It also builds on the results of an independent evaluation of the EIT's initial period as well as on a consultation process open to all those having a current or potential stake in the EIT's activities, including businesses, higher education institutions and research organisations, as well as national and regional authorities.

fa) six independent persons appointed by the Members of the General Board with voting rights on the proposal of the Joint Committee; the nominees must not be Members of the ESAs and shall be chosen on the basis of their general competence as well as for their diverse backgrounds in academic fields or other sectors, in particular in small and medium size enterprises, trade-unions or as providers or consumers of financial services; at the time of their nomination, the Joint Committee shall indicate which persons are designated also to serve on the Steerin ...[+++]g Committee; in carrying out their responsibilities, the persons nominated shall neither seek nor take instructions from any Government, institution, body, office, entity or private person; they shall refrain from any action incompatible with their duties or the performance of their tasks .

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business, which is a member of the Business Coalition on Cost Recovery, represents over 103,000 small and medium sized businesses and it has told me that supporting Bill C-212 is at the top of its public policy agenda and priority list (1350) Other supporters of the bill include: CropLife Canada, Canadian Medical Device Technology Companies, the Industry Coordinating Group for the Canadian Environmental Protection Act which includes, in addition to some of the members I have previously mentioned, the following: Adhesives & Sealants Manufacturing Association of Canada, Canadian Paint & Coatings Assoc ...[+++]iation, Canadian Petroleum Products Institute, Canadian Plastics Industry Association, Canadian Steel Producers Association, Canadian Textiles Institute, Ecological & Toxicological Association of the Dyes & Organic Pigment Manufacturers, Industrial Biology Association, and the Soap & Detergent Association.

The BCCR was founded in 1998 by many of Canada's leading business organizations, including the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the Canadian Animal Health Institute, groups such as Rx&D, Canada's researched-based pharmaceuticals, and the Canadian Chemical Producers' Association.

Let me just list them for you: the Alliance of Manufacturers and Exporters, the Canadian Animal Health Institute, the Canadian Chemical Producers' Association, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the Chamber of Maritime Commerce, the Crop Protection Institute of Canada, the Canadian Drug Manufacturers Association, the Canadian Marine Manufacturers Association, the Canadian Manufa ...[+++]cturers of Chemical Specialties, the Food Institute of Canada, and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Canada.

"sponsoring undertaking" means any undertaking or other body, regardless of whether it consists of one or more legal or natural persons or a combination thereof, and individuals in their capacity as self-employed persons, paying contributions into an institution;