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EU news and funding bulletin - 06 February 2009

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EU news & funding is a fortnightly bulletin to keep London's businesses informed of key European information.

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Funding opportunities
Tender opportunities
EU press releases
EU legislation and consultations
Business events

Funding opportunities

Audiovisual sector

Media 2007 funds business in the audiovisual sector for:

development of interactive products including computer, internet and mobile phone games, due 17 April 2009
development of a film (animation and fiction) and /or documentary, due 17 April 2009
contributing to costs of insurance, completion guarantees and bank financing for an audiovisual work, due 7 July 2009

For more information contact rachael.m@gle.co.uk

Research & Innovation

FP7 supports collaborative projects undertaking technology research and development in:

Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies (NMP)
- EU-Russia, due 31 March 2009
- NMP and Environment Joint Call, due 31 March 2009
Transport, due to 31 March 2009
ICT and Energy Joint Call, due 31 March 2009
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), due 01 April 2009
Energy

Collaborative Projects, due 29 April 2009
Coordinated call with Brazil on Energy Second Generation Biofuels, due 05 May 2009

Click here for more information on funding for Research and Development.

For further information contact fp7@gle.co.uk

Transport

Grants to actions in support of the development of sustainable urban mobility projects, deadline 31 March 2009.

ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP)

It supports innovative ICT based solutions and digital content., due 02 June 2009

For more information contact rachael.m@gle.co.uk

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ad hoc searches for contract notices
profile adjustment to meet changing needs
assistance and advice on tendering procedures and procurement legislation

For more information, please visit the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry website, or contact Tessel van Essen on 020 7203 1838.

EU press releases

Chemicals: EU to ban dimethylfumarate (DMF) in consumer products
Consumers:Energy, banking and transport sectors ‘underperforming’ for consumers
Consumers: Measures to tackle health risks from personal music players
Customs: EU-China agreements on drugs precursors and intellectual property rights
Economy: Business Climate Indicator reaches new all-time low in January
Employment: Good relations between workers and employers can help EU face crisis
Energy: Commission invests €3.5 billion to secure energy supply and aid economic recovery
Energy: New proposal for supercomputers to supply sustainable energy
Environment: Commission takes legal action against UK over air pollution
Finance: Clearer supervisory framework for securities, banking and insurance
Health & safety: New EU-China agreement to improve working conditions
Internal Market: Cutting administrative burden programme continues
State aid: Commission authorises UK crisis scheme for aid of up to €500 000 per business
Taxation: Improved cooperation between tax authorities to combat tax fraud
Taxation:Commission requests the UK to end discriminatory inheritance tax relief
VAT: Commission proposes to review rules on invoicing

Read more EU press releases

EU legislation and consultations

Agriculture:

Wine agreement between EU and Australia, EC legislation The new wine agreement between the European Union and Australia reached in December 2008 has now been approved. The agreement governs the exports and imports of wine between the EU and Australia. The European Community and Australia have agreed to continue to protect each other’s geographical indications and traditional expressions, including the EU’s wine labelling regime. The agreement sets clear dates for when Australian producers must stop using important European names and terms such as ‘Champagne’, ‘Port’, ‘Sherry’ and ‘Amontillado’.

Energy:

Definition of Zero Carbon Homes and Non-Domestic Buildings, Department for Communities and Local Government consultation The UK Government aims for all new non-domestic buildings should be zero carbon from 2019. This consultation proposes a definition of zero carbon new homes, based on high energy efficiency, on- or near-site carbon reduction, and permissible solutions for dealing with the remaining emissions. Businesses in the construction sector in particular are welcome to take part in this consultation and give their views on the proposed definition. The Zero Carbon Hub, an industry-led delivery body formed to deliver the zero carbon homes policy, is holding a series of events in February 2009 to support the consultation.

External trade:

Anti-dumping duties on fasteners from China, EC legislation The European Union has imposed anti-dumping duties of between 26.5% to 85% on China-made iron and steel fasteners for a five year period. The duties imposed serve as a countervailing measure against Chinese producers selling their products on the EU market at low prices. The measures follow complaints from European screw and steel fastener manufacturers. Products concerned are iron and steel fasteners, widely used as components for cars, appliances or machinery.

Health and safety:

Health and safety strategy for UK workplaces, HSE consultation The Health and Safety Executive seeks opinions on its strategy to prevent death, injury and ill health in Great Britain’s workplaces. HSE has developed a new strategy as a response to trends such as the recent slowing of improvement in Great Britain’s health and safety performance and the need to regain the health and safety brand from those who misuse it. The strategy sets out a number of goals to be achieved, including encouraging strong leadership, building competence and avoiding catastrophes in high hazard industries. Stakeholders are welcome to give views on what changes need to be made to the overall system.

Textiles:

Harmonised textile names, EC legislation In order to ensure adequate information for consumers, textiles put on the Internal Market are subject to requirements on labelling and the use of textile names such as ‘cotton’ and references such as ‘pure’. Current rules on the names, composition and labelling of textile products have been substantially amended several times. To clarify the rules and to ensure that they do not vary between Member States, the Commission has adopted a Directive providing for uniform rules on the names of textile fibres and the particulars appearing on labels, markings and documents which accompany textile products at the various stages of their production, processing and distribution.

Transport:

Social legislation for road transport, EC legislation The Commission has adopted a directive establishing common ‘social rules’ in the road transport sector. The legislation will provide for a common grading of infringements to the rules, such as those related to driving hours and rest periods of professional drivers in the EU. The new categorisation distinguishes three levels of infringements: minor infringements, serious infringements and very serious infringements. The severity of an infringement depends on its influence on road safety. The legislation is a response to concerns raised by the road transport industry that the same infringements are not being treated as equally serious in different Member States. The new rules will also facilitate detecting and preventing abuses of the tachograph system which is used to record the driving time and rest periods of professional drivers.

Transport:

Type-approval of motor vehicles, EC legislation This regulation is one of several separate regulatory acts under the framework Directive (2007/46/EC) for type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles. This regulation harmonises the technical requirements for the type-approval of motor vehicles with regard to pedestrian protection. A study by the Commission shows that pedestrian protection can be significantly improved by a combination of passive and active measures which afford a higher level of protection than the previously existing provisions.

Confused about how EU legislation affects your business? Any other queries on EU affairs or trans-European matters? Take advantage of our free enquiry service: call 020 7489 1992 or email europe@londonchamber.co.uk

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