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EU news and funding

EU news and funding bulletin

27th November 2009

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

Audiovisuals

The MEDIA 2007 project development programme funds businesses who are developing single media projects such as dramas, animations, creative documentaries or interactive works. For annual activities taking place in 2011 and activities starting between 1st January 2011 and 31st May 2011 proposals are due by 12th April 2010.

The MEDIA 2007 promotion and access to the market programme promotes European audiovisual to the world. Proposals are due by 7th December 2009 for activities starting between 01st June, 2010 and up to 31st December 2010 and 30th June 2010 for annual activities taking place in 2011 AND activities starting between 01st January, 2011 and 31st May, 2011.

The MEDIA 2007 i2i audiovisual programme supports independent European production companies access funding from banks and financial institutions. Applications for this Call for Proposals must be submitted at the latest by:

5 February 2010, for projects starting between 1 July 2009 and 5 February 2010
7 July 2010, for projects starting between 1 January 2010 and 7 July 2010.

Email eurofunding@gle.co.uk for more information.

The official launch of the Innovative Medicines Initiative call has been postponed. IMI is a pan-European public private partnership to support academic pharmaceutical research and development, SMEs and industry. The funding available for the new call is €76.8 million. Proposals are due by 8th February 2010.

Research and Innovation

FP7 supports collaborative research and development projects.

Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and Biotechnology related proposals are due by 14th January 2010.

New! ICT Call, Proposals are due by 13 April 2010

The ICT FET Open Scheme is a open to proposals from small and medium-scale projects looking into long-term research in ICT. Proposals are due by 24th May 2011.

Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies related proposals are due by 8th December 2009.

Energy related proposals are due by 4th March 2010.

Environment related proposals are due by 5th January 2010.

Transport related proposals are due by 14th January 2010.

Socio-Economic Sciences and the Humanities related proposals are due by 2nd February 2010.

Space related proposals are due by 8th December 2009.

For further information contact fp7@gle.co.uk.

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EU press releases

Competition: EU approves acquisition of Gatwick Airport by Global Infrastructure Partners
Consumer:New Tyre Labelling Regulation adopted
Consumer:Passengers whose flights are delayed may be entitled to compensation
Consumer:70% of ringtone-scam websites cleaned following EU investigation
Education: Too slow progress in educational reform in the EU
Energy: Political agreement on the Energy Labelling Directive reached
Energy: Political agreement on Energy Performance of Buildings Directive reached
Environment: EU becomes member of the International Renewable Energy Agency
Environment: Commission calls for better implementation of EU waste law by member states
Funding: 150 sports organisations get financial support from the EU
Health: Commission requests UK to change legislation on the recognition of medical prescriptions
Institutional: List of Commissioners designate for the next European Commission
Research: 2009 EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard
Social: Commission takes legal action against the UK on gender equality rules
State aid: Commission approves state aid for purchasing low-carbon buses in the UK
State aid: Commission approves restructuring plan of Lloyds Banking Group
State aid: Commission requests UK to change legislation on VAT grouping schemes
Telecom: EU Telecoms Reform Package finally approved

Read more EU press releases

EU legislation and consultations

Consumer:

Review of the Package Travel Directive, EU consultation This consultation seeks to gather together opinions of the citizens on the existing problems in the area of package travel and identify preferred solutions for the review of requirements put on the package organisers and retailers in order to identify possible policy options.

Development:

EU Policy Framework to Assist Developing Countries, EU consultation This consultation seeks to collect views on perceived challenges and issues in the field of agriculture and food security for developing countries. It will help in identifying EU’s role in assisting those countries in addressing the challenges.

Economy:

EU2020 Strategy, EU consultation This consultation seeks to gather together citizens’ views on what the broad policy considerations for the future EU2020 Strategy should be. The results of this consultation will feed into Commission’s planned formal proposal on EU’s 2020 economic agenda to the EU heads of state and government meeting in spring 2010.

Employment:

Implementation of the Agency Workers Directive, UK consultation This consultation seeks to collect input on UK government’s planned approach to implementing EU Directive on conditions for temporary (agency) workers. It follows up views expressed during first consultation on the Agency Workers Directive earlier this year and seeks to gather together more specific comments on the draft implementing regulations.

Enterprise:

Update of OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, UK consultation This consultation aims to gather together views of UK stakeholders on the priority areas for update of the OECD Guidelines for multinational enterprises. It will assist the government in developing a position on the update and in identifying options for possible technical and more substantive updates.

Environment:

Environmental and Social Impacts of Sewage Sludge, EU consultation This is the second consultation seeking to gather together opinions on the possible revision of the Sewage Sludge Directive. The Directive was adopted 20 years ago and the European Commission therefore seeks to assess the scope for and possible content of the revision mainly in the areas of environmental and social impact of the use of sewage sludge on land.

Environment:

Directive on Sustainable Use of Pesticides, EU legislation This Directive establishes a common framework for sustainable use of pesticides. It requires member states to establish National Action Plans with quantitative targets to reduce risks of pesticide use on human health and environment and to encourage development of new pest management approaches. It also prohibits aerial spraying and obliges member states to provide access to appropriate training and regular inspections.

Finance:

Regulation on Credit Rating Agencies, EU legislation This Regulation sets common EU-wide conditions that credit rating agencies have to fulfil in order to be able to issue credit ratings. It also establishes rules on the organisation and conduct of credit rating agencies to promote their independence and the avoidance of conflicts of interest.

Finance:

Directive on Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS), EU legislation This Directive sets out common EU-wide definition of UCITS and the authorisation requirements that UCITS need to comply with prior to pursuing any activity. The Directive also establishes obligations regarding UCITS management companies and requests member states to ensure freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services once UCITS are authorised by its home member state.

Finance:

Directive on Taxation of Capital Gains, EU legislation This Directive sets out common system of taxation applicable to mergers, divisions, partial divisions, transfers of assets and exchanges of shares concerning companies of different member states and to the transfer of the registered office of an SE or SCE between member states. Most importantly, a merger, division or partial division shall not give rise to any taxation of capital gains calculated by reference to the difference between the real values of the assets and liabilities transferred and their values for tax purposes.

Finance:

International Financial Reporting Standards for Small and Medium-Sized Entities, EU consultation This consultation aims to gather together views and opinions of small and medium-sized businesses on the International Financial Reporting Standard for SMEs issued by the International Accounting Standards Board in July 2009.

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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Business events