This public consultation is about a possible successor to the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP). The CIP consists of three operational programmes: the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, the ICT – Policy Support Programme and the Intelligent Energy Europe programme. The consultation is being undertaken in order to provide the Commission with public views on what the future priority areas for an EU intervention in these areas should be, and what instruments should be used.

Tempus is the European Union’s programme which supports the modernisation of higher education in the Partner Countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Western Balkans and the Mediterranean region, mainly through university cooperation projects. Partner countries include: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, as well as Kosovo under UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

Croatia, the FYR of Macedonia, Turkey, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland can participate in Tempus project but only on a self-financing basis. Tempus IV is open to higher education institutions and to other organisations active in the field of higher education, provided they are established in the EU Member States or in the Partner Countries.