Events to look out for
2nd Conference on REACH, CLP and Biocides Enforcement - 13 November 2018, Brussels (BE). The European Chemicals Agency is organising a conference on REACH chemicals and biocides enforcement. Registration for interested businesses is open until 15 October.
EREK workshop: let’s help SMEs go circular! - 22 October 2018, Vienna (AT). This interactive workshop will look at clusters management, corporate support services, environmental management, and improving resource efficiency and circularity in small businesses.
Funds available
EU backs more loans for creative and cultural SMEs in Poland. The European Investment Fund and Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) have signed an agreement for Polish small businesses, which will allow BGK to widen its financing options to small businesses in the cultural and creative sectors. This agreement will support currently underserved sub-sectors including for example design, visual arts, books, music, architecture and cultural activities, with PLN 525 million (c. EUR 125 million) of loans over the next three years.
Get involved
Have you been involved with WATIFY, the European Commission's awareness-raising campaign that stimulates the modernisation of European industry? Would you like to help the campaign improve in the future? Take this survey at https://bit.ly/2zOoXI3 and help evaluate the campaign! Your insights will be very valuable for gaining a better understanding of WATIFY’s achievements.
EU policies for better business
Progress achieved on VAT, including agreement on equal VAT treatment for e-books. EU ministers agreed last week to allow Member States to align the VAT rates they set for e‑publications, with the more favourable regime currently in force for traditional printed publications. They also agreed on new rules to exchange more information and boost cooperation on criminal VAT fraud between national tax authorities and law enforcement authorities, as well as measures to cut VAT compliance burdens for companies.