4.2.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 30/21 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 72/2008 of 20 December 2007 setting up the ENIAC Joint Undertaking THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Article 171 and 172 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (), Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (?), Whereas: 1 Decision No 1982/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Commu- nity for research, technological development and demon- stration activities (2007-2013) (*) (hereinafter referred to as the Seventh Framework Programme), provides for a Community contribution for the establishment of long term public-private partnerships in the form of Joint Technology Initiatives (hereinafter referred to as JTIs) which could be implemented through Joint Undertakings within the meaning of Article 171 of the Treaty. These JTIs stem from the work of European Technology Platforms, already set up under the Sixth Framework Programme, and cover selected aspects of research in their field. They should combine private-sector investment and European public funding, including funding from the Seventh Framework Programme. Council Decision 2006/971/EC of 19 December 2006 concerning the specific programme ‘Cooperation’ imple- menting the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological develop- ment and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) (* underlines the need for ambitious pan-European public- private partnerships to speed up the development of major technologies by large research actions at Community level including, in particular, JTIs. The Lisbon Growth and Jobs Agenda underscores the need to develop favourable conditions for investment in knowl- edge and innovation in the Community to boost competi- tiveness, growth and jobs. Opinion of 12 December 2007 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Opinion of 25 October 2007 (not yet published in the Official Journal). OJ L 412, 30.12.2006, p. 1. OJ L 400, 30.12.2006, p. 86, corrected by O] L 54, 22.2.2007, p. 30. 4) In its conclusions of 25 and 26 November 2004, the Council encouraged the Commission to further elaborate the concepts of Technology Platforms and JTIs. It under- lined that such initiatives could contribute to coordinating overal Community research efforts with a view to achieving synergies with the activities of existing schemes such as Eureka taking into account their important contribution to Research and Development (hereinafter referred to as R & D). European companies and other R & D organisations active in the field of nanoelectronics took the lead in establishing the European Technology Platform on Nanoelectronics (hereinafter referred to as the ENIAC Technology Platform) under the Sixth Framework Programme. The ENIAC Technology Platform developed a Strategic Research Agenda based on an extensive consultation with public and private stakeholders. The Strategic Research Agenda identified the priorities in the nanoelectronics domain and recommended directions for a JTI in this field. The JTI on nanoelectronics responds to the Commission Communications of 6 April 2005 on ‘Building the ERA of knowledge for growth’ and of 20 July 2005 on ‘Common Actions for Growth and Employment: The Community Lisbon Programme’, which call for a new and more ambitious approach to large-scale public-private partner- ships in fields of major interest for European competitive- ness identified through dialogue with industry. The JTI on nanoelectronics responds to the need for support for pervasive Information and Communication Technologies as identified in the report ‘Creating an Innovative Europe’ of January 2006. This report also commends the ENIAC Joint Technology model for combining national and Community funding within a clear legal structure and in a harmonised and synchronous manner. The JTI on nanoelectronics should create a sustainable public-private partnership and increase and leverage private and public investment in the sector of nanoelectronics in Europe, which for the purpose of this Regulation includes the Member States of the European Union (hereinafter referred to as Member States) and countries associated with the Seventh Framework Programme (hereinafter referred to as the associated countries). The JTI on nanoelectronics should also achieve effective coordination and synergy of resources and funding from the Framework Programme,