17/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - On the eve of the European Council, which will decide the overall financial envelope for the period 2007-2013, the president of the committee on industry of the European Parliament, British Conservative member Giles Chichester, the Polish rapporteur on the 7th framework research programme, Jerzy Buzek (EPP-ED) and Spanish Partido Popular MEP Alejo Vidal-Quadras criticised the attitude of the Council, which has "broken its promises to do something for competitiveness and growth in Europe". Making Europe less competitive means less economic growth, fewer jobs. The EPP-ED members of the committee on industry want to boost competitiveness, growth and employment by safeguarding the research budget. Science and research form the basis for more competitiveness and innovation in Europe, the MEPs state in a press release.