Eurobarometer survey finds that skills shortages are a serious problem for majority of EU SMEs (23/11/2023)

The challenge of skills shortages has grown over the years and now encompasses all EU Member States and all sectors of the economy. The Eurobarometer survey's findings will feed into the Commission's policy making. Among other things, they will inform the implementation of the SME relief package that was adopted in September 2023 and stipulates various actions to improve the skills situation for SMEs in the EU.

Commission proposes new measures to attract talent from third countries to help address critical labour shortages (23/11/2023)

The Commission proposed a series of new initiatives in a Skills and Talent Mobility package to make the EU more attractive to talent from outside the EU, and to facilitate mobility within. The measures include a new EU Talent Pool to match employers in the EU with jobseekers in third countries as well as a recommendation to promote the recognition of qualifications and learners’ mobility.  They come as key deliverables of the European Year of Skills.

Commission welcomes agreement on new short-term rental rules to increase transparency in the sector (23/11/2023)

This new regulation will increase transparency in the sector, with clear rules for hosts and platforms on data collection and sharing. It will provide key information to authorities that wish to address the impact of short-term rentals on local communities. Data sharing obligations for platforms will be adapted to the smallest players. After its entry into force, Member States will have a 24-month period to establish the mechanisms for data exchanges, which are already being prepared with the support of the Commission.

European Tourism Forum and informal ministerial meeting discuss sustainability (23/11/2023)

On 30-31 October, GROW co-organised with the Spanish Presidency the annual European Tourism Forum (ETF) in Palma de Mallorca, followed by an informal Council of Tourism ministers. Social sustainability of tourism was at the centre of discussions of both events, allowing exchanges on indicators, data sharing, skills and employment. The ministerial meeting was an opportunity for the EU tourism ministers to express their interest in sharing further best practices, as well as their support for the work undertaken by the Commission to progress towards the transition of the tourism ecosystem. The Palma declaration unanimously endorsed by the Member States renews their commitment to make tourism greener, more digital, inclusive and resilient.

Investing in the EU’s competitive future – Adoption of the European Semester Autumn Package (23/11/2023)

The European Semester is a yearly exercise that helps identify economic and social challenges in the EU, and policy responses to allow Member States to fulfil their potential – for the benefit of us all. This year, the EU is facing a number of important challenges, such as high inflation and high energy prices, that we need to tackle to improve the EU’s competitiveness.

Commission decides to refer BELGIUM, GREECE and ITALY to the Court of Justice of the European Union for breach of the Late Payments Directive (23/11/2023)

The Late Payment Directive obliges public authorities to pay their invoices within 30 days (or 60 days for public hospitals). Late payments have negative effects on businesses, by reducing liquidity, preventing growth, hampering resilience and potentially impeding their efforts to become greener and more digital. In the current economic context, businesses, and in particular SMEs, rely on regular payments to operate and keep employment.

New regulation on the protection of European craft and industrial products enters into force (23/11/2023)

The Craft and Industrial Geographical Indication (CIGI) Regulation entered into force on 16 November, a significant milestone in the protection of the names of European craft and industrial products that rely on the originality and authenticity of traditional skills from their regions. The Regulation will harmonise the protection of valuable European craft and industrial products, such as Limoges porcelain, Solingen knives, Carrara marble, or Madeira embroidery. Member States, the EUIPO, the Commission and stakeholders will have two years to prepare for the full application of the new system which is foreseen for December 2025.

Who is behind the SOLVIT service and how can it help you or your business? (23/11/2023)

SOLVIT is a free public service for citizens and businesses with the aim of helping solve problems related to the misapplication of EU law by the public administration of an EU Member State (including EEA). The areas of intervention of the SOLVIT network are very diverse. Complaints submitted by citizens and businesses are mainly in the following key areas regarding the EU Single Market (Recognition of professional qualifications,  Cross-border trade in goods, Driving licenses,  VAT refunds ...). The 55th SOLVIT Workshop took place in Brussels on 18-20 October 2023 with more than fifty SOLVITeers attending. The SOLVIT centre staff exchanged best practices and received training from the Commission’s experts.

Zoom on the 2023 edition of the European SME Week (29/11/2023)

This year’s European SME Week featured for the first time the SME Assembly back-to-back with the Enterprise Europe Network Annual Conference.

Meet the winners of the European Social innovation Competition 2023 (23/11/2023)

The 11th edition of the European Social Innovation Competition celebrated its final event within the framework of the Social Economy Conference organised by the Spanish Presidency of the EU. This year, the competition put forward new ideas to fight the pressing societal issue of energy poverty. The competition supports innovators to develop their ideas into working solutions and facilitates a network of radical innovators shaping our society. This prize acknowledges the social innovation as a potent approach for responding to societal challenges. Discover the winners (ECODES, the city of Eeklo and EmpowerMed)   here.

Apply now to host a Clusters meet Regions event in your region in 2024 (23/11/2023)

Since 2022, the European Cluster Collaboration Platform, on behalf of the European Commission, has organised more than  12 Clusters Meet Regions events across the EU and offered local stakeholders the chance to engage in matchmaking and to attend dedicated sessions with business experts, regional authority representatives, and EU policymakers on key industrial priorities. The call for applications to host the events in 2024 is addressed to local and regional authorities, innovation agencies, cluster organisations, business network organisations, and other SME intermediaries, who can seize this opportunity to strengthen synergies between clusters and regional policymakers and put their region under the spotlight.

Launch of the 2nd Call for Expression of Interest for the InvestEU Fund and the InvestEU Advisory Hub (23/11/2023)

The Commission published the 2^nd Call for Expression of Interest for the InvestEU Fund and the InvestEU Advisory Hub to become an implementing partner or an advisory partner. The EU guarantee amount available under this call for the InvestEU Fund is €1.37 billion. The maximum amount of EU contribution available under the 2^nd call for the InvestEU Advisory Hub is €33.1 million with a maximum allocation of €5 million per advisory partner.

New Tender: building a European network of gender-conscious investors (23/11/2023)

Ensuring better access to finance for women entrepreneurs and improving gender diversity in the financial sector are one the Commission and GROW’s priorities. The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) has published a tender to create a network of women and gender-conscious investors, thanks to the support from the European Parliament. The goal of the network is to create space to learn and exchange experience. It will provide networking and matchmaking opportunities, engage with a broad scope of stakeholders on good practice and EU-level actions, and raise awareness of the gender investment gap.

New European Scale-up Action for Risk capital (ESCALAR) Programme (23/11/2023)

The European Investment Fund has launched the call for the renewed European Scale-up Action for Risk capital (ESCALAR) programme under the InvestEU programme. ESCALAR will provide equity investments to, or alongside, funds in the areas of venture capital and private equity whose strategy focus on European scale-ups. The EIF selects financial intermediaries based on applications received in response to this call for expression of interest.

e-Administration for businesses: tell us what you need to improve your cross-border activities (23/11/2023)

Are you an SME (or do you represent a group of SMEs) doing business in another EU country or across the border? Or do you ever think about expanding abroad? Then this survey is for you! It takes less than 10 minutes and it’s available in all EU languages. Let us know what you think and expect of Your Europe. Your Europe is the EU’s “single digital gateway”, a one-stop shop for all SMEs and citizens with reliable information about rules and procedures in the EU single market, several assistance services, a tool to report obstacles and, last but not least, it will soon support the Once-Only Technical System. This system will make cross-border paperwork a lot easier when you are doing business in the EU. Do you also want to meet the policy makers and make your voice heard by actually testing our Once-Only Technical System? Then also come to our SME Forums. Keep an eye on the page, registrations will open soon!

Creatives, designers and SMEs from lifestyle industries: this is your chance to collaborate, innovate, and create across Europe (23/11/2023)

The 3^rd call for proposals of the WORTH Partnership Project II is open until 12 December 2023 17:00 CET. Around 67 innovative projects will be selected and will benefit from WORTH mentoring programme, transnational business collaboration and visibility. Whether you have a ground-breaking tech innovation, a circular game changer solution, a social impact, or a creative business idea in the lifestyle industries (fashion and textile, footwear, fur and leather, furniture/home decoration, interior design/architecture, accessories and jewellery) we want to hear from you. This is your opportunity to make a difference and contribute to meaningful change.

Full report of the EU Industry Days 2023 is now available (29/11/2023)

The full report of the EU’s flagship event, the EU Industry Days 2023, which took place on 4-6 October in Málaga, is now available. The report features summaries of all 17 keynote speeches, fireside chats, and plenary sessions and all 25 parallel sessions. In addition, the report provides an overview of the 16 projects showcased at the event’s exhibition and all the initiatives represented at its Meet the Experts Corner. Industrial stakeholders and policymakers who were not able to attend the event can now access – and be inspired by – all the insights and best practices shared during the event, and they can also visit DG GROW’s Youtube channel to watch the recordings of all the sessions.

The Monitor for Circular Fashion establishes commitments for the Textiles Transition Pathway (23/11/2023)

The Monitor for Circular Fashion disseminates best practices of circular fashion, promoting technical, managerial and scientific skills, contributing to the transition towards circular business models. The community brings together leading companies in the fashion industry and players in its supply chain. In the context of the Textiles Transition Pathway, the 26 companies of the Monitor for Circular Fashion have established 8 commitments, amongst others, to enhance circularity and sustainability in the value chains, implement circular business processes and to promote and implement corporate social responsibility.

Save the date: 4 and 6 December - GROW's events during COP28 (04/12/2023)

The Commission is joining  the 28th edition of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP28. On 4 and 6 December, GROW will host two online side-events and co-host one hybrid side-event as part of COP28. The three side-events will expound on InvestEU funding options in support of net-zero industry, local green deals, and decarbonising the built environment.

Save the date: SM30 event - 6 December - GROW Fellowship 2023 closing event (06/12/2023)

This full-day conference will mark the conclusion of the GROW fellowship 2023. It will bring together GROW's 10 economic advisors to discuss industrial policy and single market economic issues. The programme includes panel discussions on i) visions and perspectives on future single market and Industrial policy; ii) resilience of the single market and relevant metrics. Participants will be able to meet the economic advisors and exchange views on the results of their work.

Save the date: 6-7 December - The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking Stakeholder Forum (06/12/2023)

The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) is organising its first-ever stakeholder forum. ’What next for the European bio-based sector?’ will be the main theme of the event. There will also be an exhibition on bio-based solutions developed by CBE JU-funded projects.

Save the date: 11-12 December - Clusters Meet Regions Kraków (11/12/2023)

The specific aim of the event is to foster wider uptake and development of aerospace technologies in regions, smart city concepts, life sciences clusters and increased use of funding opportunities in Poland.

Help us grow our newsletter community by sharing it! (27/04/2023)

Do you know someone who would be interested in getting information or updates on DG GROW’s files and policies? Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter and invite them to sign up by subscribing here or by scanning the QR code!

Agreement on the Critical Raw Materials Act will increase Europe's resilience and economic security (23/11/2023)

The Commission welcomes the political agreement reached on 13 November between the European Parliament and the Council on the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). The Act sets out a series of comprehensive actions to ensure the EU’s access to a secure, diversified, affordable and sustainable supply of critical raw materials. The new rules help to increase domestic capacities for critical raw materials along the supply chain, complementing initiatives to diversify their supply through international partnerships supported by the Global Gateway facility. To strengthen the EU domestic capacities, the Commission will, with Member States, identify Strategic Projects along the value chain that will benefit from more streamlined, faster and more efficient permitting procedures as well as facilitated access to finance.

The EU signed several partnerships for sustainable raw materials and renewable hydrogen (23/11/2023)

At the Global Gateway Forum 2023, 30 new strategic partnerships were forged amongst others on raw materials and on green hydrogen. The EU committed around €3 billion for new partnerships to foster sustainable growth, bolster the industry's resilience and grow clean value chains.

DG GROW’s Kerstin Jorna: 'We need a strong EU clean hydrogen economy, and for that we need a strong EU electrolyser manufacturing capacity' (24/11/2023)

On 21 November, during the 2023 Hydrogen Week, GROW Director-General, Kerstin Jorna participated in a panel about the business case for electrolyser manufacturing in Europe. Read the full post on LinkedIn!

Commission sets out immediate actions to support the European Wind Power industry (23/11/2023)

As announced by President Ursula von der Leyen in her State of the Union speech, the Commission has presented a European Wind Power Action Plan to ensure that the clean energy transition goes hand-in-hand with industrial competitiveness and that wind power continues to be a European success story.

The 2024 Commission Work Programme simplifies rules for citizens and businesses across the EU (18/10/2023)

The Work Programme reflects on the achievements of the past four years, outlines the Commission's new proposals for the months ahead and presents significant initiatives aimed at cutting red tape. Reducing administrative burden is crucial to maintaining the competitiveness of European businesses. That’s why the Commission will rationalise and streamline such requirements, which have a disproportionate impact on businesses, including SMEs and micro-companies, and administrations.

Zoom on the 2023 edition of the EU Industry Days (18/10/2023)

The Commission’s flagship event dedicated to EU industry was held in Málaga, Spain and gathered approximately 1,200 participants both on site and online, including more than 200 speakers. Discussions took place over 3 days and featured industrial leaders, policymakers, SME representatives, start-uppers, researchers, and civil society representatives. The event offered an opportunity for participants to meet with both EU and local experts to discover funding and business advisory programmes and visit an exhibition with 16 EU-funded projects. In addition, the EU Industry Days provided a platform for stakeholders to share their views with EU policymakers. A report of the event with key takeaways from all 40 sessions is available here, and it is also possible to watch the recordings of all the sessions on GROW’s Youtube channel.

Intellectual property experts meet in Madrid (18/10/2023)

During the High-Level Intellectual Property (IP) Conference organised by the Spanish Presidency in Madrid on 11-12 September , Maive Rute, GROW Deputy Director-General, talked about GROW's IP initiatives: Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) and the benefits that the new scheme for geographical indications for crafts and industrial products (CIGIs) will bring.

The Commission is setting up a Joint European Forum for Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) to increase their effectiveness and identify strategic technologies relevant to potential future projects (18/10/2023)

IPCEIs are a key industrial tool to support breakthrough innovations or large-scale infrastructure projects in critical sectors and technologies for the EU. The new forum will be a partnership with Member States to identify areas of strategic EU interest for future IPCEIs and to increase their effectiveness.

New online platform simplifying compliance of Member States with notification obligations (18/10/2023)

On 19 September, the Commission launched a new online platform as part of its efforts to reduce administrative burden and facilitate Member States’ compliance with their notification obligations under EU law. The new Single Notification Window offers a single-entry point to a broad range of notification obligations relevant to the Single Market, without amending the existing notification procedures themselves.

A well-functioning Single Market needs a well-functioning postal market (18/10/2023)

On 27 September, GROW organised the European Regulators Group for Postal Services (ERGP) Stakeholders Forum 2023 and welcomed around 150 representatives of key postal stakeholders to discuss some of the key issues the sector is currently facing.

Protecting environment and health: Commission adopts measures to restrict intentionally added microplastics (18/10/2023)

On 25 September, the Commission took another major step to protect the environment by adopting measures that restrict microplastics intentionally added to products. The new rules will prevent the release to the environment of about half a million tonnes of microplastics. They will prohibit the sale of microplastics as such, and of products to which microplastics have been added on purpose and that release those microplastics when used. When duly justified, derogations and transition periods for the affected parties to adjust to the new rules apply.

Business Planet - Europe's journey to 'infinitely' recyclable textiles (18/10/2023)

Europeans produce a staggering 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste per year. Most is burned, dumped in landfills or exported. Fibre-to-fibre recycling is an alternative option that a new European Commission scheme will push companies to take. The latest Business Planet episode investigates this further.

European Angel Investment Summit 2023 – Fuelling Europe’s Growth (18/10/2023)

The 2023 European Angel Investment Summit allowed 35 start-ups to pitch to investors and enabled over 100 one-to-one meetings between companies, investors and policy makers. During the summit, the European Business Angel Network signed a Memorandum of Understanding with United Nations Women to promote female angel investing.

Invest EU Pilot Facility to support EU SMEs in trade with Ukraine (18/10/2023)

As a result of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the majority of Export credit agencies in the EU suspended their risk coverage for Ukraine, negatively impacting the ability of EU companies to export to Ukraine. The Commission is working with the European Investment Fund (EIF) to set up a new pilot facility under the InvestEU SME window of roughly €300 million to allow Export Credit Agencies to resume their business with regard to Ukraine. The pilot facility is expected to improve the competitiveness of European SMEs by establishing stronger ties with Ukraine and supporting EU exports.

New report confirms that women are an undervalued asset in European Venture Capital Firms (18/10/2023)

A new report published by the European Women in Venture Capital confirms that gender-diverse companies generate better financial results, more innovation and more successful start-ups. Women-led firms have also higher environmental, social, and governance scores compared to other companies. It highlights also that venture capital firms with 10% points higher representation of women in senior management show higher internal rate of return.  Nonetheless, women in venture capital continue to struggle when raising funds. The Commission's goal is that at least 25% of equity intermediaries supported by InvestEU via the EIF should be gender diverse.

Commission seeks views of companies that want to trade or invest in Africa, Asia and Oceania (18/10/2023)

The European Union, in collaboration with EU Member States, seeks to obtain a better overview of European companies operating or interested in operating in different international markets. The collected anonymous replies will be used to frame the agenda of EU Business Forums, trade negotiations and policy dialogues. They will also help to better target the discussions to the concrete areas that can attract more European investments in a given (third) country. Have a look at the ongoing consultations taking place in Angola (here), Ghana (here), Laos (here), Malawi (here), Mozambique (here), Nepal (here), Pakistan (here), Zimbabwe (here) and Papua New Guinea (here).

EU Cities Championing the Green and Digital Transition (19/10/2023)

The Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC) recently published the ICC City Performance Report: EU Cities Championing the Green and Digital Transition. This report details the vision, methodology, achievements, challenges and opportunities for cities across Europe and beyond over the period of the programme. Some of the key highlights include supporting 42 cities to make significant strides toward launching their own Local Green Deals, leveraging €247 million in public funding from EU, national and regional sources and multiple concrete solutions under five thematic tracks to boost 136 cities in improving economic competitiveness, social resilience, and citizens’ quality of life.

30th Anniversary of the Single Market - The Single Market Tour is travelling around Europe to meet you! (19/10/2023)

The Single Market Tour, one of the main activities of the campaign celebrating the 30^th Anniversary of the Single Market, is travelling across Europe. The next stops of the Single Market Tour will be in France. This will be followed by several other countries in 2024. Discover here the programme and the picture galleries for Trieste - Italy; Szeged – Hungary; Timisoara – Romania; Brasov - Romania; Plovdiv and Sofia - Bulgaria; Malaga, Spain; Evora, Santarem and Castelo Branco, Portugal.

Save the date: 7- 8 November - Empowering Equity II (07/11/2023)

The 2^nd edition of the event dedicated to venture capital of the European Investment Fund for Women Fund Managers and mixed venture capital teams will take place on 7 and 8 November in Luxembourg. InvestEU, the EU’s flagship investment programme, among its other objectives, aims to support investment teams that have a strong representation of women in management positions. GROW's Director-General, Kerstin Jorna, will address the participants. Registrations are open!

Save the date: 9 November - EU Finance Days - Prague (09/11/2023)

The EU FINANCE DAYS are organised by the European Commission and implementing partners to present new financial and support programmes such as InvestEU, the Single Market Programme and the European Innovation Council to businesses and relevant stakeholders. Join us in person or online at the next EU FINANCE DAYS in Prague. Registrations are open!

Save the date: 13-17 November - 2023 European SME Week, SME Assembly and Annual Conference of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) (13/11/2023)

The European SME Week will be held from 13 to 17 November in Bilbao, in cooperation with the Spanish Presidency of the Council, the Basque Government and the Enterprise Europe Network. The week will feature several events highlighting the importance of SMEs for Europe’s economy. The two biggest events in the week are the SME Assembly and the Annual Conference of the Enterprise Europe Network.

Save the date: 14 November - European Small and Mid-Cap Awards 2023 (14/11/2023)

The European Small and Mid-Cap Awards aim to promote best practices and encourage more SMEs to access capital markets via public listing on stock markets. The winners of each of the four categories will be revealed during a ceremony which will take place next 14 November 2023 as part of SME Assembly 2023 in Bilbao, Spain. Registrations are open!

Save the date: 13-17 November - Raw Materials Week 2023 (13/11/2023)

The Raw Materials Week is an annual event organised by the European Commission. It gathers a wide range of stakeholders discussing policies and initiatives in the field of raw material, providing an overview of ongoing EU activities in this sector. This year, the event will centre around the European Critical Raw Materials Act and include the 10^th annual High-Level Conference of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on raw materials, co-organised with Eumicon, on 15 November. Registrations are open!

Save the date: 15 November - SM30 High-level policy panel - Power of the Single Market in a new geopolitical context (15/11/2023)

GROW's Chief Economist team is organising a high-level policy panel during this year's edition of the Annual Research Conference in Brussels. How can we maximise the leverage effect of the Single Market to improve our productivity growth and economic performance? What institutional designs foster the structural transformation of the EU economy to ensure long-term sustainable competitiveness and increase our economic resilience? Registrations are open!

Save the date: 30 November IMI - 15 years of digitally connecting authorities across borders and languages (30/11/2023)

Since its launch in 2008, the Internal Market Information (IMI) system has transformed cross-border communication and cooperation between public administrations. This digital tool has reduced administrative burden for citizens and businesses, streamlined single market rules’ application and paved the way for digital transformation. On 30 November in Brussels, a high-level conference will bring together representatives of the Commission, Member States and stakeholders from across Europe to celebrate the achievements and the people behind the IMI. What is the role of the digital cooperation of public authorities in the EU digital agenda? What are the success stories? How to boost IMI’s potential to support the deepening of the single market? These and many more questions will be addressed by eminent speakers taking part in the panel discussions. Come celebrate with us, the event will be web streamed!

Help us grow our newsletter community by sharing it! (27/04/2023)

Do you know someone who would be interested in getting information or updates on DG GROW’s files and policies? Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter and invite them to sign up by subscribing here or by scanning the QR code!

The Single Market Economy and DG GROW policies at the heart of the President's 'State of the Union' speech (22/09/2023)

On 13 September, President Ursula von der Leyen delivered the final State of the Union address of this mandate. She highlighted several achievements of her Commission while underlining the major challenges the EU is facing today. She stressed the importance of the competitiveness of our industry and SMEs by supporting their green and digital transition, facilitating the business cases, and ensuring fair competition with third countries. The President explicitly mentioned some of DG GROW's latest actions, such as the Net Zero Industry Act, the Raw Materials Act and the Industrial Strategy built around thriving industrial ecosystems. In terms of upcoming projects, the President highlighted a series of Clean Transition Dialogues that will be held with industry and a European Wind Power package that the Commission will put forward. This will fast-track permitting further, improve auction systems across the EU, and focus on skills, access to finance and stable supply chains. Finally, the President announced that she has asked Mario Draghi to prepare a report on the future of European competitiveness.

Championing Europe's SMEs: Commission provides new relief to boost the competitiveness and resilience of SMEs (22/09/2023)

The SME Relief package, put forward on 12 September, brings new measures that will provide short-term relief, boost SMEs' long-term competitiveness, and strengthen fairness in the business environment across the Single Market. As part of these measures, the Commission also published new proposals for a Regulation on late payments in commercial transactions and a Directive establishing a Head Office Tax System for SMEs. Additional initiatives aim at further boosting SMEs' access to finance, improving the business environment and supporting SMEs' growth into mid-caps to unleash their full economic potential.

Read the first implementation report on the Single Digital Gateway (SDG) (22/09/2023)

The Single Digital Gateway (SDG) is an ambitious EU eGovernment initiative launched in 2020. The purpose of the SDG is to help Member States digitalise their public administrations, while helping businesses and citizens to better understand and use their rights and the opportunities offered by the Single Market. The report provides an assessment of how the SDG functions today and describes its next phases. It highlights a very promising start and what will be done to deepen its impact, including the activation of fully-online administrative procedures in 21 key areas that will speed up, among others, cross-border business operations, such as starting, running and closing a business. With 100 million overall visits in 2021 and 2022 as well as 1.2 million business cases taken on, Your Europe simplifies daily operations and contributes to the success of your business. 

Business Planet - Quarter of European bankruptcies blamed on late payments. The Commission is taking action (22/09/2023)

In this latest episode of Business Planet, we hear what late payments can mean for businesses, and ask how the EU can help protect vulnerable entrepreneurs.

30th Anniversary of the Single Market - The Single Market Tour is travelling around Europe ! (22/09/2023)

The Single Market Tour, one of the main activities of the campaign celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Single Market, kicked off on 1-2 September in Italy and continued its journey in Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. The next stops of the Single Market Tour will be in Spain, Portugal and France. This will be followed by many other stops in 2024. Discover here the programme and the picture gallery for Trieste - Italy; Szeged – Hungary; Timisoara – Romania; Brasov - Romania; Plovdiv and Sofia - Bulgaria.

Foreign Subsidies Regulation has entered into force (22/09/2023)

The Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) allows the EU to remain open to trade and investment, while ensuring a level playing field for all companies operating in the Single Market. The Implementing Regulation provides detailed rules on the procedures for notifications to the European Commission of concentrations in public procurement procedures.

Commission facilitates the activities of cross-border associations in the EU (22/09/2023)

On 5 September, the Commission adopted a proposal to facilitate the activities of cross-border associations in the EU. The proposal introduces an additional legal form of a European cross-border association (ECBA) in Member States’ national legal systems, which is specifically designed for cross-border purposes. It will improve the functioning of the Single Market by removing legal and administrative barriers for non-profit associations that wish to operate across border in the EU, thus promoting the role non-profit associations play in generating economic and societal value. An estimated 3.8 million of non-profit associations are active in the EU and they contribute 2.9% to the EU GDP. The new proposal will bring cost savings of up to EUR 770 million per year for the over 300,000 non-profit associations currently active cross-border.

Training for national authorities on free movement of goods (22/09/2023)

To improve the free movement of goods within the European Union, Product Contact Points (PCPs) have been set up in the Member States. The purpose of these Product Contact Points is to facilitate access to the national market for economic operators of other Member States. PCPs just concluded successfully a 2-year programme, initiated at the beginning of 2022 at the request of the European Union Product Compliance Network (EUPCN), aiming to strengthen their expertise and address the growing need for product-specific market surveillance information in several sectors.

Dive into the world of eInvoicing with updated Country Factsheets! (22/09/2023)

Since the implementation of the eInvoicing Directive in April 2020, all public administrations across the EU comply with the European Standard on eInvoicing. The eInvocing Directive was adopted to reduce trade barriers arising from different national legal requirements and technical standards for electronic invoicing. Discover the 2023 eInvoicing Country Factsheets providing information about eInvoicing policies, digital reporting requirements, and much more in each  Member State.

Commission report concludes on improved transparency and higher SME participation after first years of application of the concessions directive (22/09/2023)

Concession markets in the EU are worth an average of €60 billion per year, representing around 12% of overall public procurement in Europe. The total number of concessions awarded in the EU has roughly doubled since the transposition deadline of the Concessions Directive and the number of concessions awarded to SMEs increased from 22.4% in 2016 to 31.6% in 2021. Four EU countries account for up to 85% of the total increase of concession awards. The sectors with the largest number of concession awards since 2016 are: hotel, restaurant and retail trade services, recreational, cultural and sporting services, and construction works. The report is accompanied by a Commission staff working document containing detailed legal and data analysis, based on in-house analysis and on an external study on the implementation of the concessions directive.

Price pressure is mostly due to supply shortages (22/09/2023)

'Decomposition of produce price inflation in the euro area' is an indicator that provides a measure of the relative importance of supply and demand factors in determining the inflationary pressure in the euro area. It refers to producer prices in industry, and is updated each quarter. Based on the methodology developed by DG GROW's Chief Economist team (2022), it combines data extracted by the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys and Eurostat.

Last call - 4-6 October - EU Industry Days - Malaga (04/10/2023)

Registrations for the EU Industry Days are still open, and we’re happy to announce that the event will also be web-streamed! The EU Industry Days, organised with the support of the Spanish Presidency and taking place at the Trade Fairs and Congress Centre of Málaga, are Europe’s flagship annual event focusing on key industrial policy discussions, connecting industrial frontrunners, and boosting the knowledge base of European industry. Seize this opportunity to discuss the future of EU industry and connect with hundreds of other industry representatives.

Last call - 5 October - EU Finance Days - Helsinki (05/10/2023)

The EU FINANCE DAYS are organised by the European Commission and implementing partners to present new financial and support programmes such as InvestEU, the Single Market Programme and the European Innovation Council to businesses and relevant stakeholders. Join us in person or online at the next EU FINANCE DAYS in Helsinki. Registrations are open !

Save the date - 10 October - SM30 Webinar - The unitary patent: opportunities and advantages for companies (10/10/2023)

Webinar organised by FAST ( Federazione delle associazioni scientifiche e tecniche) on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Single Market and the 15th Anniversary of the Enterprise Europe Network. On June 1, the Unitary Patent came into force, providing unitary protection to the 17 countries that have ratified it. What's new and benefits for businesses? What are the potential risks? Together with experts from European institutions and professionals, the webinar aims to offer an in-depth analysis on these issues. Registrations are open !

Save the date - 12-13 October - Clusters meet Regions - Lyon (12/10/2023)

Discover future industry trends, learn from EU manufacturing experts & see the latest cutting-edge tech at Pollutec. Registrations are open !

Save the date - 15 November - SM30 High-level policy panel - Power of the Single Market in a new geopolitical context (15/11/2023)

DG GROW's Chief Economist team is organising a high-level policy panel during this year's edition of the Annual Research Conference in Brussels. How can we maximise the leverage effect of the SM to improve our productivity growth and economic performance? What Institutional designs foster the structural transformation of the EU economy to ensure long-term sustainable competitiveness and increase our economic resilience? Registrations are open !

Help us grow our newsletter community by sharing it! (27/04/2023)

Do you know someone who would be interested in getting information or updates on DG GROW’s files and policies? Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter and invite them to sign up by subscribing here or by scanning the QR code!

Register now to participate in the EU Industry Days 2023 in Málaga, Spain! (04/10/2023)

Registrations for the EU Industry Days are still open!

Registrations are now open to participate in the EU Industry Days 2023! (04/10/2023)

Registrations are now open to participate in the EU Industry Days 2023, check out the programme!

Challenge yourself, take the quiz on the benefits of the EU single market! (21/06/2023)

The EU’s Single Market turns 30 this year. Yet, how much do you know about the Single Market and the perks it brings day in, day out? It’s time to find out. Answer the questions and submit your answer to win one of 10 prizes of two rail passes to explore the single market and Europe’s rich cultural heritage for a month. Available in 23 languages.

New Unitary Patent system: pioneering a new era of patent protection and enforcement in the EU (21/06/2023)

On 1 June, The Commission welcomed the launch of the Unitary Patent system, which will make it simpler and easier for companies to protect their innovations in Europe and capitalise on their intellectual property. Less than a month after the launch, already over 2000 unitary patents have been requested, and over 1600 unitary patents issued. SMEs interested in obtaining a unitary patent can apply for funding from the SME Fund when they file their European patent application. Funds are limited and available on a first come, first served basis. More information here.

Business Planet - Europe's Unitary Patent: Boosting innovation and simplifying patent protection (21/06/2023)

In this latest episode of Business Planet, Euronews travelled to the Netherlands to see how inventors will benefit from the European Unitary Patent system, which came into effect on 1 June. From solar panel projects to agricultural automation, Europe could see more innovation – and fast.

Intellectual Property Enforcement Summit gathers more than 600 participants and around 60 speakers to discuss innovative solutions in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy (21/06/2023)

The summit discussed main trends and threats and allowed key players to share best practices and ways to improve protection and enforcement of IP rights in the EU and around the globe. It also focused on innovative solutions and new technologies, as well as the ways to further reinforce cooperation and information sharing to tackle IP crime, including how to further support SMEs. Participants also discussed about the upcoming Toolbox against counterfeiting, the Digital Services Act, the Recommendation on combating online piracy of sports and other live events. Click the 'More' button to watch the video recordings from the plenary sessions.

Global Gateway: EU and Argentina step up cooperation on raw materials (21/06/2023)

On 13 June, in Buenos Aires, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a partnership between the EU and Argentina on sustainable raw materials value chains. In line with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, the agreement aims to ensure the development of a secure and sustainable supply of raw materials necessary for the clean energy and digital transition. It also aims to develop a sustainable raw materials industry, and to support the creation of local added value, quality employment and sustainable and inclusive economic growth, to the mutual benefit of both sides.

Project to increase diversity and inclusion in European harmonised standards receives Commission Award (21/06/2023)

The 'Changemaker of the year' prize was awarded by Commissioner Johannes Hahn to an official of DG GROW at the first Commission Diversity & Inclusion Awards ceremony for her project to increase diversity and inclusion in European harmonised standards. The project is based on the realisation during the pandemic that facial masks were not fit for most women. As a result, over 4,000 standards in 22 pieces of EU legislation will be screened to see if they protect the whole population regardless of size, weight, origin or gender considerations.

Starting a business as a career option? DG GROW’s mobilisation at the European Youth Event 2023 (21/06/2023)

On 9 and 10 June, around 9,000 young citizens from all over Europe and beyond gathered in Strasbourg to discuss Europe’s future and their place in it and in a more sustainable environment. DG GROW offered a session on entrepreneurship and support for (future) SMEs and held ‘meet the expert’ and ‘development corner’ sessions. In front of a full room of current and future entrepreneurs. DG GROW presented the various support schemes for (future) entrepreneurs. Discussions centred around the need for the next generation of founders to contribute to a sustainable future and what Europe has to offer them. The strong interest in the session and the constant flow of questions in the margins and during the individual meetings showed the interest of young people in contributing to a sustainable and digital Europe through entrepreneurship.

Learn more about Access to finance and what the InvestEU programme can offer you (21/06/2023)

Whether you are an SME seeking growth capital, constructing large infrastructure such as a wind power plant or an urban sustainable heating network, or whether you are a university and private sector partner seeking advice on developing a student loan scheme, the InvestEU programme helps you access funding, provides advisory support, or combines both. Click the ‘More’ button to watch the video.

Europe in strong position to exceed goal of 30 GW annual PV manufacturing by 2025 (21/06/2023)

On 14 June, the European Solar PV Industry Alliance (ESIA) held its first Forum since the launch in Brussels in December 2022 by Commissioner Breton. Kerstin Jorna, Director-General of DG GROW, attended the ESIA Forum in Munich alongside the Intersolar Conference, the world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry, taking place annually at the Messe München exhibition centre. The forum was attended by representatives of the 127 Alliance members representing companies from all segments of the value chain, regional and local authorities, off takers, associations, consultancies and research centres.

Innovative clean technologies can make energy-intensive industries climate neutral (21/06/2023)

On 22 June, the Commission published a report entitled 'Scaling up innovative technologies for climate neutrality', which analyses 184 demonstrator projects for climate neutrality in energy-intensive industries. The projects include innovative clean technology areas such as electrification, the integration of hydrogen, carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS), circularity and energy efficiency. They have been tested in various energy intensive industrial plants, notably chemicals, cement, steel, glass, paper, ceramics and oil refineries throughout the EU.

Last chance (5 July) to become the European Capital or Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2024 (22/05/2023)

At the European Tourism Day on 5 May, the Commission launched two competitions to promote smart and sustainable tourism in the EU, strengthen destinations, and facilitate the exchange of best practices: the European Capital of Smart Tourism and the European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism. If you missed the online workshops to guide your city/destination through the process of creating a successful application, you can now watch the full video recordings related to each competition: European Capital of Smart Tourism recording European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism recording

Check out the revamped Confidence Indicator for the Industrial Ecosystems! (21/06/2023)

Updated every month and based on data extracted by the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys, the confidence indicator for the industrial ecosystems provides a timely indication of the state of each ecosystem at the EU level. A profile of the economic sentiment is built for each ecosystem, by calculating a weighted average of the values of those sectors included in the definition of each ecosystem; the weights are based on the share of value added that each sector has in the total value added of the ecosystem, as a measure of the relevance of that sector to that ecosystem.

An enhanced methodology to monitor the EU’s strategic dependencies and vulnerabilities (21/06/2023)

This article develops an enhanced bottom-up and data-driven methodology to detect EU strategic dependencies using highly disaggregated product-level trade data. It identifies 204 products in sensitive industrial ecosystems where the EU experiences an important level of foreign dependencies. A subset of these products are then identified as particularly problematic given that their world trade networks can experience Single Point of Failure (SPOF).

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) - Member States expressed their support to the monitoring framework put forward by the Commission (21/06/2023)

On 1 June, the meeting of the Chief Economist Network with Member States provided an opportunity to discuss, with the Member States, the EIB and the ECB, the economic rationale of the 17 KPIs laid down in the Commission Communication “Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030” adopted on 16 March 2023. The long-term competitiveness Communication outlines a set of Key Performance Indicators and related targets to monitor the EU’s progress towards becoming a more competitive and sustainable economy. The outcomes of the 1 June discussion will feed into inform inter alia the work of the High-Level Group on Competitiveness and Growth.

The Commission further integrates Ukraine into the EU Single Market through the Connecting Europe Facility for infrastructure funding (21/06/2023)

Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean and Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Oleksandr Kubrakov, today signed an agreement in Lviv, associating Ukraine to the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme. This agreement will enable Ukrainian project promoters to apply for EU funding for projects of common interest in the transport, energy and digital realms, further improving Ukraine's connectivity with its EU neighbours. It will support Ukraine's integration within the EU Single Market, promote growth, jobs and competitiveness.

Recognition of qualifications for people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (26/06/2023)

On 26 June, the Commission has published a report that assesses the uptake and responses by Member States to the Commission Recommendation (EU) 2022/554 of 5 April 2022 on the recognition of qualifications for people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The report highlights that Member States have made significant strides in facilitating the integration of Ukrainian professionals. The report also found that implementation of the Recommendation varies significantly across Member States. Click the 'More' button to read the full report.

The transition pathway for the Textiles ecosystem is out! (30/09/2023)

Following an extensive co-creation process with relevant actors of the textiles ecosystem, including the textiles, clothing, leather, and footwear sectors, the Transition pathway for the Textiles ecosystem was published on 6 June 2023.
The pathway defines 50 specific actions to make the ecosystem greener, more digital and to ensure its long-term resilience and competitiveness. Together with the publication, the Commission launched a call for commitments. The purpose of the call is to collect commitments from stakeholders on the concrete actions that they will take to bring forward the actions identified in the transition pathway. All stakeholders who wish to make a public commitment are welcome to do so.

Calls for expressions of interest for our European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) Matchmaking events in South Africa and Singapore are now open! (12/07/2023)

24-26 October - EU-South Africa Matchmaking Event 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa

The event will take place in the context of Manufacturing Indaba and will particularly target the following sectors: Agri-food, Green Industries, Chemicals and Metals, Transport (Maritime and Automotive), Digital Tech, Textile and Leather.

30 October - 1 November - EU-Singapore Matchmaking Event 2023 in Singapore

The event will be a part of Singapore Week of Innovation & Technology (SWITCH) and Agri-Food Tech Expo Asia 2023. It will provide networking opportunities, particularly in the fields: Agrifood, Health Care and Biomedical Tech, Digital Tech, Smart Cities and Urban Solutions, Advanced Manufacturing, Green Tech.

Save the date 30 August - 02 September - SM30 event in Ponte da Barca - Summer CEmp 2023 (22/06/2023)

This year's edition of Summer CEmp, the summer school of the Representation of the European Commission in Portugal, will take place in Ponte da Barca, in the district of Viana do Castelo, between August 30 and September 2, with the support of the Municipality of Ponte da Barca and with the collaboration of the center Europe Direct Minho. This initiative of the Representation of the European Commission in Portugal was born from the desire to involve current and future opinion leaders in the debate on the European Union and to mobilise young people around what the European project is and can be, as well as the role of the European Commission and citizens in its construction.

Help us grow our newsletter community by sharing it! (27/04/2023)

Do you know someone who would be interested in getting information or updates on DG GROW’s files and policies? Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter and invite them to sign up by subscribing here or by scanning the QR code!

COMPET Council 22 May (22/05/2023)

At the Competitiveness Council of 22 May, EU Ministers discussed several internal market and industry topics. Amongst others, they adopted the general approach for the regulation establishing a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products, exchanged views on four competitiveness-related files, including the long-term competitiveness communication. They also welcomed the entry into force on 1 June of the Unitary Patent System. This long-awaited tool will make it easier for companies to protect their innovations in Europe and capitalise on their intellectual property.

The Commission launches a large-scale skills partnership for energy-intensive industries (21/05/2023)

This partnership is the 18th large-scale skills partnership under the Pact for Skills, a flagship initiative of the European Skills Agenda. Its aim is to identify skills needs and develop appropriate curricula and training programmes to ensure that the workforce of energy intensive industries has the appropriate skills for these industries to remain frontrunners of the green and digital transition.

Deal on protecting geographical indications for craft & industrial products! (22/05/2023)

The Commission welcomes the provisional political agreement reached by the European Parliament and Council on a new Regulation to protect the intellectual property for craft and industrial products. The new Regulation will enable EU producers to protect craft and industrial products and their traditional know-how in Europe and beyond, including online. It will make it easier for consumers to recognise the quality of such products and make more informed choices. The regulation will also ensure that traditional craft and industrial products are finally put on an equal footing with protected geographical indications that already exist in the agricultural area.

Simplified, clearer and digital rules for detergents in the Single Market (22/05/2023)

On 28 April, the Commission proposed a revised Regulation on detergents that simplifies and future-proofs the current rules to better protect health and the environment, as well as ensure the better functioning of the Single Market for detergents. The revised rules cover new innovative products like detergents containing micro-organisms and sustainable new practices like the sale of detergents refills. The new rules also introduce a digital labelling and a product passport for detergents and surfactants. This proposal updates the existing rules in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the recently adopted Commission Communication on the long-term competitiveness of the EU.

The Internal Market Information System (IMI) celebrates 15 years, but what is it exactly ? (22/05/2023)

The Internal Market Information System (IMI) is a secure, multilingual online tool that facilitates the Exchange of information between public authorities involved in the practical implementation of EU law. IMI helps authorities to fulfil their cross-border administrative cooperation obligations in multiple Single Market policy areas. Currently, IMI supports 67 administrative cooperation procedures in 17 different policy areas. IMI can be adapted, with little or no development effort, to support further policy areas. It has succeeded in modernising cross-border administrative cooperation and ensuring that the Single Market works on the ground for public authorities.

Clusters meet Regions East and North Finland (26/05/2023)

On 25-27 April, the European Cluster Collaboration Platform organised the Clusters meet Regions conference in Kittilä, Levi, Finland, bringing together a wide range of European clusters, Commission representatives, civil servants and regional developers, as well as a range of clusters and other stakeholders from East and North Finland. The participants discussed and shared ideas, research results and experiences on strengthening raw materials value chains and promoting their sustainable use. The event was part of a broader effort to increase the self-sufficiency of EU Member States in critical raw materials supply, processing and recycling. It was highlighted how clusters play an important role in research, innovation and knowledge sharing in order to achieve this goal.

Making the Single Market work better? SOLVITeers make it happen! (22/05/2023)

SOLVIT is a service provided by the national administration in each EU country and in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. It was created to solve problems that EU citizens or businesses are experiencing with the public administrations of EU Member States. More than 60 SOLVITeers participated in the 54th SOLVIT Workshop hosted by SOLVIT Croatia in Zagreb on 10-12 May. In this Workshop, the SOLVIT centres revised their current working practices and reached common understanding of key aspects of their work. They also engaged in strategic discussions on how to best continue to be a key source of information, allowing the Commission to monitor progress on the good functioning of the single market.

Business Planet: Bridging the gap: Boosting Europe’s green workforce to keep pace with net zero energy ambitions (21/05/2023)

This month’s episode of Business Planet, our co-production with Euronews, speaks to those on Europe's green skills front line to find out how the EU and its companies are closing the gap between delivering our ambitious green energy projects and the lack of people with the right skills to get these projects done. Europe's push towards a green energy transition is facing significant challenges created by a huge shortage of skilled people in net-zero industries like batteries, solar and wind. The Commission estimates the battery sector alone will need another 800,000 people to be trained or reskilled by 2025. As such, significant investment in academies is needed to address this workforce gap.

Bio-based industries: moving from niche to mainstream (22/05/2023)

Bio-based products can make the economy more sustainable and lower our dependence on fossil fuels. For this reason, the EU has declared the bio-based products sector to be a priority area with high potential for future growth, reindustrialisation, and addressing societal challenges. Over 170 participants – from both private and public sectors – shared their experiences and views on the potential of bio-based materials to increase the sustainability of industry and to contribute to the European Green Deal objectives. Director-General Kerstin Jorna and Deputy Director-General Maive Rute steered a lively and constructive discussion among stakeholders on ideas and suggestions on how to accelerate the move towards a sustainable bioeconomy.

European Tourism Day 2023 focused on a green, digital and resilient tourism sector (22/05/2023)

The Commission celebrated the European Tourism Day 2023 with a big event on 5 May, where around 450 tourism stakeholders from all horizons were able to meet and network. Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton and the Chairwoman of the Transport and Tourism Committee of the European Parliament, Karima Delli, opened the discussion. This was followed by an orientation debate on the ecosystem's resilience and 3 roundtables on tourism's transition.

2024 European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism competitions: Open for applications! (22/05/2023)

On European Tourism Day on 5 May, the Commission launched two competitions to promote smart and sustainable tourism in the EU, strengthen destinations, and facilitate the exchange of best practices: the European Capital of Smart Tourism and the European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism.

First pledge count in the Transition Pathway for Proximity and Social Economy ecosystem (22/05/2023)

The Transition pathway for proximity and social economy is a co-created path, inviting relevant parties to help social economy entities and small local businesses become greener and more digital. Following the call for pledges launched in November 2022, the first 80 stakeholder pledges were announced, committing parties to a green and digital future.

Save the date: 1 June - SM30 event in Perols (France) - European and international certification of electrical and electronic equipment and machinery (01/06/2023)

This seminar will highlight the certification of the products in Europe (CE marking) and in the world. The machinery directive will be presented as well with the important evolutions of the new version which will soon be applicable. Finally, we the new requirements of the cybersecurity of IoT products and industrial cybersecurity will be discussed.

Save the date: 6 June - EU Finance Days - Lisbon (06/06/2023)

The EU FINANCE DAYS are organised by the European Commission and implementing partners to present new financial and support programmes such as InvestEU, the Single Market Programme and the European Innovation Council to businesses and relevant stakeholders. Join us at the next EU FINANCE DAY in Lisbon. Click the 'More' button to register.

Save the date: 7 June - SM30 webinar - Environmental labelling of packaging - Mandatory information and practical cases (07/06/2023)

The partners of the Enterprise Europe Network (SME2EUplus consortium) in collaboration with the Chemical Laboratory Chamber of Commerce of Turin, organise a webinar for companies from the Marche, Umbria and Tuscany regions to make an overview of the rules to follow, examining the recent updates on mandatory environmental labelling and giving space to practical cases.

Save the date: 8 June - SM30 event in Prague - The cross-border provision of services and posting of workers from all perspectives (08/06/2023)

The seminar will be devoted to the cross-border provision of services and posting of workers from all perspectives – from the labour law conditions of posted employees, through social and health insurance and VAT, to the provision of services by self-employed persons and related procedures.

Save the date: 9-10 June in Strasbourg - European Youth Event 2023 (09/06/2023)

The European Youth Event (EYE) offers a variety of in-person and hybrid activities in Strasbourg, co-created with partners, youth organisations, participants themselves and other institutions and international organisations. On 9-10 June, the European Parliament and the EYE Village will be a hustle and bustle of young people engaged in panel debates, workshops, stands and artistic activities!

Save the date: 14 June in Vienna - Expert Talks 2023 on EU Standardisation Strategy (14/06/2023)

Standards are becoming a central element of a resilient, green and digital EU single market. One year after the publication of the EU standardisation strategy, experts will discuss several key issues, including: What does the strategy mean for Austria as a location for business, research and innovation? What are the next steps for the European Commission? 30 years of the European Single Market: How do we achieve the green and digital transformation? From future-oriented technologies to the Green Deal and critical raw materials: How do stakeholders assess the situation?

Save the date: 14-15 June in Sofia - International IP Enforcement Summit 2023 (14/06/2023)

The summit will bring together key European and international decision-makers, law enforcement authorities, multinational companies, SMEs, consumer representatives, and other relevant players to discuss ways to improve protection and enforcement of IP rights in the EU and around the globe. The summit will focus on how innovative solutions and further cooperation can best tackle IP crime in the context of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats. It will also be an opportunity to continue the discussion about the EU Toolbox against counterfeiting, building on, in particular, the Digital Services Act.

Save the date: 19 June - SM30 event in Paris - The unitary patent, a new tool for your innovations (19/06/2023)

The Unitary Patent is a new tool to strengthen business innovation, a lever for growth and competitiveness. Simpler and more economical, it facilitates companies' access to patent protection in Europe. France is the 2nd most innovative country in Europe with 10,900 patent applications filed at the EPO (EPO Innovation Barometer 2022). A Unified Patent Court (UPC) is also established to better enforce and protect patent rights in Europe in all participating Member States.

Call for papers - Research Conference on the EU Single Market, 7 February 2024, Brussels (22/05/2023)

DG GROW and the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union will organise a second edition of the academic Conference on the EU Single Market, after the one organised in December 2022. The conference will be held in person in Brussels and virtually in a hybrid format. It will bring together top researchers to present research findings and policy insights related to the EU Single Market.

European Ombudsman Award for Good Administration 2023. Vote online! (22/05/2023)

There are 57 projects nominated for the Ombudsman's Award for Good Administration 2023. The projects come from a range of EU institutions and showcase the breadth of activities carried out by the EU administration. There are four DG GROW proposals on the list, take a look and vote for your favourite one.

Have your say and contribute to the future of electronic invoicing (22/05/2023)

The Commission wants to hear from you to gather your input on the current and future needs of eInvoicing. This survey was launched in the context of the evaluation of eInvoicing Directive 2014/55/EU. Your input will help us better understand the benefits and challenges of eInvoicing and identify potential improvement opportunities.

Help us grow our newsletter community by sharing it! (27/04/2023)

Do you know someone who would be interested in getting information or updates on DG GROW’s files and policies? Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter and invite them to sign up by subscribing here or by scanning the QR code!

New harmonised EU patents rules protect innovation, investment and competitiveness in the EU single market (27/04/2023)

On 27 April, the Commission has proposed new rules to help companies, especially small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), make the most of their inventions, leverage new technologies and contribute to the EU's competitiveness and technological sovereignty. The proposed Regulations on standard essential patents, compulsory licensing of patents in crisis situations, and the revision of the legislation on supplementary protection certificates will create a more transparent, effective and futureproof intellectual property rights framework. The new proposals will complement the Unitary Patent system, which will be operational as of 1 June. Their respective starting points are existing provisions and principles of international and EU IP law, but they each aim to make the patents system more effective by further eliminating Single Market fragmentation, reducing red tape, and enhancing efficiency. This solid patent framework will empower economic operators and competent authorities to better protect innovation while ensuring fair access, including during emergency situations. These patent initiatives tackle the following key areas: Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPC); Compulsory Licencing and Standard-essential Patents (SEP). They also provide for a new vouchers scheme in support of SMEs in the context of the 2023 SME Fund.

Commission paves way for mobile machinery to move more easily on public roads across the EU (18/04/2023)

The Commission has proposed a Regulation to facilitate the use of non-road mobile machinery (such as cranes, harvesters, forklifts, snow cleaners, etc.) on public roads. This initiative will ultimately replace the different regulatory regimes that currently exist in the Member States. The new rules will contribute to remove fragmentation in the Single Market and eliminate barriers to the free circulation of such machinery, while ensuring a high level of road safety. The new rules will also reduce compliance costs and administrative burden, with cost savings estimated at up to €846 million over a period of 10 years.

Public procurement: a new community platform to connect public buyers in the EU (27/04/2023)

On 19 April, the Commission launched the Public Buyers Community Platform, an innovative platform designed to facilitate cooperation and knowledge-sharing between public buyers across Europe. The platform is a unique digital space where public procurement stakeholders including public authorities, industry , SMEs, and academia can come together to exchange best practices, share experiences, and discuss challenges. Efficient, modern and well-managed public procurement can help create a more innovative, sustainable and socially inclusive EU economy. It stimulates the job sector, growth and investment, and improves the quality of public services. The launch of the Public Buyers Community Platform is a significant step towards achieving the Commission's goals of promoting transparency, fairness, and competition in public procurement.

Business Planet: How public spending in Oslo is driving zero-emissions building sites (18/04/2023)

This month’s episode of Business Planet, our co-production with Euronews, focuses on greening public spending. In Europe, around 250,000 public authorities spend €2 trillion a year - 14% of Europe’s GDP - on services such as transport, waste management, health and education. The power of the public purse can also be used to drive green goals or push social inclusion. The Big Buyers Collaboration Network for Strategic Procurement is a European Commission Initiative for promoting collaboration between big public buyers, focusing on implementing strategic public procurement for sustainable solutions. By working together, and pooling their resources, cities, central purchasing bodies, and other major public procurers can maximise their market power and impact.

The EU signs an Association Agreement with Türkiye to join the Single Market Programme (18/04/2023)

On 31 March, the EU signed an Association Agreement with Türkiye on the country’s participation in the Single Market Programme. This will enhance the EU-Türkiye cooperation in the Single Market. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs Mehmet Kemal Bozay and DG GROW’s Director-General Kerstin Jorna signed the agreement. The EU and Türkiye have a long tradition of partnership in trade, manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and industry. This new agreement will develop partnerships between Turkish and European businesses and serve as leverage for all stakeholders in the Turkish and European economies. Negotiations are proceeding with several countries and the Commission hopes to sign several more agreements under the Single Market Programme in the coming months.

Thank you for joining us at Hannover Messe 2023 (21/04/2023)

The Commission had a prominent presence at the Hannover Fair 2023. More than 20 panels at the Commission stand’s auditorium hosted a total of about 600 visitors. The Commission was represented by several high-level speakers from DG GROW, including Director-General Kerstin Jorna, Deputy Director-General Maive Rute, Directors Jakub Boratynski and Kristin Schreiber, who contributed to the panels and discussions. Commission staff seized the opportunity to engage throughout the week with stakeholders from industry, academia, and beyond, and to showcase their work to support economic growth and innovation across Europe.

30 years of the EU single market – future opportunities for entrepreneurs in Latvia (19/04/2023)

On 31 March, the Representation of the European Commission in Latvia, in cooperation with the European Union House in Riga, invited entrepreneurs to participate in the event "30 years of the EU Single Market – Future Opportunities for Entrepreneurs in Latvia". The event was attended by a DG GROW expert, James Brett, who presented the advantages of the business environment and the Single Market for Latvia.

ADMA TranS4MErs launches the 2nd Open Call to help European SMEs achieve their digital transformation (18/04/2023)

As one of the largest European transformation programmes, ADMA TranS4MErs offers a comprehensive and dynamic approach to digital transformation, helping companies across the continent achieve their full potential. The open Call 2 runs from 3 April until 18 January 2024, and aims to assist small and medium sized enterprises in the EU to adopt and implement innovative and sustainable digital and advanced manufacturing solutions. The programme offers vouchers to design and implement companies’ Digital Transformation Plan and boost them in their objective of becoming factories of the future. This is done in two stages: a first stage focused on Design and a second one on Revamp. Vouchers are allocated on a first come first serve basis.

The Supply Chain Task Force Bulletin - April (25/10/2022)

Read the latest developments of DG GROW's analysis of supply chains disruptions related to the Russian military aggression against Ukraine.

Last call - 2 May - Single Market Forum (02/05/2023)

The Single Market Forum conference is organised in Stockholm by the European Commission together with Swedish Presidency and will mark the 30th anniversary of the EU Single Market. It will be a full-day event and include a high-level panel which will hold a political discussion on the accomplishments and future of the Single Market in addition to thematic workshops on Standardisation, Digitalisation and Skills.

Last call - 5 May - European Tourism Day (05/05/2023)

On the occasion of the European Tourism Day 2023, the European Commission will organise an orientation debate to discuss the resilience of the tourism ecosystem and three roundtables, each focusing on different important aspects such as the twin transition and the upskilling of the workforce in the EU tourism ecosystem

Draft agenda - European Tourism Day livestream

Save the date - 9 May - SM30 event in The Hague - 30 years of the Single Market: looking back and forward (09/05/2023)

The Representation of the European Commission in the Hague, the Enterprise Europe Network in the Netherlands and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) are organising an event in the context of the 30th Anniversary of the Single Market. What has it brought to the Netherlands and the rest of the EU countries? And what will the future bring? Maurits Pino, DG GROW expert, will present and explain the Single Market and developments in industrial Policy. Check out all SM30 events organised around Europe on our interactive map.

Save the date - 10 May - SM30 event in Berlin - 30 years of the Single Market (10/05/2023)

The Enterprise Europe Network in Germany in collaboration with the Representation of the European Commission in Berlin is organising an event in the context of the 30th Anniversary of the Single Market. Kristin Schreiber, DG GROW's Director for Chemicals, Food and Retail ecosystems will give a keynote speech on 30 Years of the Single Market – Perspectives for the Future of Europe. Check out all SM30 events organised around Europe on our interactive map.

Save the date - 10 May - SM30 event in Barcelona - 30 years of the Single Market: Learn about the tools that facilitate internationalization (10/05/2023)

ACCIÓ, the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona, the General Council of Chambers of Commerce of Catalonia and the Enterprise Europe Network Catalunya are organising an event on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Single Market. Martine Diss, DG GROW expert, will present the achievements and current challenges of the Single Market. Check out all SM30 events organised around Europe on our interactive map.

Help us grow our newsletter community by sharing it! (27/04/2023)

Do you know someone who would be interested in getting information or updates on DG GROW’s files and policies? Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter and invite them to sign up by subscribing here or by scanning the QR code!

Hannover Messe (17/04/2023)

DG GROW is at the Hannover Messe 2023! If you plan to visit the fair, make sure to pass by the European Commission exhibition stand (D-05) in hall 12! Next to our interactive exhibition space we will offer you a varied program in our on-stand auditorium. Join us for talks and panel discussions with our experts and key industry players.

Each day of the fair, a different topic will be in the spotlight:

• Monday 17 April - Energy and Net-Zero Industry
• Tuesday 18 April - Raw Materials
• Wednesday 19 April - Access to Finance
• Thursday 20 April - Industrial Cooperation
• Friday 21 April - 30 years of the Single Market

If you have any questions on our policies – be it on access to finance, finding business partners or intellectual property rights – our experts will be happy to answer them in the support corner at our stand. 

All you need to know about the Critical Raw Materials Act (16/03/2023)

On 16 March, the Commission proposed a comprehensive set of actions to ensure the EU's access to a secure, diversified, affordable and sustainable supply of critical raw materials. Critical raw materials are indispensable for a wide set of strategic sectors including the net zero industry, the digital industry, aerospace, and defence sectors.

European Critical Raw Materials Regulation - Communication - Questions & Answers - Factsheet

Why is the EU working to secure raw materials critical for energy transition? (16/03/2023)

Critical Raw Materials are essential for the deployment of the technologies that enable the green and digital transitions and allow Europe to reach its climate neutrality ambitions by 2050. The acceleration of the green and digital transitions will increase the European and global demand for those critical raw materials. The EU must ensure that it can secure the critical raw materials it will need in the future. Check out our latest Business Planet video on Critical Raw Materials.

All you need to know about the Net-Zero Industry Act (17/03/2023)

On 16 March, the Commission proposed the Net-Zero Industry Act to scale up manufacturing of clean technologies in the EU and make sure the Union is well-equipped for the clean-energy transition. The proposed act will create better conditions to set up net-zero projects in Europe and attract investments, with the aim that the Union’s overall strategic net-zero technologies manufacturing capacity approaches or reaches at least 40% of the Union’s deployment needs by 2030. This will accelerate the progress towards the EU’s 2030 climate and energy targets and the transition to climate neutrality, while boosting the competitiveness of EU industry, creating quality jobs, and supporting the EU’s efforts to become energy independent.

A Net-Zero Industry Act - Questions & Answers - Factsheet on the Net-Zero Industry Act

EU competitiveness beyond 2030: looking ahead on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Single Market (17/03/2023)

On 16 March, the Commission has published two Communications celebrating the 30^th anniversary of the Single Market and setting out how to secure Long-term competitiveness of the EU. The Single Market is undoubtedly the engine of the EU's society and economy. Further reduction of barriers and integration, especially for services, are essential for the Single Market to remain the key driver of EU's competitiveness. In the current geopolitical context, the EU is at a make-or-break moment to succeed in the twin green and digital transition and remain an attractive place for businesses. The long-term view on competitiveness outlines how the EU can build on its strengths and achieve more than merely bridging the growth and innovation gap. A forward-looking, well-defined and coordinated EU framework will foster thriving businesses, able to compete on the global market, with attractive jobs and setting global standards.

Communication On the Single Market at 30 - Long-term view on Competitiveness - Questions & Answers - Factsheet on the 30^th anniversary of the Single Market - Factsheet on the Long-term Competitiveness Strategy of the EU

Highlights - 6th Industrial Forum (16/03/2023)

On 7 March, the Industrial Forum reconvened to exchange on the Green Deal Industrial Plan recently adopted by the Commission, the Global Gateway Strategy and on the 30th Anniversary of the Single Market. Commissioner Thierry Breton highlighted the importance of accelerating the twin transition with the new Green Deal Industrial Plan, enhancing skills, improving access to private capital, decarbonising energy supply and scaling up investment in research and innovation. The Critical Raw Materials Act and the Net-Zero Industry Act recently adopted by the Commission will provide a more supportive environment for the scaling up of the EU's manufacturing capacity for net-zero technologies and products, reducing administrative burdens. This will also contribute to European strategy to boost long-term competitiveness in the Single Market. Collaboration is key to better build the future of Europe and the role of the Industrial Forum is essential to make those policies a success. Representatives of young Europeans were also invited to take part in the discussion, their interventions were welcome and enriched the debate.

What is the Public Procurement Data Space? (17/03/2023)

On 16 March, the Commission published a Communication that presents the vision for the concrete implementation of the Public Procurement Data Space (PPDS) and the expected benefits for companies, SMEs, public buyers, policymakers and citizens. As this holds high value for the Single Market, the present Communication is published along with the communication “Single Market at 30”.

EU and US stakeholders work on strengthening due diligence cooperation (17/03/2023)

On 3 March, EU and stakeholders met in a roundtable under the EU-US Trade and Technology Council to discuss due diligence for responsible business conduct in supply chains. Over 400 stakeholders representing various industries and NGOs met with EU and US government representatives to discuss recent developments, potential areas of cooperation, necessary supporting measures and the role stakeholders can play in implementing effective due diligence in supply chains. 

Insights from the EU Labour Mobility training programme organised by the European Labour Authority in cooperation with DG GROW (17/03/2023)

The European Labour Authority (ELA), in cooperation with DG GROW’s SOLVIT team, organised on 8-9 March in Bratislava, a training programme in the field of EU labour mobility dedicated to SOLVIT representatives from all EU Member States. 

Half of EU start-ups claimed to be satisfied with the COVID-19 support they received (17/03/2023)

The study provides a varied picture in terms of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on EU start-ups and also provides some insights concerning the public support during the pandemic as well as the challenges that start-ups face.

The 30th Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Network Meeting in Santiago de Compostela (23/03/2023)

On 7-8 March, the 30th Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Network Meeting in Santiago de Compostela marked several significant milestones in the programme – celebrating 11 000 built business exchanges, welcoming new local organisations to the programme, discussing 30 years of the single market, awarding the most innovative programme entrepreneurs of the programme and highlighting the growing role of women in entrepreneurship on 8 March.

ReadyForEU calls to support the integration of Ukrainian SMEs in the Single Market (17/03/2023)

The Commission has launched two calls for proposals under the joint title “ReadyForEU”, with a total budget of €7.5 million. The two calls aim at helping Ukrainian entrepreneurs and businesses to benefit from the Single Market. The calls are funded under the Single Market Programme and follow the recent agreement for Ukraine to join the programme, signed by President von der Leyen and Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on 2 February 2023.

Register for our Info Session - Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs - Ukraine (27/03/2023)

On 27 March, EISMEA will host an informative session about the Call for proposals 'Erasmus for Young entrepreneurs - Ukraine'

Last call - 24 March - Single Access to Single Market - 30 years of the EU Single Market in times of complex challenges (24/03/2023)

Enterprise Europe Network Thuringia is organising thematic tables among experts, stakeholders and Thuringian SMEs on 24 March. The five thematic tables will cover - the need for skilled workers, sustainability, financing, internationalisation and digitalisation. Regional experts will show how companies can benefit from the advantages of the EU internal market and who can provide practical support. Click the 'More' button to register.

Last call - 30 March - EU FINANCE DAYS 2023 – Greece (Athens) (30/03/2023)

The EU FINANCE DAYS are organised by the European Commission and implementing partners to present new financial and support programmes such as InvestEU, Single Market Programme and the European Innovation Council to businesses and relevant stakeholders. Join us at the next EU FINANCE DAY in Athens (web streaming will be available) on 30 March. Click the 'More' button to register.

Last call - 31 March - 30 years of the EU Single Market – Future opportunities for Entrepreneurs in Latvia (31/03/2023)

On 31 March, the European Commission Representation in Latvia will organise an information event on the 30th Anniversary of the Single Market and the future opportunities for entrepreneurs in Latvia. Latvian entrepreneurs, as well as organisations related to it, will have the opportunity to get acquainted more widely with the advantages of the European Union Single Market for entrepreneurship, the assessment of the Latvian business environment, as well as the available support tools to promote the growth of their company.

Save the date - 17-21 April - Hannover Messe (17/04/2023)

DG GROW will be at the Hannover Messe 2023! If you plan to visit the fair, make sure to pass by the European Commission exhibition stand (D-05) in hall 12! Next to our interactive exhibition space we will offer you a varied program in our on-stand auditorium. Listen to talks or come an join us for panel discussions with our experts. Each day of the fair, a different topic will be in the spotlight: Energy and Net-Zero Industry (Monday 17 April); Raw Materials (Tuesday 18 April); Access to Finance (Wednesday 19 April); Industrial Cooperation (Thursday 20 April); 30 years of the Single Market (Friday 21 April). If you have concrete questions – be it on access to finance, finding business partners or intellectual property rights – our experts will sit down with you in our support corner and try to find a solution. 

Save the date - 24-25 April - European Labour Mobility Congress (24/04/2023)

The European Labour Mobility Congress is the most prestigious cyclical event on the posting of workers and legal aspects of cross- border provision of services in the European Union. The 2023 edition is taking place in Krakow on 24-25 April.

Save the date - 2 May - Single Market Forum (16/03/2023)

The Single Market Forum conference is organised in Stockholm by the the European Commission together with Swedish Presidency and will mark the 30th anniversary of the EU single market. It will be a full-day event and include high-level discussions in addition to thematic workshops.

Call for expressions of interest - DG GROW Fellowship Programme (20/03/2023)

The 2023 yearly cycle of GROW Fellowship Programme has just been launched. The programme has attracted numerous submissions, allowing to pick ten fellow economists with very high reputation and an interesting range of fields of expertise and research interests. This programme aims to generate rich exchanges contributing to DG GROW analysis and policy making, but also feeding back into the academic activity of the fellows with possible reciprocal benefits.

The Intelligent Cities Challenge Opens Applications for New Phase (20/03/2023)

Building on the success of the previous edition of the Intelligent Cities Challenge programme (2020-22) and its predecessor Digital Cities Challenge (2017-19), the second phase of the Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC) has now been launched and cities are called to express their interest by applying now on the ICC website. 

Commission seeks views on evaluation of EU rules on electronic invoicing in public procurement (17/03/2023)

Are you ready to transform the world of electronic invoicing? The Commission is collecting feedback via the eInvoicing Call for Evidence from relevant stakeholders and the wider public regarding the effects of the eInvoicing Directive on the internal market; its adoption in public procurement; the success of the Directive in meeting its objectives; and the consistency of the Directive with other EU initiatives, such as the VAT in the Digital Age, the EU standardisation strategy and the specifications of the eDelivery Building Block. The input received will be used to inform a report on the evaluation of the Directive and any potential future actions.

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