Brussels, 09/04/2008 (Agence Europe) -The MEPs of the committee on industry, research and energy (ITRE) of the European Parliament on Tuesday 8 April approved a public-private joint technological initiative (JTI) on fuel and hydrogen research, aiming eventually to replace fuel in transport. The consultation report by Angelika Niebler (EPP-ED, Germany) on this project was voted on unanimously by the committee. The vote at plenary will take place in Strasbourg in May. The JTI aims to speed up, over the next six years, the development of these technologies in Europe, particularly in the transport sector, with the objective of putting products on the market between 2010 and 2020. The joint initiative will be funded to the tune of 470 million euros from the budget of the seventh framework research programme (2007-2013), and by at least the same amount again provided by the industry. The MEPs stressed that small and medium-sized businesses, research centres and universities would benefit from public funding of up to 75% of eligible costs. The structure supervising the project will be located in Brussels and its work will conclude at the end of 2017. The ITRE committee opposed a possible extension of the initiative beyond this period. The MEPs took the view that after the last call for proposals, in 2013, all of the projects underway should be implemented, monitored and financed up to 2017. European research ministers agreed on 25 February this year to set this initiative in place (EUROPE 9610). (B.C)