Latest consultation opportunities from Enterprise Europe Wales

On integrating the EU market for electronic payments

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:59:42 GMT

The consultation examines ways to further integrate the market for secure card, Internet and mobile payments by encouraging innovation and protecting consumers.

http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/consultations/2012/card_internet_mobile_payments_en.htm

On how we can produce and consume more sustainably

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 13:39:58 GMT

By 2050 the global population is set to reach 9 billion people and worldwide demand for food, feed and fibre is forecast to increase by 70%. To thrive in that context, economies will need to use natural resources in a far more efficient manner. The way we consume and produce will be key to Europe's success or failure in this process. This is why the Commission intends to revise the EU's Consumption and Production policies and has launched a public consultation that will remain open until 3 April.

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/sustainable.htm

Learning from the economic crisis

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:33:46 GMT

Green Paper: Restructuring and anticipation of change: what lessons from recent experience?
It seeks to identify successful measures employers, workers and governments have taken to adapt to the crisis.

This Green Paper aims to identify successful practices and policies in the field of restructuring and adaptation to change in order to promote employment, growth and competitiveness as part of the Europe 2020 strategy and in particular the industrial policy flagship initiative of October 2010 , the "Agenda for new skills and jobs" adopted in November 2010 .

http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=699&consultId=9&furtherConsult=yes

UK implementation of Amending Directive 2010/73/EU - Simplifying the EU Prospectus and Transparency Directives

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:16:53 GMT

UK implementation of Amending Directive 2010/73/EU - Simplifying the EU Prospectus and Transparency Directives

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Policy/CP/2011/11_28.shtml

on the possible revision of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 on air passenger rights

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:23:35 GMT

Public consultation on a possible revision of Regulation (EC) 261/2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding, cancellation and long delay of flights, and complementary measures to amend Regulation (EC) 889/2002.

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/passengers/consultations/2012-03-11-apr_en.htm

Lighting the Future: Accelerating the Deployment of Innovative Lighting Technologies

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:35:34 GMT

This Green Paper (, 100KB) proposes to launch a number of new policy initiatives and a public debate in Europe with all interested parties for accelerating the wide deployment of innovative high-quality lighting solutions, which are based on light emitting diode (LED) and organic LED technologies and commonly referred to as 'Solid State Lighting' (SSL). The Green Paper addresses both the demand and supply side.
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/digital-agenda/actions/ssl-consultation/index_en.htm

Draft technical standards on short selling and certain aspects of credit default swaps

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:55:32 GMT

The European Securities and Markets Authority seeks views on draft standards for short selling and CDS.

In November 2011 the Council and the Parliament voted on a Regulation on short selling and certain aspects of credit default swaps (the Regulation). This is about to be published and should be applicable from 1 November 2012. According to the Regulation ESMA has to submit its technical standards to the Commission by 31 March 2012. Further to this, ESMA received a letter from the Commission on 24 November 2011 requesting to also provide an advice on all the delegated acts contained in the Regulation by the same deadline – 31 March 2012. ESMA will consider the feedback it received to this consultation in February/March 2012 and expects to publish a final report and submission of the draft technical standards to the European Commission by 31 March 2012 for endorsement.

http://www.esma.europa.eu/consultation/Draft-technical-standards-short-selling-and-certain-aspects-credit-default-swaps

Revision of the rules for the assessment of licensing agreements for the transfer of technology under EU competition law

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:11:06 GMT

For the purpose of the EU competition rules, a technology transfer agreement is an agreement where one party (the licensor) authorizes another party (or parties, the licensee(s)) to use its technology (patent, know-how, software license) for the production of goods and services.

The EU competition rules for licensing agreements are set out in Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Article 101 prohibits agreements between companies which lead to an appreciable restriction of competition. Enforcement of this primary rule is complemented by two instruments, the technology transfer block exemption regulation ("TTBER") and accompanying Guidelines.

The TTBER creates a safe harbour for technology transfer agreements under EU competition law. The Guidelines provide guidance on the application of the TTBER as well as on the application of EU competition law to technology transfer agreements that fall outside the safe harbour of the TTBER. The competition rules aim to strengthen the incentives for initial R&D, facilitate diffusion of intellectual property and generate market competition.

These instruments will expire on 30 April 2014. In order to prepare the regime to be applied after that date and to ensure that it both reflects current market realities and provides for the possibility of non-competitors and competitors to enter into technology transfer agreements where it contributes to economic welfare without posing a risk for competition, the Commission invites stakeholders to present their views on their experiences in applying the BER and the accompanying Guidelines in practice. Receiving feedback from stakeholders is a key element of this review.

For additional information or to contribute to the consultation:

http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2012_technology_transfer/index_en.html

This consultation is important for any business that is or might be a licensor or licensee under a TTA in the EU, because the results of the consultation will set in place the EC’s competition law enforcement policy in this area for several years to come.

Public Consultation on Cloud Computing

Mon, 16 May 2011 16:57:18 GMT