Technology institute at risk over power to award degrees

European Commis­sion President José Manuel Barroso is looking increasingly isolated over his plans for a flagship technology institute.

Not only are member states gearing up to oppose proposals for the European Institute of Technology (EIT), due to be presented at the EU summit in Lahti, Finland, but sceptics at the ­Commis­sion are also threatening to disable the project.

Barroso plans to bestow powers to award degrees on the institute, which is intended as a rival to the Massa­chu­setts Institute of Technology (MIT) and thereby act as a leading light for universities throughout the EU.

But, with the Commission’s legal service now questioning whether such powers would be permissible under EU law, Barroso may have to scale down his ambitions.

"The core of their objections was the presumption that the EIT should have the right to award degrees," said one EU diplomat, reporting on develop­ments at an internal Commission meeting.

"They didn’t see how it would fit with the EC treaty."

German Liberal MEP Jorgo Chatzimarkakis flagged up excessive concern with academic credibility as one of the main bones of conten­tion among national governments.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is said to be particularly sceptical about Barroso’s plans for a top-down, central structure.

"If you want to put it forward now, you need the Germans on board," Chatzimarkakis said.

European universities are also bristling at the thought of their top faculties being ­amal­gamated into a degree-awarding institution.

Most of the €2.4 billion needed to fund EIT in 2008-13 will have to be drawn from existing EU funds.

The Commission’s budget directorate-general is said to have opposed plans last week to siphon off cash from regional and research funds until concrete information can be provided on how it will be used.

DG Research would be especially anxious to ensure that funds earmarked for the 7th framework programme are preserved.

European Commis­sion President José Manuel Barroso is looking increasingly isolated over his plans for a flagship technology institute.