Events to look out for
Webinar: how to protect your creative works abroad? – 7 March, 14:00 CET. This webinar will provide practical advice to European companies in the creative industries sector on how to protect their IP in China, Latin America and South-East Asia. An overview of copyright and design rights protection as well as practical case studies will be presented.
Funds available
EUR 67 million for small businesses in Hungary. The European Investment Fund (EIF) and Erste Bank Hungary, have signed a guarantee agreement to support EUR 67 million of loans and leases to innovative Hungarian companies. Erste Bank Hungary will be incentivized to provide loans and leases to around 350 innovative small and medium-sized enterprises and small mid-caps.
EUR 300m to finance green shipping. ING Bank and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have signed an agreement to support green investments for the European shipping market for a total value of EUR 300 million. ING and EIB will each contribute EUR 150 million to the facility. This agreement will ensure that sponsors of green and sustainable projects in the maritime transport sector can benefit from advantageous financial terms.
EU policies for better business
Safe drone operations: new guidelines for regulating drones in Europe. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published the first formal opinion on safe operations for small drones in Europe. The document comes up with an innovative way of regulating, where the rules are kept as simple as possible with a strong focus on the particular risk of the operation. It also combines product legislation and aviation legislation: design requirements for small drones (up to 25kg) will be implemented by using the well-known CE (“Conformité Européenne”) marking for products brought on the market in Europe.
Get involved
Public consultation on eco design and energy labelling on refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, televisions, computers and lamps. Manufacturers of these products as well as other interested parties are invited to answer the European Commission’s public consultation until 7 May 2018.
Public consultation on future "Counterfeit and Piracy watch-List". The European Commission aims to identify the marketplaces outside the EU where counterfeiting, piracy or other forms of intellectual property abuse are common practice. The consultation is open until 16 April 2018.
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