovation Union initiative is very important and is, at the present time, the most concrete attempt at an integrated European innovation policy.

The 'Innovation Union' initiative introduces a strategic European innovation policy that is integrated and oriented towards companies and people.

I would also like to point out the importance of incentives for the private sector and a comprehensive, cross-cutting strategy for achieving European innovation policy as a priority.

The European Parliament resolution on European Innovation Partnerships within the Innovation Union flagship initiative is a specific initiative aimed at devising an integrated European innovation policy.

Diogo chaired the Business Panel on Future EU Innovation Policy, set up by the European Commission in January 2009, which called for a radical change in European innovation policies.

Naturally certain things can and must be fitted in to the European innovation policy directed to large undertakings, but it is to be expected that the national authorities are most aware of the needs and requirements of local small- and medium-scale businesses.

The Innovation Union flagship initiative is the most significant and targeted Community attempt so far to introduce a strategic, integrated and business-oriented European innovation policy to supplement Member State efforts, whereby innovation is steered and progress monitored at the highest political level.