EUROPEAN NEWS - eoc.org.cy Eidiseis/2017/12-2017-EN.pdf · ISSUE 128 PAGE 3 Report shows increase...

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Ημερολόγιο ευρωπαϊκών εκδηλώσεων 9 IN THIS ISSUE : Ε UROPEAN OFFICE OF CYPRUS EUROPEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2017 ISSUE 128 News from EOC 1 News from EOC’s members 1 Research and Innovation 2 Health 3 Environment and Energy 4 Regional Policy 5 Education and Culture 6 News of Enterprise Europe Network 7-8 Calendars February - March 2018 9- 10 The Ministry of Education and Culture of Cyprus, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and In- dustry (CCCI), the Cyprus Em- ployers and Industrialists Federa- tion (ΟΕΒ) and the European Of- fice of Cyprus (EOC), in cooperation with the British Council Cyprus, are pleased to announce the organisation of the Cyprus International «Education and Career» Exhi- bition 2018. The Exhibition will take place at the Cyprus International Fair grounds in Nicosia between the 23rd and the 25th of February 2018. The Cyprus International Education and Ca- reer Exhibition will become the gate where the representatives of the Higher Educational Insti- tutions and secondary educational institutions will meet and attract Cyp- riot and international students and pupils living in Cyprus and wish to study either locally or abroad. Fur- thermore, the Exhibition is offering an opportunity to providers of educational equip- ment and technology, books and other prod- ucts and services addressed to students. Also, this year participation of career services is ex- pected. In the context of the continuous up- grading of the exhibition, this year gives pri- vate schools of primary and secondary educa- tion the opportunity to participate in the Exhibi- tion. More information: http://edufair-cyprus.eu/index.php?id=429 “BooStress” project: Boosting the skills of youth to deal with stress at work Work-related stress is often cited as a major concern for managers in health and social welfare. The legislation of the EU express the need of the systematic training and support for the new and young employees so they can perform their duties. In this context, “Boosting the skills of youth to deal with stress at work” (or BooStress) is a project co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, coordinated by the research centre CARDET, and proposes the de- velopment of a vocational training package to equip current and prospect young work- ers with stress management skills, in the context of health and safety framework, and build their capacity to address relevant challenges in their work environment . The pro- ject brings together 3 partners from Cyprus, Ireland and Spain who will work for the project development and implementation for 2 years . More specifically, the project aims to: Combat low levels of stress management skills among young workers through open and inclusive digital tools, resources and practices. Empower young workers to become creators of their own career via soft skills acquisition and maximize their employability opportunities. Provide innovative youth and VET pedagogical methods, best practice guidelines, and strat- egies towards the use of digital tools and innovative learning environments. Empower all stakeholders to use innovative ICT-based VET practices and resources in en- hancing new skills for youth. More information: www.boostress.eu, www.facebook.com/boostress Cyprus International "Education and Career" Fair 23 - 25 February 2018, Nicosia INFO DAYS 2017 CEF Transport Blending call virtual Info Day” 23 January 2018, online, 15:00 - 17:00 (CET) http://tinyurl.com/yctrpqa6 Erasmus+ Sport Info Day30 January 2018, Brussels, Belgium http://tinyurl.com/yc95uo9e ΕΙΤ Information Day 2018 Call for Proposals for: EIT Manufacturing and EIT Urban Mobility13 February 2018, Brussels, Belgium http://tinyurl.com/y8ehogdb LIFE Info Day 20182 4 May 2018, Brussels, Belgium https://tinyurl.com/y7t9f2tc

Transcript of EUROPEAN NEWS - eoc.org.cy Eidiseis/2017/12-2017-EN.pdf · ISSUE 128 PAGE 3 Report shows increase...

Ημερολόγιο

ευρωπαϊκών

εκδηλώσεων

9

I N T H I S I S S U E :

Ε U R O P E A N

O F F I C E O F

C Y P R U S

EUROPEAN

NEWS D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 7 I S S U E 1 2 8

News from EOC 1

News from EOC’s

members 1

Research and

Innovation 2

Health 3

Environment and

Energy 4

Regional Policy 5

Education and

Culture 6

News of Enterprise

Europe Network 7-8

Calendars

February - March

2018

9-

10

The Ministry of Education and Culture of Cyprus, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and In-dustry (CCCI), the Cyprus Em-ployers and Industrialists Federa-tion (ΟΕΒ) and the European Of-fice of Cyprus (EOC), in cooperation with the British Council Cyprus, are pleased to announce the organisation of the Cyprus International «Education and Career» Exhi-bition 2018. The Exhibition will take place at the Cyprus International Fair grounds in Nicosia between the 23rd and the 25th of February 2018.

The Cyprus International Education and Ca-reer Exhibition will become the gate where the representatives of the Higher Educational Insti-

tutions and secondary educational institutions will meet and attract Cyp-riot and international students and pupils living in Cyprus and wish to study either locally or abroad. Fur-thermore, the Exhibition is offering an

opportunity to providers of educational equip-ment and technology, books and other prod-ucts and services addressed to students. Also, this year participation of career services is ex-pected. In the context of the continuous up-grading of the exhibition, this year gives pri-vate schools of primary and secondary educa-tion the opportunity to participate in the Exhibi-tion.

More information: http://edufair-cyprus.eu/index.php?id=429

“BooStress” project:

Boosting the skills of youth to deal with stress at work

Work-related stress is often cited as a major concern for managers in health and social welfare. The legislation of the EU express the need of the systematic training and support for the new and young employees so they can perform their duties.

In this context, “Boosting the skills of youth to deal with stress at work” (or BooStress) is a project co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme

of the European Union, coordinated by the research centre CARDET, and proposes the de-velopment of a vocational training package to equip current and prospect young work-ers with stress management skills, in the context of health and safety framework, and build their capacity to address relevant challenges in their work environment. The pro-ject brings together 3 partners from Cyprus, Ireland and Spain who will work for the project development and implementation for 2 years . More specifically, the project aims to:

Combat low levels of stress management skills among young workers through open and inclusive digital tools, resources and practices.

Empower young workers to become creators of their own career via soft skills acquisition and maximize their employability opportunities.

Provide innovative youth and VET pedagogical methods, best practice guidelines, and strat-egies towards the use of digital tools and innovative learning environments.

Empower all stakeholders to use innovative ICT-based VET practices and resources in en-hancing new skills for youth.

More information: www.boostress.eu, www.facebook.com/boostress

Cyprus International "Education and Career" Fair 23 - 25 February 2018, Nicosia

INFO DAYS

“2017 CEF Transport Blending call

virtual Info Day” 23 January 2018,

online, 15:00 - 17:00 (CET) http://tinyurl.com/yctrpqa6

“Erasmus+ Sport Info Day”

30 January 2018, Brussels, Belgium

http://tinyurl.com/yc95uo9e

“ΕΙΤ Information Day 2018 Call for Proposals for: EIT Manufacturing and EIT Urban Mobility”

13 February 2018, Brussels, Belgium

http://tinyurl.com/y8ehogdb

“LIFE Info Day 20182 4 May 2018,

Brussels, Belgium https://tinyurl.com/y7t9f2tc

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Fellows who have completed a research period within one of the FP7 or H2020 Ma-rie Skłodowska-Curie actions may re-quest, through their project contact person or the legal entity authorised representa-tive (LEAR) or the scientist in charge at the coordinating institution, a Marie Skłodow-ska-Curie Fellowship Certificate (the Certificate).

The Certificate is not compulsory. It is a ser-vice offered to fellows requesting proof of their participation in a Marie Curie project.

To request the Certificate, the project contact person or the LEAR must complete an online form. The information will be checked auto-matically against the information in the Re-

search Executive Agency database.

More information: http://ec.europa.eu/research/_rea/index.cfm?pg=mc_certificates

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Certificate

A high-level Horizon 2020 “Innovation and Cultural Heritage” conference – organised by the European Commission Directorate General for Research and Innovation, in close cooperation with Directorates General for Education and Culture and for Commu-nications Networks, Content and Technology – will take place on 20 March 2018, in Brussels. The con-ference will showcase the dialogue between con-temporary European society and the most promis-ing innovations in the field of Cultural Heritage that European policies and funds have supported.

The conference is part of the programme of the Europe-an Year of Cultural Heritage and will contribute to its legacy by launching the public discussion about the ob-jectives of European research and innovation policy for Cultural Heritage beyond 2020.

The event will focus on policy, social, technological, methodological innovations and new alliances around cultural heritage. The speakers – leading European poli-ticians, museum curators and scientists – of the confer-ence will discuss policy developments, success stories and future challenges.

Innovation and Cultural Heritage Conference

More information: https://ec.europa.eu/info/events/innovation-and-cultural-heritage-2018-mar-20_en

Turning sunlight to sustainable fuel:

EIC Horizon Prize for Artificial Photosynthesis

On the 12th December 2017, the Euro-pean Commission launched the sec-ond of six European Innovation Coun-cil (EIC) Horizon Prizes, on Artificial Photosynthesis, run under Horizon 2020, the EU's research and innova-tion programme.

EIC - Fuel from the Sun The €5 million award will go to a new solution for combining sunlight, water and carbon from the air through artificial photosynthesis that will produce sustainable fuel.

Artificial photosynthesis, considered one of the most promising breakthrough technologies for producing clean energy, mimics the process of natural photosyn-thesis. By absorbing solar energy in the form of photons it produces fuels that can be stored and transported. Once fully developed, this technology will provide sus-tainable alternatives to fossil fuels for a range of appli-cations in industry, housing and transport.

The prize is part of the EU's efforts to double invest-ments in clean energy-related research and innovation

by 2020 under the international Mission Innovation initiative.

In particular, it will contribute to Mission Innovation Challenge "Converting sun-light into storable solar fuels". The con-testants will have to build a fully function-al, experimental prototype device of a

fuel production system, integrating the entire artificial photosynthesis process from light capture to fuel pro-duction. The deadline for applications is 3 February 2021. However, potential applicants must submit an expression of interest for participation in the prize

until 29 June 2020, in order to be able to participate.

EIC Horizon Prizes are particularly ambitious as they are expected to trigger innovations in areas where im-portant societal problems need to be solved. These Prizes call for breakthrough solutions which should demonstrate their feasibility or potential so that innova-tors can take them quickly to the market.

More information: https://tinyurl.com/yapp46cl

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Report shows increase in organ transplants

between 2008 and 2015

A report published on the 18th of De-cember 2017 shows a sharp increase in organ donation and transplantation in the EU during the course of the 2009-2015 Action Plan. Between 2008 and 2015, the number of organ do-nors increased from 12 000 to nearly 15 000 (a 21% increase). This surge in donation rates led to 4 600 additional transplant operations - from 28 100 in 2008 to 32 700 in 2015 (a 17% in-crease). Kidney transplants account for 60% of the increase, livers for 24% and hearts for 11%.

Spain, France, the UK, Poland and the Netherlands were the five countries with the highest increase in overall numbers, and Bulgaria, Lithuania, Finland, Cro-atia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Latvia and Denmark saw the sharpest rise in the percentage

of transplants. For example, rates de-creased in Greece and Cyprus, as well as in Germany where transplant num-bers fell by 20%.

Amongst other achievements, the Ac-tion Plan lead to the appointment of local coordinators for deceased dona-

tion and to registries being set up to monitor health of living donors. The Commission and national authorities continue to build on its momentum, through EU-funded actions, notably on awareness raising and improving transplant options for end-stage kidney failure.

More information: https://tinyurl.com/y7my5mb3

Increasing vaccination: consulting the public on possible EU actions

On the 21st of December 2017, the Commission launched a pub-lic consultation on possible activities to be included in a pro-posal for stronger EU cooperation against vaccine preventable diseases, which will be adopted in 2018.

Interested individuals and organisations can now help shape this im-portant initiative by completing the questionnaire structured under three pillars:

tackling vaccine hesitancy;

sustainable vaccine policies in the EU;

EU coordination, including the promotion of stakeholder dialogue, and contribution to global health.

The consultation will be open until: 15 March 2018.

More information: https://tinyurl.com/y78gj6b4

Work Programme for 2018 “3rd Health Programme”

On the 13th of December 2017, the Commission adopted the Health Programme's Work Programme for 2018 (WP 2018) setting out the priorities and actions to be under-taken during that year. The overall budget for 2018 is just over €62 million, with 64% being allocated to grants, 24% to procurement and 12% to other actions including priz-es.

The WP 2018 will focus on priority areas such as:

Support to the European Reference Networks for rare and complex diseases (29% of the budget);

The promotion of health and prevention of chronic and major diseases (15%);

Strengthening preparedness and response to serious cross-border health threats (15%); and

The implementation of EU legislation on medical devices (7%).

All grants for projects will be implemented through a call for proposals, organised and managed by the Consum-er, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (CHAFEA) which will be launched in the first half of 2018.

More information: https://tinyurl.com/y9wcva9w

Agreement on energy performance of buildings

A political agreement on new rules for improving the energy performance of build-ings has been reached between negotiators from the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission. The Commission's proposal forms part of the imple-mentation of the Juncker Commission priorities – in particular "a resilient Energy Union and a forward-looking climate change policy".

The improvements agreed include measures to strengthen the energy performance of new buildings, to acceler-ate the rate of building renovation towards more energy efficient systems and tapping into the huge potential for efficiency gains in the building sector, the largest single energy consumer in Europe. The main achievements are:

Creates a clear path towards a low and zero emission building stock in the EU by 2050 .

Encourages the use of information and communication technology (ICT) and smart technologies to ensure buildings operate efficiently.

Supports the roll-out of the infrastructure for e-mobility in all buildings.

Introduces a "smartness indicator" which will measure the buildings' capacity to use new technologies and electronic systems to optimise its operation and interact with the grid.

Integrates long term building renovation strategies.

Mobilises public and private financing and investment.

Helps combatting energy poverty and reducing the household energy bill by renovating older buildings.

More information: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/news/commission-welcomes-agreement-energy-performance-buildings

The Department of Environment – Ministry of Agri-culture, Rural Development and Environment as of December 15th 2015 is the coordinating beneficiary of the project “Cyprus Capacity Building for LIFE – Cyclamen” LIFE14 CAP/CY/000006, aiming at in-creasing Cyprus’s LIFE Programme performing lev-els in terms of both numbers and quality of pro-posals.

The Cyclamen team provides LIFE applicants and ben-eficiaries with guidance during the preparation and submission of proposals and counselling during a project’s lifetime. It also helps applicants with the cre-ation of partnerships. The project entails trainings, workshops, seminars and meetings for the purpose of acquiring skills and dexterities that will be sustained well beyond the project’s lifetime.

The LIFE programme, with a budget of 3,46 billion EUR for 2014-2020, is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. The general objec-tive of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, up-dating and development of EU environmental and cli-mate policy and legislation by co-financing projects with European added value. Beneficiaries of the Programme are public bodies, non-governmental organisations,

universities and private companies.

The LIFE Program for the 2014-2020 funding period compromises of two sub-programmes:

The “Environment” sub-programme, with a budget of € 2.59 billion, covers three priority areas:

Environment and Resource Efficiency (demonstration projects, pilot projects)

Nature and Biodiversity (best practice projects, demonstration projects, pilot projects)

Environmental Governance and Information (Information, Awareness and Dissemination)

The “Climate Action” sub-programme, with a budget of € 0.86 billion, covers three priority areas:

Climate Change Mitigation (best practice projects, demonstration projects, pilot projects)

Climate Change Adaptation (best practice projects, demonstration projects, pilot projects)

Climate Governance and Information (Information, awareness and dissemination projects)

In addition to the above categories of traditional pro-jects, LIFE includes integrated projects, technical assistance projects, preparatory projects and ca-

pacity-building projects.

The Department of Environment organises in April 2018, in Cyprus, an Info Day and Brokerage event, to present the submission of proposals for the new LIFE 2018 call, which is expected to open in April. A similar event is also organised by the European Commission on 4 May 2018 in Brussels. The events are aimed at potential candidates submitting proposals on green technology, nature protection and climate change. Reg-istrations are mandatory and will open in the spring of 2018.

More information:

http://lifecyclamen.com.cy/en/brochure-2/ and http://lifecyclamen.com.cy/en/

Do you have a great Green Idea?

LIFE Programme brings your idea to life!

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The Urban Innovative Actions 3rd Call for Proposals

The Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) Initiative has launched its third Call for Proposals. The call is aimed at providing urban areas throughout Europe with resources to test new and unproven solutions to address urban challenges. The call opened on 15 December and will close on 30 March 2018 at 2pm CET. The third call will focus on four urban topics: adaptation to climate change, air quality, housing, jobs and skills in the local economy.

The following authorities may apply for support to un-dertake Urban Innovative Actions:

Any urban authority of a local administrative unit de-fined according to the degree of urbanisation as city, town or suburb comprising at least 50 000 inhabit-ants.

Any association or grouping of ur-ban authorities of local administrative units defined according to the degree of urbanisation as city, town or suburb where the total population is at least 50 000 inhabitants; this can include cross-border associations or group-

ings, associations or groupings in different regions and/or Member States.

For this Call an indicative budget of between EUR 80-100 million is allocated. Each action can receive up to a maximum of EUR 5 million with a co-financing rate for projects of 80%. Project implementation should take place within a maximum period of 3 years.

More information: http://www.uia-initiative.eu/en/call-proposals

Better competencies for better results in investing EU funds

A brand new tool is now available for all public institutions involved in managing the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund - national coordinating bodies, managing, audit and certifying au-thorities, joint secretariats and intermediate bodies – in order to identify and address competency gaps and adapt their training strategies.

The tool, designed by the Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) consists of:

an EU Competency Framework which contains a set of competencies that administrations and officials should possess;

a web-based self-assessment tool allowing employees to rate their proficiency level for each competency required for their job-specific profile. This will help to define future development objectives.

This user-friendly and flexible tool covers a full range of competencies and can be applied to all kinds of admin-istrations regardless of their size or whether they are managing a sectoral or regional operational programme. Its impact goes well beyond the management of the funds. It can also contribute to a greater focus and a strategic approach towards longer-term competency development, ultimately improving the functioning of the entire ad-ministration and the quality of the services it provides for citizens and businesses.

More information: https://tinyurl.com/ybv5sr5s

Report on the impact of European Structural and Investment Funds

A new report highlights what the five EU funds have achieved since the begin-ning of the funding period since, by October 2017, almost half of the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds' budget for 2014-2020 had been com-mitted to concrete projects.

By the end of 2016, almost 793,500 businesses had received support from the funds, creating an estimated 154,000 new jobs. 7.8 million people have already ben-efit from assistance in finding a job or developing skills, while the biodiversity of 23.5 million hectares of agricultural land has been improved.

Overall, 2 million EU-funded projects had been selected by the end of 2016, which is 1 million more than the year before. In addition to EU-funded digital, social inclusion and environmental projects now seeing the light of day, the report shows that novelties introduced in the 2014-2020 funding period really paid off.

More information: https://tinyurl.com/y8chdggl

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The European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 takes off

On the 7th of December 2017, the celebrations for the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage kicked off at the European Culture Forum in Milan. The European Year of Cultural Heritage will put the spotlight on Europe's wealth of cultural heritage, showcasing its role in fostering a shared sense of identity and building the future of Europe.

The purpose of the European Year of Cultural Heritage is to raise aware-ness of the social and economic importance of cultural heritage. Thousands of initiatives and events across Europe will provide the possibility to involve

citizens from all backgrounds.

The aim is to reach out to the widest possible audience, in particular children and young people, local communi-ties and people who are rarely in touch with culture, to promote a common sense of ownership.Projects and initi-atives implemented in EU Member States, municipalities and regions will be complemented by transnational pro-jects funded by the EU. The Commission will, for instance, organise with Member States the “Assises du Patri-moine” as a flagship event of the European Year of Cultural Heritage in order to start work on a long-term EU Action Plan for Culture and Cultural Heritage .

More information: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-5067_en.htm

The new call for proposals for European policy experimentations under ‘Erasmus+ Key Action 3 (Support for policy reform) — Initiatives for policy innovation’ aims at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of education and training systems through the collection and evaluation of evidence on the systemic impact of innovative poli-cy measures. This call requires the involvement of high-level public authorities of the eligible coun-tries and the use of sound and widely recognised evaluation methods based on field trials (experimentation).

The priority themes for this call are:

promoting social inclusion and shared EU values through formal and non-formal learning,

mainstreaming and further developing multilingual pedagogies in school education,

digital assessment,

VET teachers and trainers in work-based learning/apprenticeship,

implementation of Upskilling Pathways for adults without an upper secondary qualifica-tion or equivalent,

policies and incentives to support innova-tive teaching and pedagogical training in higher edu-cation, including through open and digital education,

creation of a European-wide hub for online learning, blended/virtual mobility, virtual campuses and col-laborative exchange of best practices.

The deadline for submitting of pre-proposals is open

until 10 April 2018.

More information: https://tinyurl.com/yclcx2g8

Experimental actions of European policy in the field of education

and training led by high level public authorities

Open microbusiness models for innovation in

European family-owned heritage houses

The European Commission has published a call for tenders concerning «Open microbusiness models for innovation in European family-owned heritage houses». Open microbusiness models for innovation in European family-owned heritage houses.

The preparatory action will map the existing business models used by family-owned her-itage houses in the EU, compare them, identify and share best practices and potential

innovations. It will also quantify and qualify the economic value of family-owned heritage houses in the EU and identify their potential to contribute to various EU policies, including innovation, social inclusion, education, youth work and intercultural dialogue. Added value will derive from the synergies with current EU actions dedicated to cultural heritage (European Heritage Days, EU Prize for Cultural Heritage, European Heritage Label).

Finally the action will contribute to the objectives of the European Year of Cultural Heritage through dissemina-tion and awareness raising of European value of heritage. The time limit for receipt of tenders is 31 January

2018.

More information: https://etendering.ted.europa.eu/cft/cft-display.html?cftId=3099

News for Small and Medium

Enterprises (SMEs)

Safe products in the EU Single Market:

Action to reinforce trust

On the 19th of December 2017 the Commission tabled two legis-lative proposals to make it easier for companies, especially SMEs, to sell their products across Europe, and to strengthen controls by national authorities and customs officers to prevent unsafe products from being sold to European consumers.

These initiatives are designed to improve two aspects:

Making it easier to sell a product in another Member State: The "mutual recognition" principle ensures that products not subject to EU-wide regulation can, in principle, move freely within the Single Mar-

ket, if they are lawfully marketed in one Member State. This principle should allow manufacturers to sell their products across Europe without any additional requirements. But this is not always working as it should. In prac-tice, companies wishing to sell products such as shoes, tableware or furniture in another Member State often face barriers, delays and extra costs.

To make the principle faster, simpler and clearer in practice, the Commission proposes a new Regulation on the Mutual Recognition of Goods. Companies will know if their products can be sold in another EU country in a couple of months, rather than years. They will also be able to use a voluntary declaration to demonstrate that their prod-ucts meet all the relevant requirements in their country. This will make it easier for authorities of other Member States to assess whether or not mutual recognition should apply. Similarly, a problem resolution mechanism will allow for a faster resolution of disputes between companies and national authorities. Training and exchanges among officials will further improve collaboration and trust among national authorities. This will not prevent nation-al authorities from taking legitimate public policy concerns into account.

Strengthen controls by national authorities to ensure that products are safe and comply with the rules: There are still too many unsafe and non-compliant products sold on the EU market: as many as 32% of toys, 58% of electronics, 47% of construction products or 40% of personal protective equipment inspected do not meet the requirements for safety or consumer information foreseen in EU legislation. This endangers consumers and puts compliant businesses at a competitive disadvantage.

The draft Regulation on Compliance and Enforcement will help create a fairer internal market for goods, through fostering more cooperation among national market surveillance authorities. This will include sharing information about illegal products and ongoing investigations so that authorities can take effective action against non-compliant products. The Regulation will also help national authorities to improve checks on products entering the EU market. Since 30% of goods in the EU are imported, the Commission further proposes to reinforce inspections of ports and external borders.

More information: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-5301_en.htm

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Europe's capital markets will be more efficient and better super-vised thanks to a revamp of rules for investment firms. On the 20th December 2017, the European Commission proposed a two-track overhaul to make life simpler for smaller investment firms, while bringing the largest, systemic ones under the same regime as European banks. Investment firms and the services they provide are vital to a well-functioning Capital Markets Union (CMU). Along-side banks, EU capital markets rely on several thousands of small and large investment firms which give advice to clients, help companies to tap capital markets, manage assets, and provide mar-ket liquidity, thereby facilitating investments across the EU. The EU needs stronger capital markets in order to promote investment, unlock new sources of financing for companies, offer households better opportunities and strengthen the Economic and Monetary Union.

Under these proposals, the vast ma-jority of investment firms in the EU would no longer be subject to rules that were originally designed for banks. This will reduce administrative burden, boost competition and in-crease investment flows, all of which are priorities of the CMU, without

compromising financial stability. At the same time, the largest and most systemic investment firms would be subject to the same rules and supervision as banks.

The proposal includes:

new and simpler prudential rules for the large majori-ty of investment firms which are not systemic, without compromising financial stability; and

amended rules to ensure that large, systemic invest-ment firms which carry out bank-like activities and pose similar risks as banks are regulated and super-vised like banks.

As part of European Industry Week, the WATIFY campaign and its Europe-wide network of stake-holders will hold the European Technology Trans-formation (ETT) Week between 19 and 23 February 2018.

The week will aim to stimulate the digitisation and uptake of advanced technologies by European SMEs. Under this initiative, the Commission has launched a call for events which will allow all interested local, regional and national stakeholders to experience European industrial policy first-hand.

Hosts of events and conferences that address techno-logical transformation can apply. Α non-exhaustive list of relevant topics includes:

Digitisation, Industry 4.0, Digital transformation, nano-technology, advanced manufacturing technologies, photonics, industrial biotechnology, micro and nanoe-lectronics, advanced materials, cybersecurity, automa-tion and robotics, IoT, HPC, big data, artificial intelli-gence, 3D

visualisation.

The events need to be relevant for the advancement of technological transformation of businesses in Europe.

The selection will be done by the WATIFY consortium and will be based on:

attractiveness and European relevance of the event topic;

quality and gender balance of speakers;

geographical and institutional balance of the event organisers.

The application deadline for organising an event as part

of ETT Week is 8 February 2018.

More information: https://tinyurl.com/ycpsrbgg

Organise your local event for

the European Technology Transformation Week

Capital Markets Union:

Rules for stronger investment firms

More information: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-5305_en.htm

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CALENDAR FEBRUARY 2018 The European Asylum System: Moving Towards a Unified, Fair and Effective Frame-work More information: http://www.publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/events/IB01-PPE2

1 February Brussels, Belgium

InterOpen PM² Project Management Conference 2018 More information: https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/event/open-pm2-conference-2018#

1-2 February Brussels, Belgium

Brokerage Event for the Horizon 2020 Security Calls More information: https://tinyurl.com/ybbjvdhy

1-2 February Brussels, Belgium

EU aquaculture farmed in EU regions More information: https://tinyurl.com/y92gtn2m

2 February Brussels, Belgium

EIB Board of directors’ seminar with civil society 2018 More information: https://tinyurl.com/y7m5qbn9

5 February Brussels, Belgium

European forum on eco-innovation for air quality More information: https://tinyurl.com/ydxbpe7y

5-6 February Sofia, Bulgaria

Annual Conference on EU Trade Law 2017 More information: https://tinyurl.com/y7fjo3ob

5-6 February Brussels, Belgium

The Digital Revolution: Harnessing Technology to Deliver Better Educational Out-comes for Learners More information: http://www.publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/events/IB06-PPE

6 February London United

Kingdom

Policy learning forum on upskilling pathways: a vision for the future More information: https://tinyurl.com/y8ajujop

7-8 February Brussels, Belgium

Etmaal 2018: Transcultural exchanges & communication flows More information: https://etmaal2018.com/

8-9 February Gent, Belgium

International Conference: Measuring the Effectiveness of Children’s Rights – Make all children count! More information: https://tinyurl.com/ycbfkggd

9 February Brussels, Belgium

EU Studies Fair More information: https://tinyurl.com/y9ybaqew

9-10 February Brussels, Belgium

ΕΙΤ Information Day for the 2018 Call for Proposals for two new Innovation Communi-ties: EIT Manufacturing and EIT Urban Mobility More information: http://eitinfoday.onetec.eu/index.html

13 February Brussels, Belgium

Tackling Gender-Based Violence in Europe: Advancing Strategies to End Violence against Women and Girls More information: http://www.publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/events/IB20-PPE2

20 February Brussels, Belgium

Border Security 2018 More information: https://tinyurl.com/y7olccl6

21-22 February Rome, Italy

Second European Industry Day More information: https://tinyurl.com/y83f6a7m

22-23 February Brussels, Belgium

VET in the 21st century – Future trends and priorities More information: https://tinyurl.com/ybx8uqn5

22-23 February Thessaloniki,

Greece

Big Science Business Forum 2018 More information: https://bsbf2018.org/

26-28 February Copenhagen,

Denmark

CYBERSEC BRUSSELS More information: https://tinyurl.com/y84zd85f

27 February Brussels, Belgium

Digital Health & Wellness Summit 2018 More information: https://tinyurl.com/y7cww5mp

27-28 February Barcelona, Spain

Stepping Into a Digitalised Future: Integrating eHealth Into Public Healthcare Systems More information: http://www.publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/events/IB28-PPE2

28 February Brussels, Belgium

Annual Conference on EU Law in the Pharmaceutical Sector 2018 More information: https://tinyurl.com/y9mux3bs

1-2 March Brussels, Belgium

Global Congress on Biotechnology More information: https://tinyurl.com/y98kxe4g

5-7 March London,

United Kingdom

12th annual International Technology, Education and Development Conference More information: https://iated.org/inted/

5-7 March Valencia, Spain

Enhancing Consumer Protection in the EU More information: https://tinyurl.com/ybb55spz

6 March Brussels, Belgium

Closing Loops – Recipe for a truly circular economy More information: https://tinyurl.com/y94bkxrw

6 March Brussels, Belgium

EU Funding for Defence and Security More information: https://tinyurl.com/ychx4zwk

8 March Brussels, Belgium

European Quality of Life Survey 2016 - Thematic event More information: https://tinyurl.com/ychx4zwk

8 March Brussels, Belgium

European Association Summit 2018 More information: https://tinyurl.com/y7gcm8hl

8-9 March Brussels, Belgium

European Robotics Forum 2018 More information: https://www.eu-robotics.net/robotics_forum/index.html

13-15 March Tampere, Finland

Achieving a Business-friendly Environment in the EU More information: http://www.publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/events/IC14-PPE2

14 March Brussels, Belgium

‘Your Europe, Your Say!’ 2018 More information: https://tinyurl.com/ycw4xtqw

15-16 March Brussels, Belgium

International Med-Tech Summit More information: http://medxperience.org/

15-16 March Paris, France

Successful R&I in Europe 2018 More information: https://tinyurl.com/ybfjrbd7

15-16 March Dusseldorf, Germany

4th European Federation of Internal Medicine (EFIM) Day More information: http://www.efim.org/4th-efim-day-16-march-2018-brussels

16 March, Brussels, Belgium

High-level Horizon 2020 Conference on Innovation and Cultural Heritage More information: https://ec.europa.eu/info/events/innovation-and-cultural-heritage-2018-mar-20_en

20 March Brussels, Belgium

European Consumer Day 2018 More information: https://tinyurl.com/y7th74hm

20 March Sofia, Bulgaria

EU Association of Research and Technology Organisations Annual Conference More information: http://www.earto-ac2018-oslo.eu/

21-22 March Oslo, Norway

H2020 financial management and administration More information: https://tinyurl.com/y8b8mju5

21-23 March Madrid, Spain

Mobile Learning Week 2018 More information: https://en.unesco.org/mlw/2018

25-30 March Paris, France

Digitizing European Industry Stakeholder Forum 2018 More information: https://tinyurl.com/y9o5vnxb

27-28 March Villepinte, France

Forum for the Future of Agriculture More information: http://www.forumforagriculture.com/

27 March Brussels, Belgium

Promoting Cultural and Creative Industries More information: https://www.publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/events/IC27-PPE2

27 March Brussels, Belgium

CALENDAR MARCH 2018

P A G E 1 0 I S S U E 1 2 8

I S S U E 1 2 8 P A G E 1 1

Members of the European Office of Cyprus

UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS

http://www.ucy.ac.cy/goto/mainportal/en-US/HOME.aspx

OPEN UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS

http://www.ouc.ac.cy/web/guest/home

CYPRUS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

http://www.cut.ac.cy/?languageId=2

FREDERICK UNIVERSITY

http://www.frederick.ac.cy/

UNIVERSITY OF NICOSIA

http://www.unic.ac.cy/

NEAPOLIS UNIVERSITY PAFOS

http://www.nup.ac.cy/

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE - CYPRUS (UCLAN CYPRUS)

http://www.uclancyprus.ac.cy/

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE

http://www.moec.gov.cy/en/index.html

NICOSIA MUNICIPALITY

http://www.nicosia.org.cy/english/greekhome.shtm

CENTRE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF R&D IN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY (CARDET)

http://www.cardet.org/

PwC

http://www.pwc.com.cy/

CYPRUS BROADCASTING CORPORATION

http://www.cybc.com.cy/

Full Members

International Members

UNIVERSITY OF THESSALY http://www.uth.gr/en/index.php

HELLENIC OPEN UNIVERSITY

https://www.eap.gr/en/

TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF ATHENS

http://www.teiath.gr/?lang=en

ATHINA EDUCATIONAL NETWORK

http://www.athinaedunet.org/

HOUSE OF CYPRUS (SPITI TIS KYPROU)

http://spititiskyprou.gr/

I S S U E 1 2 8 P A G E 1 2

Μembers of the European Office of Cyprus

CHURCH OF CYPRUS

http://www.churchofcyprus.org.cy/index.php?lang=en

CYPRUS TOURISM ORGANISATION (CTO)

http://www.visitcyprus.biz/

CYPRUS SPORT ORGANISATION

http://www.sportskoa.org.cy/

CYPRUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (CCCI)

http://www.ccci.org.cy/

PAPHOS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

http://www.pcci.org.cy/

EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY CYPRUS

http://www.euc.ac.cy/

CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

http://www.ciim.ac.cy/

ΙΜΗ

http://www.imhbusiness.com/

AGLANTZIA MUNICIPALITY

http://www.aglantzia.com/

STROVOLOS MUNICIPALITY

http://www.strovolos.org.cy/default.asp?id=24

THE CYPRUS INSTITUTE

http://www.cyi.ac.cy/

Associate Members

Editing: European Office of Cyprus - Brussels Office

For more information: [email protected]

European Office of Cyprus

www.eoc.org.cy

Brussels: Rue du Luxembourg 3, B-1000, Brussels, Tel./Fax: +32 (0) 2 280 22 85 Nicosia: 1, University Avenue, 2109 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Τel.: +357 22 89 4278, Fax:+ 357 22 89 5005

Athens: Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus, Xenophontos 2A, 105 57, Athens - Syntagma, Τel.: +30 210 373 4833

Ioanna Asimakaki Erasmus+ Trainee

E-mail: [email protected]

Rosemary Strevinioti Head of Brussels Office

E-mail: [email protected]

Flora Stavropoulou Junior Officer

E-mail: [email protected]