08/06/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 7 June, the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) gave its green light to the inter-institutional agreement reached the end of May with the European Parliament on the European defence industrial development programme. The final agreement includes an envelope of €500 million, 60% of which will come from the redeployment of existing programmes and 40% from unused margins, a tightening-up of eligibility criteria for companies taking part in funding actions, particularly those owned by a third country or an entity from a third country, and an increased spotlight on SMEs (see EUROPE 12025). In Parliament, the agreement will be put before the committee on industry, research and energy (ITRE) on 19 June. The plenary vote has been moved forward to the July session and will probably take place on 3 or 4 July, according to one source. (PH)