Brussels, 07/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - Israel has become the first country involved in the European neighbourhood policy to take part in the competitiveness and innovation framework programme (CIP), through which the European Commission is seeking to promote innovation, the spirit of enterprise and growth in European SMEs. The protocol for an agreement making Israel's accession official was signed on 1 November in Tel Aviv by the European commissioner for industry, Günter Verheugen, and the Israeli minister for trade and industry, Eliyahu Yishai. The CIP budget for 2007-13 is €3.6bn (EUROPE 8923 and 9286) and is based on three pillars: the programme for innovation and the spirit of enterprise, the strategic support programme for communication and information technologies (CIT) and the intelligent energy for Europe programme. Israel will join the first pillar of the CIT but has already demonstrated an interest in participating in the two other pillars. (E.H.)