Events to look out for
Retail & the City: Practical tips on how to revitalise and modernise small retail - 9 October, Brussels (BE). Join this session during the European Week of Regions and Cities and learn about the new guide launched by the European Commission: "Facing the Future". The guide contains ideas that will help small retailers embrace e-commerce and meet the demands of new consumers.
Funds available
€25 million to boost cross-border digital infrastructure. The European Commission launched the second Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Telecom call of 2019, with €25 million available to help European public administrations and businesses connect to pan-European digital platforms. The funding will go towards ensuring that services provided are interoperable across borders. The call focuses on six areas: cybersecurity (€10 million), eHealth (€5 million), eProcurement (€1 million), European e-Justice (€3 million), public Open Data (€5 million), and the new European Platform on Digital Skills (€1 million).
Additional €800 million for innovative companies in South Eastern and Eastern Europe. The European Investment Fund and ProCredit Group are providing an additional €800 million to innovative small and medium-sized companies in South Eastern and Eastern Europe. Guarantee loans will target companies using new technologies and producing new products in one of eleven countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Moldova, the Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine.
€25 million for Albanian SMEs with a guarantee from the EU. The European Investment Fund (EIF) and Alpha Bank Albania have signed an agreement for the financing of around 200 Albanian small businesses. Starting 1 October 2019, Alpha Bank Albania will grant loans to Albanian businesses with limited available collateral.
EU policies for better business
EU-US trade: milestone reached in mutual recognition on pharmaceuticals. Last week, the European Union and the United States reached an agreement from both sides to reduce barriers and increase trade in pharmaceuticals. This Mutual Recognition Agreement is underpinned by robust evidence that the EU and the US have comparable procedures to carry out good manufacturing practice inspections for human medicines. The agreement will make it faster and less costly for both sides to bring medicines to the market and benefit patients.
Get involved
Public consultation: have your say on the revision of the EU directive on machinery. This open consultation is targeted to all actors dealing with the use and safety of mechanical tools, including small businesses. Fill in the online questionnaire until 30 August.