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EU news and funding bulletin - 14 November 2008

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

New Funding Application Deadlines

Audiovisual Sector

Apply for MEDIA 2007 funding to support:

Development of interactive products including computer, internet and mobile phone games intended for commercial exploitation 17 November 2008 or 17 April 2009

Development of a film (animation and fiction) and / or documentary intended for commercial exploitation 17 November 2008 or 17 April 2009

Click here for a briefing relating to the MEDIA 2007 Programme.

Environment

Life+ can fund up to 50% of project costs in the environment sector, due 21 November 2008.

For free support with your Life+ application, please email Rachael McCorriston at GLE who will be running one-to-one sessions for applicants to the programme.

Research & Innovation

Eurostars supports SMEs carrying out research and development in a technological area, due 21 November 2008

‘FP7’ Programme for research and development supports technology development in the following fields:

Sustainable energy technologies covering 10 key areas, due 25th November 2008
Security related technologies, due 4 December 2008
Space science and technology, due 4 December 2008
Health sector technology, due 3 December 2008 and 22 April 2009
Environment & climate change technology, due 8 January 2009

For further information contact fp7@gle.co.uk

Funding is also available for the following activities:

Activities of International Cooperation - building relationships with science & technology organisations in non-EU countries (four work programmes)
due 12 January 2009
Transnational socio-economic research projects in seven areas including growth, sustainable development, trends in society and citizenship.
Applications due 13 January 2009

Other Funding Opportunities

ERDF – European Regional Development Fund

The 2nd Round of the London European Regional Development Fund will fund projects supporting SMEs which focus on specific tailored business-level support:

Priority 1 - Business innovation and research and promoting eco-efficiency
Priority 2 - Access to new markets and access to finance

The funding is addressed to organisations and/or networks including local authorities and chambers of commerce , although private, profit-making organisations can act as strategic partners, match funders or sub-contractors.

Proposals must be submitted by 12 noon on 16 January 2009.

For further information contact Rachael McCorriston at GLE.

Subscribe to daily alerts for new tender opportunities

Subscription to the tender monitoring service (TED) includes:

Creation of a unique company profile tailored to your business activity
Daily alerts of contract notices matching your unique company profile
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 click here for the TED section of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry website, or contact Tessel van Essen on 020 7203 1838.

EU Press releases

Agriculture: Commission repeals size and shape standards for some fruits and vegetables
Economy: Forecast for 2008-2010: EU economic growth comes close to a standstill
Environment: Proposal to strengthen the protection of animals used in scientific experiments
Finance: Commission adopts simplified accounting standards
Finance: Proposal to regulate credit rating agencies to avoid conflicts of interest
Health: Commission calls for a Europe-wide focus on rare diseases
Internal market: 25 years of avoiding unnecessary barriers to intra-EU trade: Directive 98/34
Monetary policy: Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs on ‘a recipe for recovery’
Policy: Main priorities of 2009 Legislative and Work Programme presented by Commission
State aid: Overview of national rescue measures and guarantee schemes
Raw materials: New strategy to secure access to raw materials for EU industry
Telecoms: Commission presents compromise texts on the EU Telecoms Reform Package

Click here for more EU press releases

EU Legislation and consultations

Aviation:

New Regulation to modernise the single market for air transport, EC legislation The new “Air Service Regulation” 1008/2008 entered into force on 1 November 2008. The regulation is intended to improve air safety and price transparency and lays down rules for the granting of licences, control of airlines and market access. To enable passengers to compare prices, the legislation requires airlines to include all taxes and charges in their published ticket prices.

Consumers:

Consultation on the EU proposal for a Consumer Rights Directive, BERR consultation The proposal, which was published by the Commission last month, brings together four existing Directives and serves to clarify the rights of consumers and to harmonise the rules across the EU. With harmonised rules, no Member State would be able to prescribe stronger rules of protection in the areas covered by the Directive. Since it would significantly change the rights enjoyed by UK consumers, BERR seeks opinions on the impact that these changes would have on consumers, manufacturers, retailers and law enforcers.

Energy:

Community procedure to improve transparency of energy prices, EC legislation Several amendments have previously been made to the Community procedure to improve the transparency of gas and electricity prices charged to industrial end-users. Directive 2008/92 takes these amendments into account and introduces new committee procedures in this area.

Environment:

Proposal on carbon accounting in the UK, DECC consultation The UK government is introducing a Climate Change Bill providing a legally binding framework to tackle the dangers of climate change. Under this Bill, a carbon accounting scheme has been proposed. The scheme will be used to monitor that the targets set to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK are being met. Stakeholders are invited to submit their views on the types of carbon units to be used and how they should be calculated.

ICT:

Strategy for strengthened network and information security in Europe, EC consultation The Commission seeks opinions from all stakeholders on the challenges in network and information security, the priorities of a strengthened network and the means to achieve it. The result will form part of an EU-wide approach to information security challenges and will complement national initiatives in the area.

Telecoms:

Consultation on EU proposal to extend Regulation on roaming, BERR consultation In 2007 the EU adopted a Regulation on roaming mobile voice calls within Europe to address the problems with high prices. The current proposal would extend the duration of the Regulation with three years and also extend the scope to include SMS and data roaming. This consultation seeks the views of stakeholders in the UK. Interested parties are advised to take notice of the short timetable (deadline: 20 November 2008).

Transport:

New Regulation replaces previous legislation on the approval of motor vehicles, EC legislation This Regulation replaces the Annexes to Directive 2007/46/EC establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers. The changes take into account the development of scientific and technical knowledge and follows necessary amendments of related legislation.

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: Phone 020 7489 1992 or mail to europe@londonchamber.co.uk

Click here for the EU's Enterprise and Industry online magazine

Business Events

Renewable Energy & Energy-efficient Technologies, London/UK, 19 November 2008

Cellular Basis for Injury Repair, London/UK, 20 November 2008

Investing in London: ‘Good for London, Good for the UK’, London/UK, 20 November 2008

European Congress on Training and Continuous Training, Cologne/Germany, 21 November 2008

Infectious Diseases’ Networking event, London/UK, 25 November 2008

Switch-Asia Funding Programme information session, Brussels/Belgium, 27 November 2008

Small Business conference; Sustainable Entrepreneurship Networking, Skopje/Macedonia, 27-28 November 08

SME Forum 2008, Luxembourg, 27-28 November 2008

Next Generation Web Networking Event, London/UK, 3 December 2008

Building EC Projects, Lisbon/Portugal, 4-5 December 2008