Brussels, 21/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 25 June, the Competitiveness Council will examine the proposal to set up a European Institute of Technology on the basis of a joint draft text that could be adopted in a first reading this autumn. Funding is the last sensitive point that needs to be settled but is not expected to hold up adoption of a common orientation. The plenary vote is only expected at the European Parliament at the end of September, and if the Council does not manage to confirm its agreement on funding this Monday, it could still confirm its agreement at the very latest at the vote. The budgetary trialogue meeting in Strasbourg (EUROPE 9446) obtained a pre-agreement on Tuesday 19 June on a European Commission proposed solution that plans to apply for €308 million in funding available under section 1A, to help begin the EIT. The rest of the funding still needs to be examined at the mid-term review on financial perspectives. This involves a median solution bridging the initial request from Parliament to re-open the discussion on financial perspectives to find almost €2bn (2008-13) and the Council's original position that proposed a budget of €9 million for the first two years. (oj)