Events to look out for
European Industry Day, 28 February, Brussels, BE. Entrepreneurs, innovators, start-ups and the tech community are invited to share the stage with EU political leaders to debate the future of European industry.
European Robotics Forum, 22-24 March, Edinburgh, UK. This 3-day conference is expected to attract over 800 delegates, including public and private investors, to identify new robotic business opportunities.
Funding available
€1 billion to boost investment in European transport infrastructure. A new call for proposals aiming to combine the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) the European Fund for Strategic Investments, was launched last week. The European Commission will select projects removing bottlenecks, supporting cross-border links and accelerating the digitalisation of transport along the Trans-European Transport Network. Proposals are accepted in two phases: until 14 July 2017 or 30 November 2017.
Investment Plan for Europe: GBP 30 million for British businesses. The European Investment Fund (EIF) and the British Business Bank (BBB) have signed an agreement to facilitate bank loans for innovative companies in the UK. These loans will have the support of a guarantee provided by EIF and backed under Horizon 2020.
Investment Plan for Europe: EUR 40 million for Bulgarian small businesses. The EIF and the National Guarantee Fund EAD (NGF) have partnered to improve access to finance for Bulgarian SMEs with limited collateral. 330 Bulgarian SMEs are expected to benefit from this agreement over the next three years.
EUR 30 million of loans for cultural and creative businesses in France. In the framework of the EU’s Creative Europe Programme, the EIF and Bpifrance have signed a guarantee agreement to facilitate access to EUR 30 million to more than 200 small companies in France. This programme targets businesses in the cultural and creative sectors (including film, theatre, video game production, music and performance) and will be available as of next June.
EU policies for better business
Digital Single Market: new rules allowing Europeans to travel and enjoy online content services across borders. The future ‘portability’ regulation will enable consumers to access their online content services when they travel in the EU the same way they access them at home. All providers who offer paid online content services will have to follow the new rules.
New tax rules to support e-commerce and online businesses in the EU. The European Commission is working on a series of measures to improve the Value Added Tax (VAT) environment for e-commerce businesses in the EU. These proposals will allow consumers and companies (in particular start-ups and SMEs) to buy and sell goods and services more easily online.
Share your expertise
The European Commission launched a public consultation on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy. This consultation aims at modernising and simplifying agricultural policy across the EU. Farmers, citizens, organisations and any other interested parties are invited to contribute until 2 May 2017.
Looking for experts on coastal and maritime tourism: Help evaluate project proposals. EASME is looking for experts on coastal and maritime tourism to help select project proposals for funding under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and to monitor their implementation. Thinking of applying? See what is like to be a proposal evaluator.