In order to do this the Commission has identified three key drivers for growth:

• smart growth (fostering knowledge, innovation, education and digital society),

• sustainable growth (making our production more resource efficient while boosting our competitiveness),

• inclusive growth (raising participation in the job market, the acquisition of skills and the fight against poverty).

According to the Commission the battle for growth and jobs requires ownership at top political level across Europe as well as effective collaboration on a European level.  Five targets have been set which define where the EU should be by 2020 and against which progress can be tracked.

These five targets compose of the following:

• 75 % of the population aged 20-64 should be employed.

• 3% of the EU's GDP should be invested in R&D.

• The "20/20/20" climate/energy targets should be met.

• The share of early school leavers should be under 10% and at least 40% of the  younger generation should have a degree or diploma.

• 20 million less people should be at risk of poverty.

In order to meet the targets, the Commission proposes a Europe 2020 agenda consisting of a series of flagship initiatives.  Implementing these initiatives is a shared priority, and action will be required at all levels: EU-level organisations, Member States, local and regional authorities.

For more detailed information on the Europe 2020 strategy and the part you have to play please click here.
 

The Directive translates into Community law an agreement negotiated by the European social partner organisations in the sector, which employs around 3.5 million people.

The new Directive implements in law a framework agreement on prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector signed in July 2009 by the European Public Services Union (EPSU) and the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers' Association (HOSPEEM).

This new Directive aims to:
• achieve the safest possible working environment for employees in the sector and protect workers at risk, as well as patients;
• prevent injuries to workers caused by all types of sharp medical objects (including needle sticks);
• set up an integrated approach to assessing and preventing risks as well as to training and informing workers.

The legislation specifically addresses one of the priority objectives of the EU's current strategy for health and safety at work, which aims to cut workplace accidents by 25% by 2012.

For more information on the proposal for the Directive on implementing the framework agreement please click here.

EU and Vietnamese officials will now work together to agree the way forward towards the formal start of negotiations as well as an agreed framework for the talks to reach an FTA.

With regards to Singapore, progress is one step ahead.  EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang have already previously met to officially launch negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and Singapore.

The first round of negotiations is scheduled to take place from 8 – 12 March 2010 in Singapore. The EU-Singapore FTA (EUSFTA) marks a milestone in the EU’s longstanding relations with Singapore.

Singapore is one of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).  The ASEAN countries together are the EU's third largest trading partner outside Europe, with annual bilateral trade in goods and services of some € 175 billion.  Almost a third of this trade takes place between the EU and Singapore (€ 55 billion) which makes Singapore by far the EU's most important trading partner in South East Asia. The EU and Singapore also have strong investment ties; the bilateral stock of investment has reached € 100 billion in 2007.

For further information on the EU and Singapore FTA negotiations please click here.

To find out more about the FTA progress between the EU and Vietnam click here.
 

This is designed to give them an effective and unbiased choice between their default and competing web browsers.  In addition to Microsoft's web browser, the user will have the opportunity to choose between eleven additional web browsers, which will be displayed if the user scrolls sideways.  It is expected that the browser Choice Screen will be displayed on over 100 million personal computers (PCs) in Europe between now and mid-May. The central page of the choice screen is also available to any internet user at http://www.browserchoice.eu

During December 2009, the Commission made it legally binding for Microsoft to address competition concerns  that the Commission had raised with the tying of Microsoft’s web browser, Internet Explorer, to its dominant client PC operating system, Windows. 

Specifically in the European Economic Area , Microsoft has committed to make a "Choice Screen" available for five years. They will enable users of Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 to choose in an informed and unbiased manner which web browser(s) they want to install in addition to, or instead of, Microsoft's web browser.

If Microsoft were to break its commitments, the Commission could impose a fine of up to 10% of Microsoft’s total annual turnover.  In compliance with the December commitments, computer manufacturers are now able to install competing browsers on Windows PCs instead of, or in addition to, Internet Explorer.  Microsoft further committed not to retaliate against PC manufacturers who pre-install a non-Microsoft web browser on the PCs they ship and make it the default web browser.

See here for more information on the web browser choice.
 

“Erasmus for Young Enterpreneurs” was set up by the European Commission to help new entrepreneurs learn how to manage an SME, as well as experiencing first hand what it is like to work in the business environment of another EU country with an experienced entrepreneur.  It is financed by the European Commission and operates across EU Member States with the help of more than 160 intermediary organisations, such as Chambers of Commerce, business support organisations or start-up centres.

So far more than 50 exchanges have taken place while 100 are currently being carried out. There are more than 1800 applications with Italy and Spain accounting for more than 45% of the total applications.

New entrepreneurs can choose to stay between 1 to 6 months with an experienced entrepreneur.  During that period, they are expected to acquire relevant start-up and SME management knowledge in areas like financial and operational management, development of innovative products and services, successful sales and marketing practices, European commercial law and the single European market. 

Host entrepreneurs are experienced entrepreneurs who own or manage an SME in the EU.  They can also benefit from the scheme through enhancing their market access and identifying potential partners in other EU countries.  Information on how to apply can be found here or click here to read about success stories.
 

The Commission has adopted a report on sustainability requirements for the use of solid biomass and biogas in electricity, heating and cooling. The report makes recommendations on sustainability crieteria for use by Member States opting to introduce a scheme at national level on biomass sustainability.

In the absence of harmonized rules at EU level, Member States are free to put in place their own national schemes for solid and gaseous biomass used in electricity, heating and cooling.  The report provides recommendations for Member States to follow similar patterns and most importantly to be guided by the sustainability criteria explained in the report.  This is to minimize the risk of the development of varied and possibly incompatible criteria at national level, and to avoid barriers to trade or limits to the growth of the bio-energy sector.

The recommendations include a general prohibition on the use of biomass from land converted from forest and a common greenhouse gas calculation methodology.  Others include the differentiation of national support schemes in favour of installations that achieve high energy conversion efficiencies, and the monitoring of the origin of biomass.

The report concludes that at this stage, more detailed legislation is not necessary.  This report can be accessed here at the Commission’s renewable energy transparency platform along with other related information.
 

As a result of the EU roaming rules adopted by the EU’s Council of Ministers, a cut off mechanism will, following a warning, cut consumers’ mobile connection to the internet while abroad when their bill reaches a specified period. 

Mobile phone operators are obliged to offer their customers from 1st March 2010 a monthly cut-off limit of €50 (about £45).  They can also offer customers any other limit.  Customers will then receive a warning when they hit 80% of their chosen limit.  Until 1 July 2010, customers need to make a deliberate choice in order to benefit from a cut-off limit.  Customers who do not make a choice by 1 July 2010 will have the cut-off limit set at €50 by default as from that date.

Examples of “bill shocks” include a German traveller downloading a TV programme while roaming in France who faced a bill of no less than €46 000 (£41,730).  In another recent example, a UK student was reported as receiving a bill of almost €9 000 (£8,165) for data roaming during a single month while studying abroad.

Member States' national telecoms regulators are responsible for ensuring that mobile phone operators comply with the rules on cut-off mechanisms for data roaming in each EU country. Consumers can contact the national regulator in the Member State where they reside if they encounter any problems or have concerns over these cut off limits.

The European Commission will continue to monitor developments in roaming services and the correct implementation of these provisions, in close cooperation with BEREC, the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications.  The Commission is due to analyse the functioning of the roaming Regulation, including the provisions on data roaming, in an interim report due in June 2010 and in a more extensive review in June 2011.

Forthcoming changes outlined in a recent European Directive to the rights of temporary agency workers will be highlighted at the event held at the Bewleys hotel in Leeds on March 5. ** (10am – 1.30pm)

Run by Enterprise Europe Yorkshire, the workshop is designed to help local firms understand how the new European Union Directive may affect their businesses and help them prepare for changes ahead of the UK enforcing regulations.

The regulations will entitle the agency workers to some of the basic rights as permanent employees after 12 weeks in a given job.  They are due to come into force in October 2011 and are set to have major implications for businesses who use temporary agency staff, and the agencies who supply them.

A representative from the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) will outline the requirements of the new Directive.  Joanne Houseman, employment solicitor from Gordons LLP, will highlight the potential liability for employers against claims for unequal treatment.

A local company already preparing for these forthcoming changes will present the steps they are taking to accommodate the new rules. 

The seminar is to help firms prepare and plan for changing business requirements.

Councillor Adrian Naylor, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Regeneration, said:

"The Agency Workers Directive will affect all companies who employ temporary workers over a 12 week period. There are steps that employers can take at this stage, to prepare for the potential impact of the new regulations. 

“Attending the briefing will help local companies understand the potentially significant impact on them and prepare their business ahead of change."

To register or for further information about the workshop, call 01274 434262,  email linfo@ee-yorkshire.com or visit www.ee-yorkshire.com

ENDS

Media contacts: Jamie Ollivere at RTC North on 01915164400 or Mob 07950566182 / Lisa Fisher at Targeting Innovation Ltd on 0113 394 4317
 
Notes to editor:

1. Enterprise Europe Network: The Enterprise Europe Network is made up of close to 600 partner organisations in more than 40 countries, promoting competitiveness and innovation at the local level in Europe and beyond. Whether you need information on EU legislation, help with technology transfer or finding a business partner, want to benefit from innovation networks in your region or need information on funding opportunities, this is the place to start. Enterprise Europe Yorkshire brings together four local organisations including Yorkshire Forward, RTC North, Targeting Innovation and Bradford Metropolitan District Council which are dedicated to helping your business get the information and advice you need, to compete effectively here in the UK and the rest of Europe. Launched in January 2008, the consortium includes partners with many years of experience in delivering high quality services to local firms, largely through the Euro Info Centre and Innovation Relay Centre networks.  We also work closely with Business Link Yorkshire and a range of other business support organisations in the region, to make sure that you can access all the help and advice you need. Please click on the buttons on the left to find out more about the Partners, our aims and objectives and the wider Enterprise Europe Network both here in the UK and further afield.

2. Yorkshire Forward: Yorkshire Forward is the Regional Development Agency behind the economic regeneration of Yorkshire and Humber. It aims to make a positive difference by investing in jobs, improving towns and cities, and in supporting businesses throughout the region.

3. Targeting Innovation Ltd: Targeting Innovation Ltd (TIL) is a renowned delivery provider of specialist support services to technology or innovation led companies and research organisations. Throughout the wide range of services and products we provide, our primary objective is to help businesses succeed through innovation.  TIL has extensive experience in project management, working closely with the public sector to develop innovation strategies and managing programmes in support of these strategies. Targeting Innovation’s role in the consortium is project coordination, focussing on the integration of the services into high profile and high quality delivery.

4. RTC North Ltd: RTC North is recognised as one of the most successful independent technology transfer companies in Europe serving businesses, universities and the public sector in the UK and overseas.  Led since 1987 by our founder Gordon Ollivere and employing scientists, technologists, engineers and business professionals, RTC North’s aim is to help clients exploit new opportunities and improve competitiveness through the application of technology, knowledge and forward thinking. RTC North act as primary deliverer of business and innovation services.

5. Bradford Metropolitan District Council: Bradford Metropolitan District Council (BMDC) is the local authority covering the City of Bradford and surrounding district in West Yorkshire.  The City Council has hosted a highly successful Euro Info Centre for over 16 years, providing pro-active information and support to companies in such fields as public procurement and the environment, as well as in collaboration and coordination with other business intermediaries at a regional and national level. BMDC is the primary deliverer of information on European legislation, tendering opportunities, business cooperation and internationalisation services.

For businesses selling and receiving goods within the EC market there has been a change in the threshold limits for submitting Intrastat returns as of 1 January 2010.

For Intrastat Arrivals the annual threshold has been increased from £270 000 to £600 000. This means that if ,over a 12 month period, a business receives goods into the UK from other Member States which have a value higher than £600 000, then the company will be required to submit monthly statistical returns.

With regards to Intrastat Dispatches, the exemption threshold has been reduced slightly from £270 000 to £250 000. Therefore only companies sending goods above this value to other Member States will have to submit monthly Intrastat returns.

All supplies of goods to British Embassies, Consulates and British armed forces based in other Member States are however, excluded from Intrastat reporting.

For more information on the regulations concerning Intrastat returns please click here.
 

Focusing on what entrepreneurship means to innovative Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs), the producers of the best videos in three categories will be invited to a special award ceremony on 25 May 2010 in Brussels, as part of the 2nd “European SME Week“.

Winners in each of three categories, ‘Entrepreneurship - a different way of life’, ‘Entrepreneurship – Challenges and rewards’ and ‘Entrepreneurship – The way into the future’ will receive €3,333, while second place entries receive €2,222 and films in third place take home €1,111.

Five additional prizes of €555 will be awarded to the best producers under the age of 25.

The competition is part of a programme of activity being promoted Europe-wide by the Enterprise Europe Network - a network of nearly 600 European business gateways helping innovative companies do business and improve their competitiveness overseas.

The contest offers a chance for film-makers, students, entrepreneurs and members of business networks to showcase their talents at the awards ceremony in May 25 during the opening event of the European week for small and medium sized enterprises.

Deadline for entries is April 9 2010. The videos will be presented to a large audience of TV producers, journalists, representatives of the arts and business people. 

For more information on rules of entry and to see last year's winning videos, please visit the website: http://ec.europa.eu/eeva2010

For information on events during SME week in Yorkshire contact Enterprise Europe Yorkshire (EEY) on Free phone 0800 052 8156 or visit www.ee-yorkshire.com

How do I register?
You will need to submit a registration dossier to the European Chemicals Agency  (ECHA) consisting of:
a) a common part prepared and submitted together with other manufacturers or importers of the same substance and,
b) an individual part containing information specific to your company.

In order to prepare your dossier, you will have to share data with others in a Substance Information Exchange Forum (SIEF).

The registration dossier is submitted via the REACH-IT software and you can use the REACH-IT site to see who else is in your SIEF and if a Lead Registrant has been nominated. The Lead Registrant will be submitting the joint dossier on behalf of the SIEF members although don’t forget that you must still submit an individual file for your own business.

How much will it cost?
Registration fees are paid to the ECHA and will vary depending on the tonnage of chemicals and size of the company.

A further cost is incurred for the registration data obtained from other SIEF members. Again, the amount to pay depends on how many companies share these costs with the SIEF.

Where can I get help?
The ECHA website provides web pages on SIEFs, guidance documents, IT tools and FAQs.
There is also a REACH national helpdesk in every EU country.

 Here at Enterprise Europe Yorkshire we can also provide further detailed information. Please call us on 0800 052 8156 or email us at info@ee-yorkshire.com   
 

As part of a £21.5m programme in regenerative medicine, the Board is to invest up to £4m in commercial R&D projects in regenerative medicine therapeutics.  A second competition will see investment of up to £2m in feasibility projects in regenerative medicine tools and technologies.

The Technology Strategy Board launched its £21.5m programme of competitions in the area of regenerative medicine in September 2009.  It is supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).  In January the Board announced its first investments through the programme, with 30 feasibility studies receiving £2.8m of funding while two major collaborative research and development projects received a further £1.7m. 

For further information regarding the new competitions please click here.

This article was sourced from the Technology Strategy Board website.
 

Known as the 'Fraunhofer model', the network of technology and innovation centres plays a key role in supporting the development and commercialisation of new technologies in Germany.  These institutes are a vital link between the academic sector and the needs of industry.

Lord Mandelson’s visit preludes next month’s Hauser Review.  This review, undertaken by technology entrepreneur Hermann Hauser as part of the UK’S Going for Growth strategy, will evaluate the current and future role of technology and innovation centres in the UK.  It will also examine how the UK can learn from best practice elsewhere to ensure our communities and businesses are fully equipped to compete and succeed in the global economy.

For more information on the Government’s Going for Growth strategy please click here.

The content for this article was sourced from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The training is aimed at European Managers with a knowledge of WCM and an engineering background.

The training course provides an in-depth analysis of Japanese manufacturing methodology through a series of lectures and workshops. There is also the opportunity to visit some of the most advanced Japanese factories and to observe first-hand the implementation of manufacturing methods.

Participants from European SMEs are required to pay a refundable deposit of €1000 in order to guarantee a place on the course.  The deposit will then be refunded within 8 weeks following completion of the course.

For other companies, participants are required to pay a contribution of €1000 towards the cost of the course as well as travel expenses, accommodation and any other costs not covered directly by the EU-Japan centre.

The deadline for the 28 June – 2 July 2010 training course is Thursday 25 March and applications for the 18 – 22 October 2010 course must be received by Thursday 10 June.

For more information on the course and to download an application form please click here.

The winning design is by Dusan Milenkovic, a student from Germany, who gained 63% of the overall vote for his 'Euro-leaf' logo.

The 'Euro-leaf' design, shown above, has the EU stars in the shape of a leaf against a green background. It is a very straightforward sign containing two clear messages: Nature and Europe.

From 1st July 2010, the organic logo of the EU will be obligatory on all pre-packaged organic products that have been produced in any of the EU Member States and meet the necessary standards.  It will be optional for imported products. Other private, regional or national logos will be allowed to appear alongside the EU label. The organic farming regulation will be amended in the coming weeks to introduce the new logo into one of the annexes.

According to European Comission, illegal dumping of waste continues on a significant scale, many landfill sites are sub standard and implementation of waste law in some Member States is still missing.  It is estimated that full implementation of EU waste law would reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, including methane from landfills, equivalent to almost 200 million tonnes of CO2 a year.

The recommendations of the report are based on responses from Member State officials and stakeholders through questionnaires, interviews and internal workshops.  The proposed agency would carry out a number of tasks such as reviews of enforcement systems in Member States, coordinated controls and inspection activities.    The creation of a specific European body would then be responsible for direct inspections and controls of facilities and sites in serious cases of non-compliance.

The Commission has also proposed the revision of the Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), which includes additional rules to avoid illegal shipments of electrical and electronic waste, especially when falsely declared as used products.

Further details can be found here.

Representatives from the 27 EU countries have begun work for the first time as members of BEREC in order to help ensure fair competition in the single telecoms market.    With 12 fixed and 10 mobile telecoms companies offering services in many EU Member States, and hundreds of service providers operating across borders, BEREC advises national telecoms regulators, especially on decisions with cross-border aspects.

Most decisions will be taken by two-thirds majority and by simple majority after national regulators have notified measures to the European Commission for analysis. 

BEREC replaces the "European Regulators Group", a loose grouping of national regulators that could operate on the basis of consensus alone and was not integrated into the EU's regulatory process. 

BEREC is part of the EU telecoms reform set to benefit citizens from more consumer choice such as better coverage over fast internet broadband connections across the EU, and stronger application of their right to privacy in their telecommunications.

For more background information see New EU Telecoms Rules enter into force.
 

These controls are foreseen in Regulation (EC) No. 669/2009 which enters into application today and provides, for the first time ever, a set of common rules for official controls on imports of certain feed and food of non-animal origin.

As a result, checks on documents accompanying the consignments will be carried out systematically on these products at EU borders, while physical checks will be performed at a lower frequency.

The increased level of checks is to ascertain the possible presence of a number of substances that may pose a risk to human and animal health, such as aflatoxins in nuts and pesticides in fruits and vegetables. The Commission intends to monitor regularly the implementation of this Regulation by Member States.

With the experience acquired at national level and by relying on the most recent available science, the Commission will proceed to quarterly reviews of the list of concerned products to ensure that a high level of consumer and health protection is guaranteed throughout the EU.

For more infomation on food safety in Europe please click here.

For a limited period under this new pilot scheme, the Government is offering small businesses in Yorkshire and Humber, a £50 discount on an Insured Advice service of their choice.

Insured Advice available on this scheme covers many areas such as:

• Disciplinary action and employee misconduct;

• Redundancy;

• Health and safety risk assessments;

• Changing employees’ contracts or conditions of employment;

• And a wide range of other health and safety and employment issues.

Insured Advice has several benefits for businesses, the biggest one being that provided SMEs follow the advice they are given, they will be covered for any legal costs they incur by the legal provider. 

SMEs can sign up until 31 March 2010 although places are limited to 4 500 companies which means that the scheme could close earlier.

In order to register your business and to obtain a discount for an Insured Advice policy please click here.

This article was sourced from Business Link.

The funding is being invested to enable British companies to carry out feasibility studies in areas such as Biosciences, ICT and Nanotechnology, and to support the Digital Britain vision.  Further feasibility studies in Regenerative Medicine lasting up to six months are also to be carried out.

There were over 2000 applications received in total, including many from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).  Of the 184 successful applications for funding, all but two were from SMEs.

Commenting on the funding awards, the Technology Strategy Board's Director of Innovation Programmes, David Bott, said: 

"We decided to invest in short-term feasibility studies to stimulate innovation in a range of important technology areas and, in particular, to encourage the involvement of smaller companies.  Many small companies have great ideas, but lack the funds to enable them to carry out the important initial feasibility work required to see if their ideas are workable.

"We were delighted, but not surprised, by the huge number of applications.  Nearly two-thirds of commercial innovation stems from small companies and they are a vital source of wealth-generating new products.  We were also very pleased to see good applications from every part of the UK, which shows that we have innovative talent across the whole country," he added.

Upon completion of the feasibility studies, the companies should be well-placed to seek investment to develop their ideas into new products, processes and services, including through application to further Technology Strategy Board research and development competitions in 2010 and beyond.

This article was sourced from the Technology Strategy Board website.
 

The Enhancement Fund, which aims to improve the region's skills base, is supported by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the European Social Fund (ESF) and regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.  Launched a year ago, the fund has so far supported 6,000 Yorkshire and Humber businesses.

David Hodges, regional director of skills for the LSC in Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "The Enhancement Fund has been well received for adapting to the changing skills needs and demands of employers during this recession, and will continue to support employer training with the aim of aiding economic recovery and supporting growth in the economy."

An example of where the fund has been used successfully are at Element Jewellery in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, where the company has given specialist gemstone and photography training to staff, helping to increase sales.

This article was sourced from The Business Desk.
 

Following on from the success of JEEP productions,a  Leeds-based film, TV and multimedia company,  in the 2009 European Entrepreneurship video awards, Enterprise Europe Yorkshire are hoping for more award- winning entries from Yorkshire and Humber based companies in this competition.

There are three prize-winning categories:

•  "Entrepreneurship – A different way of life"
•  "Entrepreneurship – Challenges and rewards"
•  "Entrepreneurship – The way into the future"

Videos should be short (one or two minutes). The winning video in each of the three categories will be awarded € 3,333, the videos in second place will be awarded € 2,222, and those in third place will receive € 1,111. Each prize will be a lump sum and is not intended to cover the production costs of the videos or any other expenses.

Five additional "special winners" will be awarded € 555 each. These special prizes are reserved for persons aged 25 or younger.

The producers of the best videos will be invited to a special award ceremony on 25 May 2010 in Brussels, as part of the 2nd European SME Week.

The deadline for submissions is 9 April 2010.
 
For more information on submitting a video and further guidance please call the Enterprise Europe Team on 0800 052 8156.

To view JEEP's winning entry in the 'Innovative Entrepreneur' category as well as the other 2009 winning videos please click here.

• EU funding programmes steered towards research which focuses on solving key challenges in society;
• promotion of new networks for open innovation;
• higher investment in research, education and innovation;
• better coordination between research and innovation programmes;
• and insistence on open competition in all EU programmes.

The five expert groups include the European Research Area Board (ERAB), the Business Panel on future EU innovation policy appointed by DG Enterprise and Industry, the Expert Group on the role of Community research policy in the knowledge-based economy, made up of experts convened by DG Research, the European Technology Platforms Expert Group and the non-profit Science/Business Innovation Board.

For more detail on these recommendations please click here
 

To avoid situations of double taxation, there are guidelines for suppliers on establishing the location and tax status of the customer, as this will determine the rate of VAT that must be paid.  Other guidelines focus on the provisions within the VAT Package which complement or provide exceptions to these general new rules.

Under the new legislation, VAT for business-to-business services is to be paid in the country of consumption rather than the country where the supplier is located.  For business-to-consumer services, VAT will continue to be paid in the Member State in which the supplier is established.

The VAT Package, which was adopted by Member States in February 2008 also provides for a faster, more effective electronic procedure for businesses to reclaim the VAT that they pay in a Member State other than the one in which they are established.

For more information, see what's new?
 

A broad range of measures have been implemented in various Member States over the course of 2009 in order to assist SMEs on a number of levels.  This has been an important step given the current economic and financial difficulties encountered by many small companies.

Some of the main new measures relevant to UK businesses include:

• Reduction in the average time and cost to start-up a private limited company to 8 days and £370.
• UK central government has committed to pay all bills within 10 days.
• 40% reduction in fees for EU trade mark rights and simplified registration procedures.
• Business Link is now the UK one-stop-shop for company creation, making it much easier to set up a new company in the UK.

For more information on the Small Business Act 2008 please click here.

According to the report, many organisations recognise that innovation across all aspects of their businesses is of increasing importance in order to ensure their survival and growth.

However, whilst companies and organisations consider innovation within their areas of business as important, the reality of implementing these innovative practices is very different.  Unfortunately, with the bite of the recession, some companies who would like to test out new innovative ideas are simply unable to do so due to current lack of resources and facilities. 

So how can companies be innovative if they don’t have the resources to do so? There are many ways in which an organisation can be innovative and it doesn’t have to be developing new breakthrough technology.  Certain types of innovation, such as incremental innovation in business processes, require far fewer resources but can still have significant impact on businesses.  Seizing market opportunities and responding quickly to challenges are other ways in which companies can be innovative without incurring high costs in terms of time and money.   

For more detailed information on the NESTA report please click here.

The basis for this article was sourced from NESTA.
 

The Professional Qualifications Directive facilitates free movement of citizens who wish to establish themselves as a self-employed person or as a worker, or who wish to go cross-border on a temporary basis. 

The  “user’s guide” offers professionals practical information on how to exercise their right to work in another Member State.  It includes 66 questions and responses on the typical situations a professional might be confronted with in the recognition of his/her qualification when moving to another Member State.

More than 800 professions, which Member States regulate, are covered by the Professional Qualifications Directive.  These are professions that can be pursued in other countries only if certain professional qualifications have been acquired. 

A number of professionals in the health sector and architects already enjoy automatic recognition of their qualifications acquired in their country of origin, because the conditions for such qualifications are harmonised at European level.  Professionals from the craft sector benefit also from automatic recognition of the qualifications if they have reached a certain professional experience in their Member State of origin.  For remaining professions, the Directive foresees a system of mutual recognition of qualifications on a case by case basis.  This is to allow qualified citizens to have their qualifications recognised in the host Member State where they wish to be active.

A scoreboard has also been published providing an overview of how Member States have implemented the Directive in view of the deadline, 20 October 2007.  Five Member States – Austria, Belgium, France, Greece and Luxembourg have not done so.  Click here to download this document for more detailed information.

More information and the user’s guide can be accessed here.

The Directive, adopted in 2005, is a landmark piece of legislation which protects EU consumers from a broad range of unfair trading practices, and especially from misleading and aggressive sales techniques.  It aims to help consumers make informed choices and create a level playing field for businesses across the EU.  Some of the practices blacklisted by the Directive include fake "free" offers, bait advertising or inertia selling.

Since the Directive was adopted, national enforcers have found it difficult to apply some of the rules, including how to apply them in a uniform way across Europe.  The European Commission has put together this new guide to ensure a common understanding of those provisions of the Directive which have been considered unclear, to allow consumers equal protection wherever they shop in the EU.  It also aims to ensure that businesses understand what to expect regardless of where in the EU they market their goods. 

To find out more about which practices are banned under the Directive, please visit Is it fair?

The full text of the guide is available here.
 

The new threshold for construction contracts is €4,845,000 (£3,927,260).  For services and supply contracts, the value for those contracts issued by central government bodies is €125,00 (£101,323), whereas for local authorities and similar organisations it will be €193,000 (£156,442).  Slightly higher values will apply for service and supply contracts put out to tender by public utility organisations, €387,000 (£313,694).
 

All the new values will apply for contracts put out to tender from 1st January 2010.  
 

Click here for more information about public procurement legislation.
 

The so called ‘road package’ aims to make rules easier in the road haulage and passenger transport sector.  The new regulations are expected to generate administrative savings of €190 million a year to European road transport undertakings, involving transport of goods or passengers.

Some of the main changes include stricter rules on the establishment of undertakings; allowing drivers of certain types of transport to take compulsory rest periods after 12 days instead of 6 to facilitate coach holidays; and listing serious infringements which could mean a road transport operator loosing the right to work in the sector.

In order to avoid empty trips, there will be harmonised rules on cabotage, where transport of goods (or passengers) between two points in the same country will be allowed up to three times within seven days following the unloading of any international transport.  This can be proven with the freight document alone.  There will also to be an electronic linking of national registers of road transport undertakings, to facilitate exchange of information between Member States.

These new rules will apply within 24 months from the date of publication/entry in the Official Journal.  The provisions on cabotage and 12 days derogation for rest period for tour coach drivers will apply within 6 months.

See Road Transport for more information.

The package for an enhanced patent system in Europe includes several major elements to bring about a single EU patent and establish a new patent court in the EU.  A specialised patent court would allow cases to be heard before judges with the highest level of legal and technical expertise in this field. 

The benefit of a unified court would mean that parties do not have to litigate in parallel in different countries.  The costs of parallel litigation can amount to at least €500 000 in a typical case and this sum would be cut drastically by a unified court.  The estimated saving is as much as €289 million per annum for European companies.

Ministers have agreed an approach on an EU Patent Regulation.  The next step is for the European Parliament to debate this.  However, the creation of an EU patent will also depend on a solution to be found for translation agreements, the subject of a separate Regulation.

More information is available at: Patents.
 

The consultation process involved experts as well as citizens in general, with a view to gathering ideas on future actions that can help further improve road safety in the EU.  Some of the discussion panels included the safety of vehicles and of infrastructure, with focus on the safety of motorcycles, vehicles of the future such as electric cars, eco-driving, and on how to adjust infrastructure to different categories of road users.  Panellists represented road victims, professional drivers, public authorities, traffic police and vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and elderly people as well as industry representatives.

A new section on the EUROPA website has also been launched dedicated to road safety.  The web pages are provided in user friendly Member State languages, with the use of pictograms and other readily understandable information.  The information can be accessed on road safety per category of road users such as car drivers, motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists.  Click here to access.

Further information can also be accessed via European Road Safety Charter.
 

Employees returning from parental leave will have the right to request changes to their working hours for a limited period.  In considering such requests, employers will be obliged to balance the needs of the employee as well as the company.  Governments and employers/unions will be obliged to assess the specific needs of parents of adopted children, and children with a disability or long-term illness.

The new rights will apply to all workers, regardless of their type of contract (e.g. fixed-term, part-time, agency workers).  However, the possibility of a qualification period of maximum one year is maintained.  The new Directive is expected to be formally adopted in the coming months.  Member States will then have two years to transpose the new rights into national law.

Click here to view a video news release.  Please contact Enterprise Europe Yorkshire if you would like more information.
 

Some of the plans for the EU telecoms reform package include an open internet, a single European telecoms market and high-speed internet connections. 

A new European Telecoms Authority “BEREC” (Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications) allows the heads of the 27 national telecoms regulators to make decisions by majority.  BEREC also advises, supports and complements the independent work of national telecoms regulators, especially when it comes to regulatory decisions with cross-border relevance.

The new rules give the European Commission the power to oversee regulatory remedies proposed by national regulators, to avoid inconsistent regulation that could distort competition in the single telecoms market. 

European citizen’s privacy is a priority of the new telecoms rules.  It is to introduce mandatory notifications for personal data breaches – the first law of its kind in Europe. 

The whole telecoms reform package is be adopted into national legislation in the 27 Member States by June 2011.

A further important reform, the modernisation of the GSM Directive, in parallel to the negotiations on the telecoms reform was adopted in October 2009.  It allows operators to introduce new services, starting with 3G and extending later to new technologies.  Click here to read more about this.

 For greater detail on the EU Telecoms Reform please click here. 

Who can apply?
The Eurostars Programme addresses a niche market of research and innovation-performing businesses that fulfill the EU-adopted definition of an SME, are based in a Eurostars participating country and that, in addition, invest 10% or more of full-time equivalent or annual turnover in research activities.

What kind of research is applicable?
It can address any technological area, but must have a civilian purpose and be aimed at the development of a new product, process or service. A Eurostars project is collaborative, meaning it must involve at least two participants (legal entities) from two different Eurostars participating countries. In addition, the main participant must be a research-performing SME from one of the 32 participating countries.

A Eurostars project should also be market-driven: it must have a maximum duration of three years, and within two years of project completion, the product of the research should be ready for launch onto the market. The exception to this rule applies to biomedical or medical projects, where clinical trials must be started within two years of project completion.

When is the deadline for applications?
The 4th EURKEA’s Eurostars programme is open for funding applications on a continuous basis. The next application submission deadline is 25th February 2010.

For more information on the programme please click here.

The fifth training intake of METP, or "METP 5", is inviting applications. Training will begin 17 May 2010 and the deadline for submitting applications is 18.00h (Beijing time) on 7 January 2010.

The three components of METP 5 are the following:

• A joint Intercultural Training in Beijing of all Chinese and European managers participating in the METP (2 weeks);
• A Business Chinese Language Training at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing (7 months); and
• A work placement in China (3 months).

For more details on the METP 5 and how to apply, please click here

The European Commission has reported that implementation and enforcement of EU waste law remains poor for the Waste Framework Directive, the Landfill Directive, and the Waste Shipment Regulation.  Apparently in many cases, waste treatment is either missing or not collected separately.  As a result, reuse, recycling and recovery targets for waste streams such as electrical and electronic equipment, end-of-life vehicles or packaging are being missed.

The Commission believes that waste legislation offers significant opportunities for EU companies to innovate and access valuable secondary raw materials.  If properly implemented, and enforced, it estimates that EU waste legislation could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30%.  Where legislation has been implemented, such as recycling and recovery rates for packaging, clear environmental benefits have reportedly been yielded.  A landfill ban for waste tyres has increased tyre recovery to 95%, generated a strong market for tyre-derived materials and reduced fire hazards in landfill sites.

Some of the Commission’s actions to support Member States in better waste management implementation include: awareness raising and information exchange events, guidance documents on EU Waste legislation, joint enforcement actions, and inspection activities.  It is also investigating the feasibility of creating an EU Waste Implementation Agency to help address the problem of inadequate progress and enforcement deficit.

Click here to access the published reports or for more information see DG Environment waste homepage.  Please contact Enterprise Europe Yorkshire if you would like more information on summaries of legislation or statistics.
 

The Commission has sent what is known as a “reasoned opinion” to the UK Government, claiming that the Directives on gender equality and discrimination based on religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation have not been transferred into UK law correctly.

In the case of the legislation on gender equality, it has a number of concerns, including the fact that – in its view - the definition of indirect discrimination is too narrow, as it does not cover potential discrimination, and also that the exceptions to the principle of non-discrimination on the basis of sex for certain jobs are too wide.

The Commission’s concerns about the second Directive include the fact that there is no clear appeals procedure in the case of disabled people and the exceptions to the principle of non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for religious employers are broader than that permitted by the Directive.

The “reasoned opinion” is the second stage of proceedings for potential infringement of EU law.  The UK now has two months to reply.  If this response does not address the Commission’s concerns to its satisfaction, the latter may refer the matter to the European Court of Justice.
 

Despite the economic crisis companies are still investing heavily in many sectors.

US companies appear to be investing in high R&D intensity sectors such as pharmaceuticals and IT sectors. By contrast, EU companies are leading the way in the so-called medium-high and medium-low R&D intensity sectors, such as automobile and parts, electrical equipment or chemicals.

Two EU companies, Volkswagen and Nokia, are among the top 10 global R&D investors and they lead the way in demonstrating the increasing importance which companies are placing on R&D investment.

For a more detailed analysis on the 2008 “EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard” please click here.
 

Facilitating access to official information on companies for third parties was one of the objectives of the First Company law Directive in 1968. Its 2003 amendment ensured that all Member States have electronic business registers as of 2007. Furthermore, other requirements in EU law, such as the cross-border mergers directive, and the directive on branch disclosure, have made the day-to-day co-operation of business registers a necessity.

Nevertheless, the co-operation between business registers remains voluntary and does not seem to be sufficient to achieve certainty in all cross-border legal procedures nor to increase transparency in the Single market.  It is hoped that by gaining better access to company information this will create more transparency and legal certainty in Europe.

More information is available via our consultation list.  See ‘Gaining better access to company information’.
 

The new EU rules on payment services and cross-border payments now in force will also help to ensure that SEPA Direct Debits are as efficient and secure as national schemes without being more expensive.

Direct debits are already in widespread use in many euro area countries. However, there was until now no pan-European scheme in place for making these payments possible across borders. 

The introduction of the SEPA Direct Debit scheme allows both single and recurrent direct debit collections to be made for transactions of unlimited amounts in euro only. 

For UK consumers and businesses making payments in the euro area country there will still be benefits to the services and rules that apply to cross border payments, although currency conversion may mean that payments cannot be made quite as fast as a pure euro payment. 

The new rules extend the principle of equal changes for national and cross-border payments to direct debits, in addition to credit transfers, electronic payments (including card transactions) and ATM withdrawals.

A consultation on a Commission working document, providing guidance to participants in the SEPA Direct Debit scheme is now open for comment. Please click here for more information.

For more details on the new SEPA Direct Debit scheme and how this will affect consumers and businesses please click here. 
 

50 successful applicants will be given the opportunity to showcase their products and services to potential customers and investors at the Innovation Showcase. Each business will be allocated an exhibition stand, giving them exposure to more than 2000 delegates. These delegates will be looking for advice, contacts and investment opportunities.

Running alongside the Innovation Showcase is the Investment Competition. The latter will give up to ten applicants the chance to pitch their business idea to a panel of judges. This Dragon’s Den style competition has a prize package worth more than £25 000 up for grabs.

Venturefest is supported by Yorkshire Forward and is sponsored by a number of organisations including Business Link Yorkshire, Connect Yorkshire and Science City York.

To find out more about the event including information on application deadlines, please click here.
 

The study was carried out by an external contractor as part of the European Commission’s strategy to combat tax evasion and fraud. It provides estimates of the VAT gap, which is the difference between the theoretical net VAT liability for the economy as a whole and the actual accrued VAT receipts.  Although this allows for an estimation of the VAT gap in the economy as a whole, it does not allow identify the sector, goods traded, or type of business more susceptible to VAT fraud.  The VAT gap includes, among other things fraud, legal avoidance, and unpaid VAT liability due to insolvencies.

The study comes up with an estimate VAT gap varying between € 90 billion and € 113 billion in the period 2000-2006. For 2006, this represents 12% of the theoretical VAT liability with important national differences.

The study and further information on the strategy to combat VAT fraud and evasion can be found here.
 

The overall aim of policy in this area is to make it easier for consumers to identify and choose welfare-friendly products. It equally gives producers the possibility of applying higher standards in order to market their products more effectively. To achieve this, the report suggests the establishment of a voluntary Community Animal Welfare Label open to for all use, provided they meet the criteria. In conjunction with this, labelling of welfare standards for farm animals for food production has also been suggested in the Commission's report.

A further idea is to set up a European Network of Reference Centres for the protection and welfare of animals. This has the aim of providing technical support for the development and implementation of animal welfare policies.

Whilst the report does not endorse the suggestions outlined above, the ideas put forward were the result of a feasibility study from 2007- 2009. They will now be explored in greater depth in the upcoming discussion between the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament.
 

For more  detailed information on this report please click here

The illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing regulation will control all landings and transhipments of third-country fishing vessels in Community ports as well as all trade of marine fishery products to and from the Union.

Estimations show that IUU fishing accounts for almost 20% of all marine catches worldwide and according to Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg, ‘it jeopardises the marine environment, the sustainability of fish stocks and marine biodiversity.’

Despite having one of the largest fishing fleets in the world, the Union is also the single largest importer of fishery products. Therefore in order to prevent IUU fishing being sold on the Community market, a catch certification scheme has been set up. This will enable all marine fishery products from and into the Community to be fully traceable. It will also help countries to comply with their own conservation and management rules.

In addition to the certification scheme, a Community alert system is to be introduced. This will detect the most suspect cases of illegal practices and any non-cooperating third countries.
 

The main focus of the Commission’s proposals is to detail the scope for the Authorities to exercise their powers as well as to harmonise the financial rules. Once approved by the Council and Parliament, these proposals will bring about the creation of three new European Supervisory Authorities scheduled to take place by the end of 2010. 

The new Authorities will take over the functions of the existing committees as well as take on more responsibilities. Notably they will also be responsible for resolving cases of disagreement between national supervisors, exercising direct supervisory powers for Credit Rating Agencies and playing a coordination role in emergency situations.

More proposals for technical amendments to sectoral Directives are envisaged by the Commission early in 2010, in particular in the insurance sector, which is not covered by the current proposal. 

For more detail regarding the new financial services proposals please click here.

An independent mystery shopper exercise was carried out for the Commission where shoppers across the EU tried to purchase a list of 100 popular products such as cameras, CDs, books, clothes – from a cross border provider.  The research found that 60% of cross border transactions could not be completed by consumers because the trader did not ship the product to their country or did not offer adequate means for cross border payment.  Latvia, Belgium, Romania and Belgium are the countries where consumers were least able to buy cross border.

In more than half of Member States, 50% or more of the products could be found 10% cheaper (transport included) from a website in another country.  Also 50% of products searched could not be found on national sites and were only offered by another Member State trader.

The report outlines some priority areas for tackling barriers to cross-border online trade.  These include a proposal for a Consumer Rights Directive which aims to replace the current confusing patchwork of laws with one simple EU-wide set of rules.  Currently some retailers must deal with several tax authorities, or face different national rules on recycling electronic waste, and may end up paying copyright levies in several countries.  The Commission’s proposals address value added tax and recycling fees to simplify cross-border rules for consumers.

More details on this article can be found here.

Click here to see a copy of the report.

The Financial Services KTN will also deliver innovation within the financial services sector, and will facilitate the innovation process by providing businesses with networking and partnering opportunities and with up-to-date knowledge on markets and technologies. Registered members will benefit from access to advisory services aimed at facilitating business and technological success, for example in R&D funding and collaboration building, project financing, supply-chain opportunity, technology investment and updates, market and policy information.

Membership of the KTN will be free of charge and open to the entire financial services community, including industry investors, academia, innovators, government bodies and regulators.

To visit the financial services KTN website please click here.
 

This article was sourced from the Technology Strategy board.

This month the Commission has published an overview of their progress so far towards achieving this aim. According to the report, measures already in place and adopted by the Commission could bring a saving of €7.6 billion to European businesses once they are implemented into the national legislation of the Member States.

Some of the major proposals adopted by the EU include the less burdensome accounting and auditing rules for which SMEs can already apply.  Another forthcoming change is the new Cross-border ‘VAT package’ for businesses supplying and/or receiving services to other businesses, which will come into force in the UK on 1st January 2010.  These new rules will mean that business-to-business services will be taxed in the Member State of the customer.

In addition to these changes, a large number of other improvements to cut administration time and costs for SMEs have been or will be proposed over the following months by the Commission.

For a full list of the proposed improvements please click here. 

To find out more about the Cross-border VAT changes for 2010 please click here.

Cot-related accidents are responsible for more childhood deaths every year than any other child-care product. And yet despite the number of serious and even fatal accidents cause by cot mattresses, baby duvets and sleeping bags, there are at present no EU safety standards for these types of products.

The proposed new standards will reduce the risk of cot-related accidents such as choking on loose parts or asphyxiation accidents from cords or loops.

Other important standards relating to the stability and design requirements of suspended baby beds and cot mattresses will be implemented as well as the obligation to publish clear warnings and instructions on any specific risks linked to each product.

To view the results of this EU study in more detail please click here.

Member States have until 5 December 2011 to implement the European Directive into their national legislation.  The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is seeking views on the conditions for temporary workers with regard to implementation in the UK.  It proposes to implement on the basis of the CBI/TUC agreement of May 2008, which allows for equal treatment to apply after a temporary agency worker has been in a given job for 12 weeks.

The second consultation document sets out the Government’s proposed approach to implementation of the Directive in light of earlier policy consultation in 2009.  Providing a synopsis of responses to the previous consultation, it sets out how it intends to proceed, and currently seeks comments on the implementation of the draft regulations.  Key elements include who should be covered by the Directive, the definition of pay, holiday entitlement, duration of working time, the 12 weeks qualifying period, how the principle of ‘equal treatment’ should be established, liability for compliance under the Directive, and dispute resolution.

Responses to the consultation must be received by Friday 11 December 2009.  See here for more information.
 

Tax laws of Member States with regards to cross-border withholding tax relief are rather complex and the procedures currently in place to verify claims for withholding tax relief are often so time-consuming that investors are foregoing the relief to which they are entitled. Indeed a study by the Commission services shows that the costs related to reclaim procedures are estimated at an annual value of €1.09 billion. This compares with an estimated annual amount of foregone tax relief of €5.47 billion.

The recommendation expresses therefore a number of ways in which the process for claiming withholding tax relief may be facilitated for investors, thus eliminating some of the tax barriers and administrative burdens that financial institutions currently face. At the same time it also provides guidance to Member States on how to protect tax revenues against errors or fraud and how to ensure that procedures to verify entitlement to tax relief do not hinder the functioning of the Single Market.

To read more about this news item and other EU taxation issues please click here.

Digital libraries will provide researchers and consumers across Europe with new ways to gain access to knowledge.  However, the issue of orphan works (i.e. publications without a rightholder), which are protected by copyright, is problematic as it means that without the required authorisation that publication cannot be digitised.

A further problem area to tackle is the improvement to the distribution and availability of works for persons with disabilities, particularly the visually impaired, as currently only 5% of European publications are available to them in accessible formats.

The Commission will now engage in a stakeholder dialogue to find viable cost-effective solutions to these problems as, according to Commissioners, Europe can not afford to be left behind on the digital frontier.

For more information on the Communication please click here 
 

Under the REACH legislation (Registration Evaluation & Authorisation of CHemicals), the deadline to inform  suppliers is 30th November 2009.  This applies only if the substance needs to be registered before 1st December 2010. 

ECHA has published a fact sheet that provides background information to this legal requirement. To access the ECHA website please click here. 
 

In addition there is REACH guidance available on the national Health and Safety website. To view this information please click here
 

The deal, estimated to be worth up to EUR 19 billion in new trade for EU exporters, could remove virtually all tariffs between the two economies, as well as many non-tariff barriers. The agreement could also create new market access in services and investment.

EU-Korea goods trade was worth EUR 65 billion in 2008 and there has been a 78% increase in EU unit car sales to Korea from 2005 – 2008. Similarly, for agricultural products Korea is one of the more valuable export markets globally for EU farmers, with annual sales in excess of 1 EUR billion. 

One of the key benefits of the deal for the European Union would be the quick elimination of EUR 1.6 billion of duties for exporters to Korea.  Service sectors such as telecommunications, environmental, legal, financial and shipping are expected to see some of the greatest benefits, with substantial commitments from Korea to liberalise these sectors.

As far as the entry into force of the free trade agreement, this is expected to take place in the second half of 2010, once it  is approved by the EU insitutions.

For more information on this free trade agreement please click here

This new Regulation will come into force on the 1st January 2010 and the 2001 Directive on the same subject will be repealed as from 31st December 2009.

For further information on EU legislation concerning food for specific uses please contact Enterprise Europe Yorkshire on 0800 052 8156
 

METRC is providing short term project funding designed to support small research projects, to explore the feasibility of innovative new products and processes.

In the first stage, funds of up to £3,000 are available to support collaborative projects between industry and METRC’s academic members.The funding can be used flexibly on various things such as project consumables, research and development and consultancy work

Second stage funds of £7,000 are available for the most successful projects providing there is a match from the industrial partner. Application for the 2nd stage of the funding will open on January 1st 2010. There is funding available to support up to 10 stage 2 projects.

If you would like to discuss a project idea please contact one of the METRC team either on 0114 222 9450 or by email at METRC@sheffield.ac.uk

To visit the METRC website please click here

ICT equipment and services alone account for approximately 8% of electrical power used in the EU and approximately 2% of carbon emissions. However, using ICT in a smart way and implementing new energy saving measures could help reduce both energy consumption and carbon emissions for households and businesses alike.

With this objective in mind, the Commission has recommended that the EU countries agree on common methodologies for smart metering by the end of 2010. Partnerships between the ICT industry and in particular the buildings, transport and logistics sectors have been highlighted as the key areas where energy efficiency through the use of ICT is still largely untapped.

According to the Commission, the ecological advantages of ICTs are also evident. If Europe were to replace only 20% of all business trips by video conferencing then more than 22 million tons of CO2 could be saved each year.

European ICT companies who therefore commit to improving energy efficiency and carbon reducing measures could benefit from a number of new future business opportunities. 

To read the full details of this Recommendation by the European Commission please click here 
 

In addition the UK continues to take second place on leading scientific indicators, notably with regards to clinical, health, biological, environmental and social sciences.

The Minister for Science and Innovation, Lord Drayson, commented on the report by stating that ‘supporting the science community and maintaining our excellent research base is critical to the UK’s future economic growth and prosperity. This is why the government will invest a record level of almost £6 billion in UK science and research by 2011.’

The study also revealed an increase in international collaborations on research projects, with a rise in the number of UK papers co-authored with researchers from other countries such as France, Germany and the USA.

Furthermore, the quality of researchers in the UK is highlighted in the 2009 European Research Council (ERC) starting grants, where the UK had the highest success rates with over 40 of the 237 successful proposals. France holds second position with 31 grants.

The ERC starting grants provide support to promising research leaders of the future and calls for proposals are still open for some research areas.

For more information on the ERC grants please click here

To view the BIS Performance of the UK research base report in full please click here

This article was sourced from the BIS webpage

Following on only six months after the launch of the code of best practices for women in the ICT sector (IP/09/344) by the European Commission,  there are now 28 European companies who have signed up to this code of practice in order to encourage young women to study and follow careers in telecoms, technology and internet industries.

Although women account for 45% of all European PhDs, only a quarter of them are gained in engineering, manufacturing and construction. Moreover, out of the biggest European telecoms companies only 7% of the board members are female.

In addition, a new online directory for women in ICT has been unveiled this week. The directory gathers together all activities, job offers, legislation and statistics related to women in ICT.

For more information on women in the ICT sector and to see who has signed up to the code of best practices please click here

To view the new online directory click here

According to the Commission, several service contracts relating to the management of housing stock, which are commonly known as ‘Remodelled Management Arrangements’ (RMAs) by the Housing Association in question were awarded without a competitive tendering process having been carried out. 

Under the Public Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC, the Commission considers that the RMAs constitute public service contracts and as such should have been awarded on the basis of an open and transparent tendering process.

The United Kingdom will now have two months to review the situation and send a reply back to the Commission.  If there is no satisfactory reply, the Commission has the power to refer the matter to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and can also request that the ECJ impose a fine on the country if it does not comply with the court ruling.

For more information on EU public procurement click here

For the latest information on infringement proceedings concerning all Member States click here

Used in agriculture, medicine and industry, biocides are chemicals which are capable of killing living organisms, usually in a selective way.  They include many disinfectants, preservatives and pest control products. 

Under the European Directive adopted in 1998, a transitional period was provided for, up to 14th May 2010, during which Member States are allowed to authorise the placing of biocidal products on the market using national rules.  Over this period, a review has been taking place of all the active substances in biocides currently on the market, in order to check whether they are acceptable from the point of view of human and animal health and the environment.

However, it has now become clear that the review will not be finished in time and it has therefore been decided to extend the transitional and review period, to 14th May 2014, with an option to extend this for a maximum 2 more years if absolutely necessary.

For further information on the biocides Directive and its implementation in the UK, please see the website of HSE which is the responsible department at:  Biocides Directive or contact Enterprise Europe Yorkshire.
 

The EETS will be available on all infrastructures in the entire Community where tolls can be paid using on-board equipment. In the long term, the EETS will limit cash transactions at toll stations therefore improving traffic flow and reducing congestion.

Electronic toll systems have been in existence in many European countries since the early 1990s. However, these numerous national electronic road toll systems are usually incompatible with each other and therefore where international road transport is concerned, several on-board units are often required.

The decision by the Commission also details the rights and obligations of toll chargers, service providers and users. Users will also be able to subscribe to the service provider of their choice and the tolls paid via EETS may not exceed the corresponding national or local tolls.

EETS will be available within three years for all road vehicles above 3.5 tonnes or allowed to carry more than nine passengers, including the driver. It will be available for all other vehicles within five years.   
 

The aim of the competition, which is funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), is to encourage the development and commercialisation of innovative processes that will generate high value chemicals through industrial biotechnology.

The competition has already opened and is running until the 19th November 2009 and BIS will fund feasibility studies, predominantly for short-term projects, usually lasting up to six months, which are likely to cost up to £200 000. Up to 75% of funding may be available and applications can be made by single companies or by a consortium.

For a more detailed explanation of the competition please click here

This article was sourced from the Technology Strategy Board website.

It is thought that technology is blamed for the reduction in time people spend with each other as they can communicate indirectly through text and email rather than meeting up face to face. The TA2 project is aimed at changing this by investigating how technology can support group-to-group communication. The objective is to use this technology to help people nurture and sustain relationships between families, when they are away from home.

The project has been created to improve and develop group communication through the Internet. For example, participants will be able to communicate with others in a virtual room. Games sessions were held in which players competed against each other via the Internet. So having access to a game, for instance, will give people the chance to 'be' with their friends and family despite the distance.

The Fraunhofer IIS researchers on the TA2 team have also developed the 'Audio Communication Engine' for TA2. The engine consists of reciprocally tuned components that heighten the quality of sound and clarity of video and telephone conferences. The innovative technology also frees users from wearing headsets and therefore allows individuals to move around and due to sophisticated signal processing, users have the feeling that they are much closer to each other than they actually are.

This article was sourced from the CORDIS: FP7 website.

For more information on the TA2 project please click here

EGNOS is a satellite-based augmentation system that improves the accuracy of satellite navigation signals over Europe.  The accuracy of current GPS signals is improved from about ten metres to two metres.  The system can support applications in a number of different sectors including agriculture and the high-precision spraying of fertilisers, and transport for services such as automatic road-tolling.  It can also support much more precise personal navigations systems.  EGNOS will also be certified for use in aviation and other safety-critical areas in compliance with the Single European Sky regulation.   The operations of EGNOS are managed by the European Satellite Services Provider, ESSP SaS, a company based in Toulouse, France.  The EGNOS Open Service is accessible, without service guarantee or resulting liability, to any user equipped with a GPS / SBAS compatible receiver within the EGNOS coverage areas.  Most receivers sold in Europe now meet that requirement and no authorisation or receiver-specific certification is required.  For more information visit EGNOS

This should allow Member States to fight carousel fraud in a consistent manner across the European Union. It will particularly focus on greenhouse gas emission allowances that have been the subject of VAT fraud over the summer.

VAT fraud is a major concern for Member States’ revenues and the correct functioning of the Internal Market. A common form of this fraud is VAT carousel fraud. This type of fraud is traditionally organised with small goods of high value and derives from the ‘cap and trade’ EU emission trading system whose objective is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by allocating emission allowances which can then be transferred between operators. 

Transfers of allowances between taxable persons are considered as a supply of service and are therefore taxable at the place where the recipient is established. Under the temporary reverse charge mechanism the VAT would be accountable in the country of the supplier or sender and not the recipient.

However, the proposal is not intended to change the fundamental principles of the VAT system and for that reason is limited in scope, both as regards the number of goods/services and the duration of the application period.

The text of the proposal is available here.

For more information on the strategy to improve anti-fraud measures please  click here.

The current Regulation 823/2000 expires in April 2010 and allows ship liner companies to enter into cooperation with one another for the purpose of providing a joint service in transporting cargo.

The new Regulation, which will come into force once the current one expires, extends this current exemption in favour of cooperation for five more years. However, changes to the Regulation have been made, notably in the reduction of market share threshold from 35% to 30%, above which companies do not qualify for automatic exemption under the Regulation. A further amendment is that the scope of the new Regulation has been extended to all liner shipping cargo services, whether containerised or not. The duration of the exit-clauses and lock-in periods have also been prolonged to better reflect current market practice whilst also safeguarding the carrier’s flexibility.

The new Regulation will take over from the current one on 25 April 2010, giving the liner shipping industry sufficient time to adapt their arrangements to the revised rules.  

The Prospectus Directive came into force on 31st December 2003 and its implementation in Member States was required no later than 1st July 2005.

The main objective of the Prospectus Directive was to introduce an effective single passport regime for issuers of securities in the EU.

Despite the positive impact of this ‘passport mechanism’, further legal clarity and fewer administrative burdens for issuers and intermediaries have been formally suggested in the review of the Prospectus Directive. This review proposal derives from Article 31 of the Prospectus Directive which requires the European Commission to assess the application of the Directive five years after its entry into force.

To view the full details of the review proposal for the Prospectus Directive click here.

The new Regulation should lead to increased protection of human health and the environment in the use of plant protection products. It should also facilitate innovation by establishing clear criteria for approval of substances to be used in plant protection products, at the same time as favouring an open and competitive market for plant protection products in the European Union.

The new legislation will enter into force later this year and will become fully applicable 18 months following its date of publication in the Official Journal.

For more information concerning the subject area of plant health please click here.

The investigation looked at the 200 biggest websites and websites against which complaints had previously been logged.  The results showed that 55% of the websites showed irregularities relating to: misleading information about consumer rights; misleading information about the total cost of the product; or incomplete contact details for the trader. 

Websites selling electronic goods must comply with three crucial EU consumer laws: the Distance Selling Directive, the e-commerce Directive and the unfair Commercial Practices Directive. 

The initial checks made by national authorities will now be followed by an enforcement phase when companies will be contacted by national authorities and required to correct their websites or clarify their position.

Failure to bring a website in line with the law can result in legal action resulting in fines or websites being closed.

The EU-wide enforcement results will be presented by mid-2010.

For more in-depth information regarding this investigation please click here.

The IMI was established with the aim of developing better medicines on a shorter timescale for patients by removing research bottlenecks which exist in the current drug development process. It launched the first call of proposals in April 2008 with 15 selected proposals receiving a total of €246 million between them. The initiative has been successful in bringing together pharmaceutical companies, who are usually in competition, with academic stakeholders and hopes that new innovative medicines will reach European patients as quickly as possible. 

In addition to the calls for proposals, the IMI has also introduced Professor Michel Goldman as their new Executive Director. Professor Goldman has a wealth of experience in immune-mediated disorders as well as immune-based biotherapies and his appointment is seen as an important step towards IMI’s complete autonomy from the European Commission and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA).
 

For more information on the IMI and to view the topics which comprise IMI's second call for proposals please visit the website www.imi-europe.org

The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), a £60m collaboration between the University of Sheffield and aerospace giant Boeing, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with several leading Danish firms and institutions to explore the development of an AMRC in Denmark.

The AMRC is dedicated to developing the new technology-driven strategies for materials-forming, metal-working, and castings that help ensure UK manufacturing remains competitive around the world.

The new project - offered by the AMRC in support of Boeing’s industrial commitment to Denmark - would bring together industry, government and academic institutions to create a Danish centre of excellence for the development of advanced manufacturing methods needed in key growth industries such as energy and aerospace.

The ARMC works in partnership with over 40 organisations and its model has also been replicated in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, India and Australia.

This news item was sourced from TheBusinessDesk.com and the full article can be viewed at: BusinessDesk
 

The government-backed Technology Strategy Board is working to encourage UK business to continue to innovate throughout the recession, in order to be in a strong position as the economy starts to recover.

The investment is being delivered as part of a new fast-track investment process designed to enable businesses to gain quick access to finance so that they can carry out feasibility studies.  With this funding, businesses in a broad range of areas will carry out studies and produce reports showing how they might create innovative new technologies, products or services.  This would enable them to work up their ideas and to compete for Technology Strategy Board funding for longer-term technology development.

The £6m will be made available in three separate competition calls, one focusing on the government's Digital Britain agenda, a second on Regenerative Medicine and a third Technology Inspired call, incorporating a range of priority areas from Advanced Medicines to High Value Manufacturing.

This article was sourced from The Technology Strategy Board website and the full article can be viewed at: Technologystrategyboard

The paper looks at practical ways to reduce the retail sector's energy consumption. It also outlines a number of cost-effective measures which can bring significant benefits in the short-term, such as introducing low energy lighting and using refrigerators and freezers in a more efficient way.

Furthermore, it highlights a number of examples of best practice from both food and non-food retailers that have improved their energy efficiency through a mix of environmentally-friendly design, materials and the use of innovative technologies. As well as lowering the environmental footprint of the retail sector, it also aims to ensure greater availability of environment-friendly and energy-efficient products in shops and better information to consumers on how to use products in the most ecological way.

A second paper, on the optimisation of transport and logistics, will be issued later this year. Over the next three years, the Retail Forum will issue a dozen papers providing a set of proposals for action in important environmental areas for the retail sector. Further details and the paper can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/industry/retail/index_en.htm
 

This Communication highlights the need for a greater collaboration between the private sector, national authorities and consumers in order to combat the damaging effects of counterfeiting and piracy on EU economies. 

Intellectual property rights reassure consumers that products and services purchased or used are legitimate and safe. However, piracy and counterfeiting are posing threats to businesses and consumers alike and the Commission is therefore proposing measures in an attempt to enforce intellectual property rights.

The actions in this communication aim to create a new EU Observatory on counterfeiting and piracy which will collect data and analyse the scale of the problem as well as raise awareness and propose solutions. Greater exchange of information and cooperation across Europe, including the building of coalitions between stakeholders will also help to overcome conflicts and focus on concrete problems related to intellectual property.

 
For more information see IP rights in the internal market.

The report on European innovation policy notes a number of areas where progress has been made, but also highlights others where further improvements are needed at both European and Member State level.

Amongst the achievements which the Commission reports are steps such as the European Small Business Act and new State aid rules which it believes give member countries more effective tools to support R&D and innovation.  It also highlights the lowering of the costs of European trademark registration and the introduction of a Directive designed to make it easier to provide services in other European countries.

However, the Commission believes that the fragmented and costly patent regime in Europe remains a barrier to innovation and that further use of ICT will be required.  It also finds that the potential of public sector purchasing to support innovation is yet to be fully exploited and that the procedures for small & medium sized companies wishing to access EU R&D and innovation funding need to be reviewed and simplified further.

To read more about the report and the proposals for future policy on innovation, see Innovation Policy.  Alternatively contact the Enterprise Europe Yorkshire team on 0800 052 8156.
 

At the end of July, the Commission launched a €25 million call for proposals for research into alternative safety testing methods and the European Cosmetics Association (Colipa) committed to match the funds.  As a result, up to €50 million will be allocated to research projects laying the scientific foundation for future safety testing methods with a higher predictive value, and that will be faster and cheaper than animal tests.

The European Commission is committed to finding alternatives methods to animal testing, whilst increasing the safety of products for consumers.  The recent call focuses on ‘repeated dose systemic toxicity’, which involves predicting the toxicity of repeated use of substances, over a long period of time.  The Commission is seeking proposals for research projects involving a wide range of scientific partners across Europe and looking at  the following topics:

• development of organ-stimulating devices
• use of human-based target cells
• definition of new toxicological endpoints and intermediate markers
• computational modelling techniques
• exploitation of approaches developed in systems biology
• integrated data analysis and scientific services

For further information on this call please contact Enterprise Europe Yorkshire on 0800 052 8156 or info@ee-yorkshire.com

A new European Directive has just been adopted to try to coordinate how EU Member States go about purchasing certain defence equipment, works and services with the aim of opening up this market and strengthening Europe’s defence technology and industrial base.

Up to now, member countries have been able to make considerable use of an exemption from usual EU procurement rules, granted to them under the EU Treaty, when purchasing equipment or services to be used by their defence forces.

By putting a common legislative framework in place, it is hoped to increase openness and transparency in defence procurement and boost the competitiveness of the defence-related supplier base in Europe, whilst also respecting the need to protect national security.  The new Directive covers a range of issues such as the advertising of contract opportunities, the procurement procedures to be followed and the permitted criteria for selection of suppliers, as well as the security of supply and information.  The new rules apply to the procurement of arms, munitions and war material and also to sensitive non-military contracts in areas such as protection against terrorism which often have similar features to defence contracts.

Member States now have 2 years to adopt national provisions to implement the new Directive.

To find out more about the Directive, please see Defence Procurement or call the Enterprise Europe Yorkshire team on 0800 052 8156.
 

The EU has announced that it is to invest €18 million (c. £15.5 million) into research that will underpin next generation 4G mobile networks.

It will fund research on Long Term Evolution (LTE) Advanced technology, that will offer mobile internet speeds up to 100 times faster than current 3G networks. 

LTE is the latest wireless technology and is currently being trialled by mobile operators in Finland, Germany, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Offering mobile internet speeds of 100 megabits per second (10 times faster than 3G) it is also expected to be commercially available in Sweden and Norway in the first half of 2010.  The EU supported research on the optimisation and standardisation of LTE to the tune of €25 million (£21.5 million) between 2004 and 2007, in research projects involving 41 leading companies and universities.

Now it has decided to support LTE Advanced, through a project which unites 4G industry and researchers from Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK.  The projects are expected to start in January 2010 and aim to achieve mobile broadband speeds of up to 1 gigabit (1 thousand megabits) per second.  These speeds should allow users to benefit fully from sophisticated online services such as high quality TV and video on demand.

For further information on networks of the future see LTE, or contact the Enterprise Europe Network team on 0800 052 8156.

Hotels in the UK and the rest of Europe can learn from the experiences of other hoteliers about becoming more environmentally friendly, thanks to a project backed by the EU under its LIFE programme.

The project, called ShMILE, involved hotel chains, training institutions and environmental specialists in countries in the Mediterranean area.  Working together, they have developed a toolkit designed to increase knowledge about sustainable tourism and help hoteliers interested in adopting the European Eco-label for tourist accommodation services (ELTAS).

Created in 2003, the Eco-label is awarded to tourist accommodation owners who respect the environment in their operations.  In order to achieve the award, they must meet the requirements of the scheme. 

The CD-ROM based toolkit developed by the ShMILE project includes an audit tool, a description of good practices, a methodology for simple cost / benefit analysis and a decision-making tool.  It covers such topics as energy efficiency, water and waste management and nature conservation. 

Thanks to the support under LIFE, the project has also published a multi-lingual marketing guide to help tourist providers introduce green marketing strategies and three training modules for hotel staff and tourism students covering various subjects relating to sustainable tourism.

To download a copy of the Eco-label guide, visit the ShMILE website.

To find out more about LIFE and the projects it can support, please see LIFE or contact the Enterprise Europe Yorkshire team.
 

Excise duties are indirect taxes on the consumption or use of certain products.  The most commonly applied excise duties are those on alcoholic beverages, manufactured tobacco and energy products.  The new Directive provides a legal framework for the use of the Excise Movement Control System (EMCS) which will be applicable from 1 April 2010.

EMCS will replace the paper document that currently must accompany movement of excise goods under suspension of excise (the Administrative Accompanying Document, or AAD).  EMCS should mean a simplification of procedures, paperless administration and effective use of IT tools amounting to an important development for those who trade in alcohol, tobacco or oil products.  EMCS should also help to tackle excise fraud by creating a faster and more efficient means of information exchange between excise authorities. 

Additionally, the new Directive allows Member States to simplify existing rules for commercial movements, including distance sales, of excise goods from one Member State to another on which excise duty has already been paid in the Member State of dispatch.  For more information see What is EMCS?

If the proposal is adopted, the leave entitlement would apply per parent, with at least 1 month being strictly non-transferable between parents.  The proposed Directive would give this right to parental leave to all employees, regardless of their type of contract including part-time, fixed-term and agency workers.  However, there is the possibility of requiring a qualification period of up to one year’s employment.

Workers returning after parental leave would also have the right to request changes to their working hours or patterns, which employers must consider and respond to.

The proposed Directive will now go to the European Parliament and EU ministers for their consideration.

The services provided by ECC-Net concentrate on problems consumers have with traders when shopping cross-border.  For example, ECC-Net can advise consumers on their rights, provide information on EU and national consumer rules, help consumers reach an amicable solution with the trader or provide advice on out-of-court settlements for those who have not managed to reach an agreement with the trader.  ECCs also review key issues relevant to consumers so that their experience can be fed back into policy initiatives and enforcement of the rules.  In 2008 they reviewed air passenger rights complaints, the European online marketplace, and organised campaigns on consumer rights, for example in the energy market.

For further information, including access to the ECC in the UK see the ECC-Net website.

The 2002 Directive aimed to modernise EC law on gender equality.  It broadened the scope of protection by prohibiting discrimination in access to self-employment and membership of professional organisations.  It also defined more clearly various types of discrimination, banned sexual harassment and sought to protect workers who are pregnant or on maternity leave.  Additionally, it included an obligation to designate a national equality body in each Member State to assist victims of discrimination and otherwise promote, analyse, monitor and support equal treatment.

The latest report generally describes the implementation of the Directive in the Member States as ‘satisfactory’, although it notes that the Commission has had to take action against some national governments that have not yet brought their laws and procedures into line with the Directive.  Further information on the implementation of EU gender equality legislation can be found on the Commission’s website for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.

Some 46% of EU citizens also thought that the best way to promote green products would be to increase taxes on environmentally-damaging products and decrease taxes on environmentally-friendly products.  Britons were most in favour of such a double taxation system.  There was strong support overall for mandatory labelling, in the future, to indicate a product’s carbon footprint.  A carbon footprint label would show the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted during a product’s lifetime, from production to disposal.  No such scheme currently exists Europe-wide, but at the December 2008 Environment Council ministers invited the Commission to study the introduction of carbon footprint labelling.

For more information on the EU’s 2008 Action Plan on sustainable consumption and production see the Commission’s sustainable development website.

The 1987 GSM Directive (Global System for Mobile) reserves the use of part of the 900MHz spectrum band to GSM access technologies such as mobile phones.  However, the Directive needed to be brought up to date to allow more advanced, next-generation wireless technologies to also use this band of the radio spectrum. 

The updated Directive allows the 900 MHz frequency band to be used to provide faster, pan-European services such as mobile internet while ensuring the continuation of GSM services.  This is expected to encourage stronger competition in Europe’s telecoms market and contribute to more rapid and widespread roll-out of wireless broadband services.  Industry savings of up to €1.6 billion are expected from the reform of the GSM Directive, thanks to reductions in network costs resulting from the use of lower frequency bands.

Consumers’ existing handsets will continue to work normally, but they can also use new technologies to access high-speed broadband services. 

The Regulation has been modified to add four new test methods and update two existing ones.  These include a new in vitro test method which will reduce the number of animals used in testing chemicals for skin irritation, specifically rabbits which are most commonly used.  Conventional tests can require up to three rabbits per chemical tested. 

The Commission is committed to replacing, reducing and refining the testing of chemicals on animals with alternative test methods.  This first amendment to the Regulation on test methods for chemicals reflects the Commission's intention to speed up the availability of alternative test methods.  

The Regulation sets standards for determining whether certain substances are hazardous to human health and the environment.  This is believed to be fundamental for the operation of the European Union's chemicals legislation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals).  Legislation on cosmetics, detergents and biocides also makes use of the test methods in this Regulation.  The amendment will enter into force three days after its publication in the Official Journal. 
 

More information about the REACH legislation can be found here.
 

The regulation on motors sets energy performance requirements for most of the electric motors used in industrial applications.  It will foster the use of "variable speed drives", adjusting the motor output to actual needs instead of always operating at full capacity.  The regulation on circulators aims to shift the market to "intelligent" high efficiency circulators capable of adjusting their performance to the needs of the heating system.  The two regulations on televisions and refrigerators/freezers are expected to leave only energy efficient products on the market. 

It is hoped that the total of nine ecodesign regulations now put in place will save about 315 TWh of electricity per year by 2020 if fully implemented.

Further information on Ecodesign is available here.

Only businesses who are legal entities will qualify for an EORI number.  Branches and divisions are not legal entities and will not be entitled to an EORI number.  Therefore they must use the EORI number allocated to their parent company with effect from 1 July 2009, as their TURN number will not be accepted.

For more information about EORI, including the impact of traders authorised to use the NES Simplified Procedures, please see the HMRC website.

The Icelandic Parliament voted on 16th July 2009 to apply to join the European Union.

Following the vote, it will be up to the Icelandic Government to apply officially to the Presidency of the EU to join. 

Iceland is currently a member of the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) and has had close relations with the EU for 15 years as part of the European Economic Area.  If an application is submitted, the EU Member States would ask the European Commission to assess the country’s fulfilment of the criteria for joining and then would need to decide unanimously whether to grant Iceland candidate status and begin negotiations.

At present, Croatia, Macedonia and Turkey are candidate countries and Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo are seen as potential candidates.
 

Employers and trade unions in the healthcare sector have signed an EU-wide agreement designed to prevent injuries from needle sticks and other sharp objects.

Currently, more than 1 million such injuries occur each year, making them one of the most common health & safety threats in the European workplace.  Injuries from sharp objects can cause infections and lead to illnesses such as viral hepatitis or AIDS.

The agreement, which follows 5 months of negotiations, aims to achieve the safest possible working environment for healthcare workers, of which there are about 3.5 million in Europe.  It also aims to set up an integrated approach to assessing and preventing risks, as well as to train and inform workers. 

The European Commission will be tabling a proposal for a Directive in the autumn, in order to implement the agreement.  For further information, please contact Enterprise Europe Yorkshire.
 

The new Regulation calls on Member States to be fully prepared in case of supply disruption, through clear and effective emergency plans involving all stakeholders and incorporating fully the EU dimension of any significant disruption. The plans will be based on appropriate risk assessments.  A common indicator is provided for under the Regulation to define a serious gas supply disruption, known as “N-1” - the shut down of a major supply infrastructure or equivalent, such as an import pipeline or production facility. 

Member States would have a competent authority that would be responsible for monitoring gas supply developments, assessing risks to supplies, establishing preventive action plans and setting up emergency plans.  The Regulation would also oblige Member States to collaborate closely in a crisis, for example through a strengthened Gas Coordination Group and shared access to reliable supply information and data.

The new instrument has been prepared as a matter of urgency following a specific request from the European Council, the European Parliament and the Energy Council to improve the EU emergency response framework for gas.  It would replace the 2004 Gas Security Directive.
 
More information can be found here

The Commission believes that better transparency on planned and ongoing investment projects will help to assess whether there is a risk of infrastructure gaps over the coming years as a significant proportion of ageing capacities will have to be renewed or new capacities built in order to make the low carbon energy mix a reality. 

The proposal is a complement to other EU initiatives such as a framework of internal market rules and targets for the energy mix.  A figure of €3.98 billion has been earmarked for investment into energy infrastructure in the context of the European Economic Recovery Plan. 

It is expected that the new mechanism will be adopted by the Council of the European Union early in 2010.
 

Stakeholders are unhappy about the lack of harmonisation of regulatory requirements, in particular on independence rules for auditors and professional qualifications requirements.  The impossibility of providing cross-border services without multiple registration, as well as lack of harmonisation of liability limitations for auditors, are also identified as important barriers.

Some respondents would favour introducing governance rules for audit firms, as well as measures to address the lack of recognition of the actual audit capabilities of firms other than the four largest networks.  Suggestions in this respect include more frequent and transparent tender procedures, and the involvement of companies' audit committees and of shareholders in the tendering process. 

Respondents underline the need for action at the EU level, but any action should also take into account the global dimension of the issues.  Click here to see responses authorised for publication, together with a summary of all responses received.
 

• tighten up the way in which banks assess the risks connected with their trading book
• impose higher capital requirements for re-securitisations
• increase market confidence through stronger disclosure requirements for securitisation exposures
• require banks to have sound remuneration practices that do not encourage or reward excessive risk-taking

Under the new rules, banks would be restricted in their investments in highly complex re-securitisations if they couldn’t demonstrate that they fully understood the risks involved, while national supervisory authorities would review banks’ remuneration policies and have the power to impose sanctions if the policies did not meet the new requirements.  The proposal, which amends the existing Capital Requirements Directives, represents part of the EU’s response to the financial crisis and reflects consultation with Member States, banking supervisors and industry.  The purpose of the Capital Requirements Directives is to ensure the financial soundness of banks and investment firms.  Together they stipulate how much of their own financial resources they must have in order to cover their own risks and protect their depositors.  The proposal will now go to the European Parliament and Council of Ministers for consideration.

The Directive, approved in June, recognises that a key pull factor for illegal immigration into Europe is the possibility of obtaining work here without the required legal status.  It therefore provides for certain minimum sanctions and measures in every Member State against employers who employ non-EU national people who are staying illegally in their country. 

The legislation will oblige employers to check that a non-EU national is legally staying in the EU before taking them on and to notify the authorities of the employment of any third-country national.  Other provisions include a requirement on each Member State to introduce financial and other sanctions for non-compliance, including criminal penalties for serious cases such as persistent infringements or the employment of significant numbers of illegal workers.  Member States will also be required to carry out inspections to ensure compliance.

The UK introduced strict new laws in February 2008 to try to combat the employment of illegal immigrants and will have to check that these meet the requirements of the Directive, which must be implemented by July 2011.
 

Producers and distributors have an obligation to alert all Member States where dangerous goods are found on the market under the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD).  Up to now such notifications had to be sent to each Member State separately.  The new online system will make it possible for businesses to alert all Member States concerned at the same time in one step, simplifying and speeding up the process.

The GPSD Business Application is a secure Internet system.  It can be accessed by companies via the Commission’s website (https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/gpsd-ba/) where notification forms can be downloaded.  Once completed, a notification is submitted to the database where it will become available to the authorities of the Member States. 

For more information on the GPSD Business Application (including a manual on preparing a notification) and on the producers and distributors’ obligation to notify dangerous products see DG SANCO

It would have an initial budget of €100 million, which could leverage more than €500 million in a joint initiative with international financial institutions, in particular the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group.  This could result in around 45,000 loans over a period of up to eight years.  Workers who have lost their jobs or are at risk of losing them and want to establish their own businesses would have better access to funds and benefit from additional support measures such as mentoring, training and coaching. 

Micro-credit in the EU means loans under €25,000.  It is tailored to micro-enterprises (employing few than 10 people) and unemployed or inactive people who want to go into self-employment but do not have access to traditional banking services.  The Commission’s proposal will be discussed by EU Member States at the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.  The new ‘Progress Microfinance Facility’ is expected to be operational in 2010.

The five priorities set out in the Communication highlight areas where the Commission believes that work needs to be done to strengthen enforcement in the EU:

• Strengthening co-operative frameworks such as the CPC network and market surveillance systems for dangerous consumer products (RAPEX)
• Strengthening the transparency of market surveillance and enforcement investigations
• Working to develop common understandings on the interpretation of EU consumer law as well as on questions on applicable law
• Strengthening market monitoring, in particular the evidence base to identify markets where enforcement actions may be necessary
• Stepping up international co-operation through agreements with enforcement authorities in third countries such as the US and China

The Biennial Report element of the package assesses the application of the CPC Regulation in its first two years of operation.  The Network sets up a mechanism of mutual assistance, mainly through requests for information and requests to take enforcement action.  In its first two years, the CPC Network has reached a total of 719 mutual assistance requests.  For further information see Consumer Enforcement Package

Member States are being asked to implement a number of new guidelines in areas such as making practical information on opportunities in other EU countries readily available, improving cooperation between national authorities and strengthening the application and enforcement of Single Market rules on the ground.

The Commission has put forward its measures in the form of a non-binding Recommendation.  This follows on from the Single Market Review in 2008 which identified potential problems in making the Single Market work in practice.    Key measures in the Recommendation include:

• improving the implementation of Directives affecting the Single Market
• better monitoring of markets and sectors to identify potential market malfunctioning
• strengthening the enforcement of Single Market rules
• improving the provision of information to citizens and businesses about Single Market rights and cross-border opportunities

Progress in introducing the measures will be jointly monitored by the Commission and national administrations, and the Commission will report on overall achievements after four years.  For more information see:  Internal Market Strategy

The following companies have signed the MoU:  Apple, LG, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Qlacomm, Research in Motion (RIM), Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Texas Instruments.  The first generation of new inter-chargeable mobile phones should reach the EU market from 2010 onwards.

In bilateral trade between Switzerland and the EU, traders will not be obliged to provide customs with advance electronic information for security purposes.  With an average of 23,000 lorries and 4,400 rail wagons crossing the common borders each day, the European Commission believes that both the EU and Switzerland have an interest in implementing equivalent customs security measures in order to increase their citizens’ security whilst not disrupting trade.

Under the agreement, which will enter into force on 1st July 2009, Switzerland will implement customs security measures that are equivalent to those applied by the EU in its trade with third countries. This implies mutual recognition of systems of risk analysis and management, and of systems to facilitate reliable traders (the so-called EU AEO certificate).

Further information about the agreement can be found at Customs Security Agreement
 

• obligation to undergo a pre-market authorisation procedure for bio-proteins is abolished – bio-proteins will now have to comply with the general feed provisions
• creation of a guide to good labelling for farm animal feed and one for pet food
• establishment of a Community Catalogue of feed materials – the Regulation transfers the initiative for updating the EU’s list of feed materials from the legislator to feed operators
• list with prohibited substances for feed use

The Regulation is expected to enter into force later this year.  For more information see animal nutrition.

The Commission reports that, whilst 25 years ago the internet was connecting only about a thousand users, today it links around 1.5 billion people across the world.   An average European now has at least one object that it connected to the internet, whether it be a computer or a mobile ‘phone.  

However, it is estimated that the number of connected devices will multiply a hundred times - or maybe more – over the next 5-15 years. Examples of existing applications that connect objects to the internet and to each other include cars connected to traffic lights that try to combat congestion, home appliances connected to smart power grids and energy metering that allows people to monitor their electricity consumption.  Possible applications in the near future could include yoghurt pots that record the temperature along their supply chain or two prescription drugs that warn patients about a possible incompatibility.

To make sure that Europeans can benefit from these developments and that challenges such as privacy, security and protection of personal data are addressed, the Commission has put forward a 14-point action plan.

Amongst the actions proposed are continued support for research in this field, the launch of a debate on protection of individual’s private data where RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Devices) are used and work to define a set of principles underlying the governance of the “internet of things”.

For further details of the Action Plan, see Internet of Things

The agreement follows six months of negotiations between employers and unions and aims to bring up to date an earlier agreement on this issue, first signed in 1995.

As well as increasing the amount of leave, the agreement states that it will apply to all workers, regardless of their type of work contract (fixed-term, part-time etc).  It also gives those parents returning to work after such leave the opportunity to request a change in their working conditions (e.g. working hours) and increases protection not just against dismissal but also against any other unfavourable treatment as a result of exercising their right to parental leave.

In order to take effect, a European Directive will have to be adopted by a qualified majority of the Council of Ministers which is made up of representatives of each EU member country.
 

The agreement between the EU-level employers’ organisation (Coiffure Europe) and the European trade union for the sector (UNI-Europa Hair & Beauty) will set up a new European certificate proving hairdressers’ professional skills.

The certificate will be a voluntary one, to exist alongside national diplomas but it is hoped that it will increase the comparability of skills in professional hairdressing, so that workers can move around more easily.

To find out more about the new certificate, see Hairdressing Certificate

The European Commission has called for more transparency and multilateral accountability in the governance of the internet.

At present, a private US-based body, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is responsible for coordinating key elements of the internet, which now has 1.5 billion users worldwide.   ICANN was set up in 1998 and oversees key elements of the internet, such as domain names.

The current agreement which provides for ICANN is due to expire in September 2009.  In its new strategic document, the Commission agrees that private companies should continue to take the lead in the day-to-day management of the internet’s operation but calls for more open, transparent and inclusive governance arrangements in the future.

At present, the US government is the only body to have formal oversight of ICANN’s activities and the Commission believes that it should become more universally accountable, to the global internet community.

For more details of the Commission’s proposals on this issue, see Internet Governance.

The new technical specifications will be effective from 1 July and are expected to trigger 22 TWh electricity savings during the next four to six years in the EU – comparable to the annual electricity consumption of Ireland.  The new criteria should achieve the savings over the lifetime of the products.  Further specifications for new office equipment categories will soon be added to the EU-US Energy Star programme, including servers and data storage equipment.

The Energy Star Programme is part of the EU’s strategy to better manage energy demand, contribute to the security of energy supply and mitigate climate change.  For more information see Energy Star.

The call has been launched by the Clean Sky initiative which, according to the European Commission, is the first EU-wide collaborative private-public partnership of its kind, with a total budget of €1.6bn (£1.3bn) up to 2014. 

Clean Sky involves leading aeronautics manufacturers, small & medium sized companies (SMEs), universities and research centres.  It aims to make air travel more sustainable by encouraging the aeronautics industry to develop and produce greener products.

This first call for research proposals covers over 70 research topics in 5 main areas:  green regional aircraft, green rotorcraft, sustainable and green engines, SMART fixed wing aircraft and systems for green operations.
The call for proposals is open until 31st August 2009.

To find out more about Clean Sky and the call, visit Clean Sky Initiative.
 

Known as BUILD UP, the portal can be used by anyone from builders to home owners to look up information and share good practice in cutting energy use.  It also includes the latest information on relevant legislation.
According to the Commission, buildings are responsible for about 40% of energy consumption in Europe.  Improvements in building energy performance are therefore seen as crucial in helping the EU to achieve energy saving targets and combat climate change.

The new web portal will help building professionals learn more about energy legislation, access the latest news and events in the field and get access to a database of resources, guidelines and real-life examples.  For example, building products and installation technologies which are already available can drastically improve energy performance. The result is a reduction in energy consumption that can create net benefits, with annual energy cost savings exceeding capital costs for the investments.

At the same time, BUILD UP will enable home owners and tenants who are interested in reducing their energy costs to find out where to obtain practical energy-saving information in their own country or region. 

To access this new service, see BUILD UP

The REACH Regulation sets up a system for the registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals, with the aim of making sure that chemicals can be used safely and to try to ensure the competitiveness of the European industry.  The EHCA is charged with managing this process.

Following the restructure, there are now four sub-sections on the guidance site.  The first holds the REACH Guidance Documents.  A second section, Guidance in a Nutshell, gives a new series of shortened versions of the documents which try to make the information more accessible for industry.  The third section includes a series of Fact Sheets and the final section provides information on the consultation procedure which the Agency will use to involve interested parties in any revision or updating of the guidance.

The new web pages can be accessed at REACH Guidance

The report is a result of a formal examination procedure initiated on 11 March 2008, following a complaint lodged by the Remote Gambling Association (RGA).  European online gambling and betting companies left the US market in 2006, but still suffer legal proceedings by US authorities based on their past activities on the US market.  These proceedings are thought to be legally unjustified, as well as discriminatory, because the activities of EU companies took place under the cover of US WTO commitments.

Although WTO proceedings would be justified on the basis of the report, this is not an automatic consequence.  The European Commission is now hoping to seek a satisfactory solution to its concerns through dialogue with the US Administration.

To view the report, please see here.

The new standards will ensure that window and balcony door locking devices are fully "childproof" as well as raising overall safety standards.   The proposal introduces new requirements to test a product's child resistance, structural integrity throughout the expected lifetime, resistance to ageing and exposure to weather conditions.  The standard will also require the provision of clear instructions and information to users.  For nursery bathing articles, for example, bath seats for very young babies, the standards are to improve the stability and safety requirements and impose new clear warnings for carers. 

Member States are expected to give the green light to proceed with the new standards in a vote at the General Product Safety Committee. If votes at the General Product Safety Committee result in a go-ahead for new standards, the Commission's proposal will to the European Parliament for a one month scrutiny period, then to the College of Commissioners for a formal decision.  A mandate then goes to CEN (the European Standardisation Committee) to start work on new product standards which can take more than 2 years.

Click here for more background information.
 

Biocides are used to suppress organisms such as pests and germs (i.e. moulds and bacteria) that are harmful to human or animal health.  These include insect repellents, disinfectants and industrial chemicals such as anti-fouling paints for ships and material preservatives.  The proposed legislation seeks to revise the 1998 Directive on biocides and introduce simplified legislation, while providing new incentives to develop safer products against harmful pests and germs.  It aims at further reducing the risks posed by biocidal products and would extend the scope of the legislation to devices which produce biocides and to biocides in materials that might come in contact with food. 

The new rules would also apply to articles that have been treated with biocides, for example to preserve the quality and function of furniture and clothing.  Under the proposed legislation, they may only be treated with authorised biocides.  Treated articles would be labelled with warnings so that consumers could make an informed choice, which could protect children and allergy sufferers where there is a risk.

The Helsinki based European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will be involved in the authorisation of some of these products through a centralised approach, although most biocidal products will continue to be authorised by Member States.  If adopted, the proposal would turn the existing Biocides Directive into a Regulation and would be expected to enter into force in 2013.

Further EU policy information on biocides can be found here.

To determine the quality of bathing areas, these are tested against a number of physical, chemical and microbiological parameters for which the Bathing Water Directive sets outs mandatory values.  Member States have to comply with these but may also adopt stricter standards and non-binding guide values.

A new Water Bathing Directive which took effect in 2006 placed greater emphasis on providing information to the public on the quality of bathing areas.  It requires Member States to draw up beach profiles and surveys, map discharges and make risk assessments.  They have until 2015 to fully implement the new Directive but twelve Member States (Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden) already monitored their bathing areas during the 2008 bathing season according to the standards of the new Directive.

Click to here to access the report or view for zoomable maps of all European bathing areas.

Some of the actions proposed to get the most out of marketing and quality schemes in food and drink include:

• extending labelling that identifies the place where the agricultural product was farmed

• examining the feasibility of using specific terms such as ‘product of mountain farming’ and ‘traditional product’ which could replace the current ‘traditional specialities guaranteed’ scheme

• creating a unique register for all geographical indications (for wines, spirits and agricultural products and foodstuffs) while preserving the specificities of each system

• improving the single market for products under labelling schemes, particularly with organic products

• improving international protection of geographical indications and contributing to the development of international standards for marketing standards and organic products

• developing ‘good practice’ guidelines for private certification schemes to reduce the potential for confusion among consumers and red tape for farmers

The report was drawn up based on 560 contributions received in response to the Commission’s consultation on agricultural product quality from October 2008, and input from a conference organised by the Czech Presidency in March 2009. 

The Commission also plans to put an end to impediments to trade in the single market from divergent national standards.  The creation of a new organic logo under development is hoped to help this process and expected to apply obligatorily to EU products from 1 July 2010.

Click here for more information on EU agricultural product quality policy.
 

The services, such as high-speed internet access, mobile television and radio or emergency communications, will be provided over a specifically reserved spectrum.  According to the Commission, both satellite operators have demonstrated an advanced level of technical and commercial ability to provide these services.

Member States now have to ensure that Inmarsat Ventures Limited and Solaris Mobile Limited have the right to use the specific radio frequencies identified in the Commission's decision, and the right to operate their respective mobile satellite systems.

Further information can be found here.
 

• consumers should be in control – when they buy products with smart chips these should be deactivated automatically, immediately and free-of-charge at the point of sale, unless the consumer explicitly opts-in by asking to keep the chip operational.

• companies or public authorities using smart chips should give consumers clear and simple information so that they understand if their personal data will be used, the type of collected data and for what purpose.

• retail associations and organisations should promote consumer awareness on products containing smart chips through a common European sign to indicate whenever a smart chip is used by a product

• companies and public authorities should conduct privacy and data protection impact assessments before using smart chips.

Member States have two years to inform the Commission of the steps they intend to take to make sure that the objectives of the Recommendation are met. For more information see Recommendation.

Termination rates are the wholesale fees charged by operators to connect the call from another operator’s network which are part of everyone’s ‘phone bill.  In 2008, these rates were found to vary greatly between EU countries.  For example, mobile termination rates were 15 euro cents per minute in Bulgaria, whilst they were just 2 euro cents per minute in Cyprus.  Mobile termination rates are also typically 10 times higher than fixed line termination rates.  Such higher mobile termination rates make it harder, in the Commission’s view, for fixed and small mobile operators to compete with large mobile operators.

The new guidance, in the form of a “recommendation” which regulators are urged to take “utmost account of”, indicates that termination rates at national level should be based only on the real costs that an efficient operator incurs to establish the connection.  By this action to try to eliminate the price distortions between ‘phone operators, the Commission estimates that businesses and household customers will save at least €2 billion (c. £1.8 billion) in 2009-2012.

For further information about competition in the telecommunications sector, please contact Enterprise Europe Yorkshire.
 

The European Commission has launched a new online tool, with the aim of giving practical advice to consumers on their “digital rights” under EU law.

eYouGuide addresses a range of issues, such as the consumer’s rights towards their broadband provider, shopping on the web, downloading music and protecting their personal data online (including social networking sites).

The move follows research which shows that, whilst nearly 50% of households in Europe now have a broadband internet connection, only 12% of web users feel safe making transactions online, 39% have major doubts and 42% do not dare to carry out financial transactions online.

By making information about their rights more easily available, the Commission hopes to increase consumer trust and help unlock the full economic potential of Europe’s single online market which it estimates is worth €106 billion (over £95 billion).

The guide can be accessed at http://ec.europa.eu/eyouguide

The Communication recognises the significant development of the Fair Trade movement and the significance of a European market now worth €1.5 billion per year.  It recognises that Fair Trade and other similar assurance schemes are essentially voluntary and considers that regulating criteria and standards could limit the dynamic element of private industries in this sector. 

The Communication also lays out new policy areas where Fair Trade and other schemes can contribute to European sustainable development objectives, and sets out main principles and definitions.  Additionally, it recognises that public procurement constitutes a key strategic market for Fair Trade products.  For more information see ‘Contributing to Sustainable Development:  the role of Fair Trade and non-governmental trade-related sustainability assurance schemes’.

The report finds that antitrust Regulation has brought about major changes in the way that European competition law is enforced, for example the replacement of the former notification and authorisation system, under which companies notified agreements to the Commission for approval.  Under the new Regulation, national competition authorities and courts are now entitled to assess whether an agreement may be exempted from the ban on restrictive business practices because of benefits passed on to consumers.

The report highlights a limited number of areas which merit further evaluation.  For example, the Regulation does not formally regulate or harmonise the procedures of national competition authorities, meaning that they apply the EC Treaty antitrust rules according to divergent procedures and they may impose a variety of sanctions.  The report indicates that there may be potential for further enhancing effective enforcement.

The report can be found here.
 

Although not legally available for use in the EU, DMF is used by manufacturers in other countries as a biocide to kill moulds that may cause products such as furniture or shoes to deteriorate during storage or transportation in a humid climate.  Known to protect products from mould, it can be placed in "Desiccant" sachets inside the furniture or footwear boxes. 

DMF has been found to seriously affect consumers who were in contact with products where this chemical has been used.  The dangerous chemical initially raised concerns when notified by a number of Member State authorities through the EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food consumer products (RAPEX). The notifications related to imported sofas, armchairs and shoes, and clinical tests later confirmed that the dermatitis suffered by consumers in contact with these products was caused by DMF.
 
A European Commission Decision to ensure that no consumer product containing the strongly sensitising DMF is placed on the market in the EU came into force on 1 May.  If already on the market, these products will have to be recalled and withdrawn without delay, and consumers will have to be informed about the serious risk.  The new Decision adopted will cover all Member States and ensure a ban of DMF in all consumers products (maximum limit value: 0.1 mg/kg) across the EU.

See here for further information.
 

The report reveals a big demand for EU funding, with 25,000 proposals reaching the final evaluation stage and 5,500 selected to receive grants.  In addition, 600 grants have been provided to EU researchers and a new Risk Sharing Finance Facility (RSFF), managed together with the EIB, has approved loans of €2 billion to support high risk R&D projects. 

In the first two years, the programme supporting collaborative research has attracted more than a third (36,7%) of all submitted proposals, followed by the scheme for mobility of researchers (23,5%).  44% of the budget for collaborative research has been allocated to interdisciplinary research such as environment, energy, agriculture, transport, nanotechnologies, ICT, supporting the EU's renewed sustainable development strategy. 

According to the Commission, FP7 has made progress in cutting red tape, notably through a new Guarantee Fund and a Unique Registration Facility.  Two new Executive Agencies have been set up to specialise in the efficient implementation of EU research programmes: the Research Executive Agency (REA) and the European Research Council (ERC).  Audit processes have also been improved and streamlined. 
 

The report underlines remaining challenges for the FP7 such as increased involvement of the newer Member States, more participation of SMEs and further administrative simplification.  To further improve FP7, the Commission will be seeking advice from an independent expert group, which will undertake a FP7 Interim Evaluation by autumn 2010.  The Commission has also adopted a response to the ex-post evaluation of the FP6, which provides further input to the interim evaluation exercise.
 

See here for the full text of the report and to the FP6 evaluation report.
 

For example, the Recommendation invites Member States to set a limit on severance pay (two years maximum of fixed component of directors’ pay) and in the case of failure, to ban severance pay.  On the process of determining directors’ remuneration, the Recommendation invites Member States to extend certain disclosure requirements contained in the existing Recommendation to improve stakeholder oversight of remuneration policies. 

The Commission is to monitor closely the application of the Recommendation and make its findings public through scoreboards.  After one year, it is also to submit an evaluation report on Members States’ application of the Recommendation.

Click here to view the full text of the Recommendation.
 

The key principles of the Directive remain unchanged.   However, so far the Ecodesign Directive has set compulsory minimum ecodesign requirements for certain energy-using products such as boilers, water heaters, computers, televisions or industrial fans.  In order to shift towards a low-carbon economy, the Directive will now be extended to all energy related products.  For example, water-saving taps and shower heads can reduce water consumption and therefore the energy used for hot water, and save resources and money as a result.

The Commission is expected to review the effectiveness of the Directive  in 2012 and at that time will assess the appropriateness of extending its scope to non-energy related products.
 

Under the new system, insurers and reinsurers would be required to take account of all types of risk to which they are exposed and to manage those risks more effectively, with increased transparency.  In addition, insurance groups would have a dedicated ‘group supervisor’ monitoring the group as a whole.

The draft text will now return to EU Ministers for final approval and the Commission aims to have the new system in operation in 2012.

Click here for more information on Solvency.
 

Europe’s investment in ICT research is lagging behind other regions. Although the EU produces almost one third of the world’s scientific knowledge, research in this sector accounts for only a quarter of its overall research effort. 

The Commission is calling on Member States to catch up with the US, China and Japan by doubling by 2015 their investment in high-risk research in ICT.  This is to be done by joining research efforts between national and European programmes and by new flagship research initiatives.  The Commission itself, in 2010, will start increasing per year its spending on research for future information technologies from €100 million to €170 million by 2013.  It also aims to launch at least two flagship research initiatives by 2013 that combine efforts across borders and scientific disciplines to achieve research breakthroughs – the development of biocomputers, for example.  Other examples of European future research include:

• a thought-navigated wheelchair that interprets brain signals to move

• computer technology that copies the way the brain processes information so that it can continue to work even when parts of its hardware fail

• more secure computers that can function faster than light speed and process unlimited amounts of information

The Commission believes that the growth in RAPEX notifications is a result of more effective product safety enforcement by national authorities, greater investment of resources, greater awareness amongst businesses of their obligations, enhanced co-operation with third countries, and network-building actions and training across Member States co-ordinated by the European Commission.  For more information see MEMO - RAPEX.

The Directive establishes a framework for the separate collection, treatment and recycling of waste portable, industrial and automotive batteries in the EU.  The laying down of new regulations in Parliament transposes these principles into UK law.  They require any persons placing batteries on the market to register as a producer of batteries, and report on waste batteries collected and sent for recycling. 

The regulations come into force on 5 May 2009 and the first compliance period begins on 1 January 2010.  Requirements for shops that sell more than 32 kilogrammes of portable batteries to accept back waste batteries will start on 1 February 2010.  During the rest of 2009, potential Battery Compliance Schemes will apply to the environment agencies, recruit battery producers and set up collection and recycling arrangements.

The new regulations also complement the existing Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market ) Regulations 2008, which set out the requirements for introducing new batteries onto the market.  Click here to read more.  The Government’s response to the Consultation Document on the EU Batteries Directive has now been published.  Contact Enterprise Europe Yorkshire for further information.

However, suggestions for more uniform interpretation and legal certainty are proposed.  The report also looks at improvements to the existing text, including broadening the scope of the Directive.  It has been adopted by the European Commission and is currently at the Council of EU Minister to provide guidance to the Commission for a future amending legislative proposal. 

The report can be found here and further information on the Interest and Royalties Directive can be found via Company Taxation.
 

This proposal aims at improving the cash flow of European business which is particularly important in times of economic downturn. It also aims at facilitating the smooth functioning of the internal market via the elimination of related barriers to cross-border commercial transactions.

Despite some improvements during the past years, late payments in commercial transactions between companies or between businesses and public authorities still happen in the EU.

According to the Commission, this slows down the development of business and is even responsible for bankruptcies of otherwise viable companies, notably if they are Small- or Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Unfortunately up to now public authorities have not always paid as quickly as they could.

Given the current crisis, several Member States have therefore started to address this issue at national level.
The Commission suggests that public authorities should lead by example and should – as a rule – pay their bills within 30 days. In parallel, the Commission commits itself to speed up payment of goods and services so to fully respect the targets for paying bills and, in a number of cases, even shortening payment times to under the current legal period.

The proposed changes reflect the importance of timely payments to businesses, and especially to SME's covering for example issues such as public authorities' terms of payment, late payment interest and compensation of recovery costs.

It will achieve this by providing creditors with instruments that enable them to fully and effectively exercise their rights when paid late and by confronting public administrations with measures that effectively discourage them from paying late.

More information is available on:

Late payment

Small Business Act
 

The report by the EU-OSHA identifies the main groups of substances which could pose new and increasing risks to workers, contributing to diseases which range from allergies, asthma, and infertility to cancers.
According to the experts, dangerous substances are not only found in the chemical industry, but also in occupations such as farming, nursing, construction and in many small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) outside the chemical industry. 

“It is estimated that each year there are 74,000 work-related deaths linked to hazardous substances encountered in the workplace. This means that 10 times more people die from dangerous substances than from workplace accidents…. Management of chemical risks is particularly poor in SMEs and subcontractor firms”, says Jukka Takala, Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

The Expert Forecast on Emerging Chemical Risks, established by 49 experts across Europe, puts nanoparticles at the top of the list of substances from which workers need protection. Nanotechnology is used for example in cosmetics and IT products and is expected to grow rapidly into a global, multibillion euro market.

The forecast also highlights substances likely to cause cancers, for example diesel exhausts. As for reprotoxicants, substances that can damage reproductive health, the level of awareness is still very scarce and stigmatised as a women's health issue. They are too rarely considered in workplace risk assessments and in prevention.

Occupations of emerging concern, where workers face high risk of coming into contact with hazardous substances include waste management, construction and service activities such as cleaning or home nursing.

For more information about the report see http://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/factsheets/84  or contact Enterprise Europe Yorkshire
 

The resulting savings of 9 TWh is enough to power Lithuania for a year and will reduce annual CO2 emissions by more than three million tonnes.

According to Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, this ecodesign measure will drastically improve the energy performance of external power supplies, which everybody uses together with many household and office products.

Setting ambitious energy performance requirements for products is an important contribution to improving Europe’s energy efficiency.

The regulation adopted today sets requirements for the energy efficiency of external power supplies.
They convert power input from the mains power source into lower voltage output for household and office products such as mobile and cordless phones, notebook computers, modems etc.

The requirements address both “the active” efficiency, i.e. the efficiency when power is supplied to for example a notebook when being actually used, and the “no-load” power consumption, i.e. the power which the supply still uses when for instance the notebook is not plugged in.

These requirements come into force in two steps in 2010 and 2011, and correspondent to internationally recognised efficiency criteria, which are achieved with significantly enhanced efficiency compared to a current model.

Further information on Ecodesign is available here

The fee reduction and simplification of procedure essentially consist of setting the registration fee for Community trade marks to zero.  Businesses will therefore only pay an application fee, and will no longer have to pay a separate fee for registration.  As a result, the processing time for the registration of a Community trade mark should also become significantly shorter.  In practice this means that, instead of paying the amount of €1750 for the application and registration of a Community trade mark, businesses will only be charged with an application fee of €1050 in the future.  Those who file their applications via the Internet will benefit from a greater reduction and will be charged an application fee of €900.  The new fees will come into effect on 1 May 2009.

93% of EU companies and 51% of Europeans actively used the internet in 2007.  However, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, malicious attacks and hardware failures can all pose serious risks to Europe’s critical information infrastructures.  For example, in 2007, after large-scale cyber attacks, the Estonian Parliament had to shut down its email system for 12 hours and two major Estonian banks had to stop their online services. 

The smooth functioning of communications infrastructures is seen as vital for the European economy and society.  At the moment Member States’ approaches and capacities differ widely and the Commission believes that a low level of preparedness in one country can make others more vulnerable.  The Commission’s strategy focuses on:

• Preparedness and prevention
• Detection and response
• Mitigation and recovery
• International co-operation
• Establishing criteria for European critical infrastructure in the ICT sector.

See Communication on Critical Information Infrastructure Protection for the full text of the strategy.

Re-launched on 26th March, the site aims to help SMEs take advantage of opportunities to trade and offer their services in the Single Market.

The site provides information - for example - on how to register a company, what permits are needed to sell products, and what entrepreneurs need to know about taxes or labour in the EU Member States. It also answers questions about legal requirements, as well as possibilities and constraints of doing business in each EU Member State and at EU level.

In addition, the portal offers direct access to e-government services (such as VAT refund procedures) and online administrative procedures in the EU Member States and gives companies a run-down of the business support services in a chosen country – for example the local branches of the Enterprise Europe Network. The offer even includes a dedicated section on access to finance for each country.

According to European Commission Vice-president Gunter Verheugen, responsible for Enterprise and Industry, this initiative is another step to make life easier for SMEs and to help them to do business in Europe.

Developed in close cooperation with the Member Sates and part of the implementation of the European Small Business Act adopted in 2008, all information is available in English and in the official language of any chosen country. Translations into further languages (such as German, French and languages of important neighbouring countries) will be added at a later stage.

The portal is available online at ‘Your Europe –Business’

The UPLS aims to increase legal certainty, reduce costs and improve access to patent litigation for businesses, in particular SMEs.

The court structure to be established in the framework of the UPLS would have jurisdiction both for existing European patents and for future Community patents. This constitutes a further significant stop in the pursuit of the EU’s patent reform agenda.

According to Internal Market and Services Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, European businesses find the current patent litigation system complex, slow and costly. Once agreed, a unified system with a dedicated unified patent court would make patent litigation more predictable, faster and less expensive, helping to stimulate innovation, competitiveness, growth and job creation in Europe.

Background

The current fragmentation of the patent system in Europe and in particular the lack of a unitary title and the absence of a unified patent litigation system makes access to the patent system complex and costly and hampers effective enforcement of patents, especially for SMEs.

Innovators wishing to protect their invention in various member States of the Community can currently achieve this protection through separate national patents or through a European patent. European patents are granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) established by the EPC (European Patent Convention) which currently has 35 contracting parties.

Besides the EU member States these include amongst others Switzerland, Croatia, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

This system entails multi-forum litigation since companies may have to litigate in parallel in all countries where the patent is validated. Stakeholders have repeatedly reported that this involves considerable cost, complexity and legal insecurity resulting from the risk and contracting court decisions in different Member States these include amongst them Switzerland, Croatia, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

This system entails multi proceedings since companies may have to take unparallel legal action in countries where the patent is validated.

Stakeholders have repeatedly reported that this involves considerable costs, complexity and legal insecurity resulting from the risk of contracting court decisions in different Member States.

Moreover, stakeholders have regularly claimed that the current litigation system leads to legal insecurity, in particular as regards patent issues with a cross-border dimension. At present patent litigation is unnecessarily costly and risky for all parities involved. The risks associated with patent litigation together with the lack of a unitary title hamper in particular access to the patent system for SMEs and individual inventors and are a draw-back for European innovation and competitiveness.

It is predicted that by 2013 the creation of the UPLS would result in total private cost savings between 148 and 289 million euro per annum. Moreover the UPLS would reduce legal uncertainty. Finally, by providing fast and low-cost revocation proceedings it would increase patent quality and tackle potential patent abuses.

For further information please visit: patent

It is estimated that an average household switching from conventional bulbs to compact fluorescent lamps could make a net saving of between 25 and 50 euro (approximately £24 and £47)  a year on its electricity bill.

The Commission also plans to adopt more ecodesign measures over the coming months, targeting many more products such as consumer electronics and heating appliances.  Further information on Eco-design is available here.
 

Various search criteria can be used such as the country of the beneficiary, the Commission department which gave the grant or contract and the relevant budget line or the amount.  The first year for which the data is available is 2007.  The beneficiaries of 2008 will be published in 2009.  It is also planned that the system will be enhanced in 2010 to include details of procurement contracts from the Commission for its day-to-day administration.  Click here to access the search engine.