A total of € 50.5 billion will be allocated to FP7 for seven years (this sum excludes nuclear energy research spending via the Euratom component of FP7).  One of the objectives of the programme is to contribute to the Lisbon Strategy: the creation of a more competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in Europe capable of sustainable economic growth. As Parliament was examining the Commission’s proposal for FP7, the European community of renewable energy research institutes (represented by EUREC Agency) campaigned for a share of the research spending to be earmarked for renewable energy R&D. The European Parliament supported this view, but the Commission opposed it. It seems that the Council is now also in agreement.