If this page does not display properly, please click here

news
March 2009

   
Version françaiseEnglish version
In this issue 
 
Position Position
Event Event
Opportunity Opportunity
Info Info
  


  Click to enlarge
Signing of the financing contract of the EBTC between Secretary General Arnaldo Abruzzini,
H E Danièle Smadja, Ambassador and
Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to India, and
Jérôme Bonnafont, Ambassador of France to India
(New Delhi, September 2008)

Logo EBTC
Logo EBTC

European Business and Technology Centre in India takes first steps

India received plenty of international media coverage these last few months. First, there were the cruel attacks in Mumbai hitting the Indian society at large. Better news came some weeks later from Hollywood, where the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" received eight Academy Awards. Meanwhile, also EUROCHAMBRES has been intensively involved with India, by setting up the European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC).

EBTC reflects a new type of initiatives developed by the European Union. The Centre is expected to develop and enhance the commercial and research/technology relations between India and Europe, with a view to promote EU interests in India and respond to the demands of the Indian market.

"The ambition is to develop a Centre that will become a reference point for promoting European clean technologies in India, and will be recognised for the quality of its services, its knowledge of the Indian market and its capacity to reach out to the entire European business and research community," said Secretary General Arnaldo Abruzzini.

The Centre will operate on a demand-driven basis, even if priority actions will carefully reflect the EU-India policy agenda. Activities will be implemented in synergy with the numerous existing initiatives on the ground (bilateral Chambers, national and regional promotion offices, research and business school alliances, etc.).

The EBTC will focus its initiatives in four selected sectors: energy, environment, biotechnology and transport. Market access will also be a major focus throughout the programme. Hopefully, this will help European businesses reap the commercial opportunities connected to the broader fight against climate change, and be successful in one of the most promising markets of the future: India.

The Centre has now started its operations from its head office in New Delhi and sub-offices in Mumbai and Bangalore. Also, the first Project Advisory Committee, Service Providers Pool Meeting and Indian Counterpart Committee took place on 24-25 February in New Delhi. The objective of these meetings was to review the overall strategy and activities of the Centre activities and to discuss its possible cooperation with Member States and Indian organisations.

The Centre is only just taking its first steps, but is already set to become a success story. After all, the secret for success - for the EBTC just like for the young Jamal who ultimately becomes a millionaire - is simple: it's about doing what's right, the right way, at the right time.

Contact: Dirk Vantyghem
Press Release 11 September 2008
EBTC website

 
 
Companies and Entrepreneurship
Position SBA and EPC: key dossiers go through European Parliament
On 10 March, the European Parliament adopted two own-initiative reports on the Small Business Act (SBA) and on the European Private Company Statute (EPC) – two very important initiatives that can provide tangible added value for SMEs. EUROCHAMBRES welcomed the report on the SBA, applauding in particular the emphasis on SME tests on legislative proposals, action to reduce the problem of late payments and the strong message to the Council on the need to unblock the Community Patent impasse. On the second dossier, while pleased with the European Parliament’s strong vote in favour of the new statute, EUROCHAMBRES regrets that a majority of MEPs ignored its call not to introduce a compulsory cross-border element to the statute or additional employee participation rules. These views were reflected in a joint EUROCHAMBRES-BUSINESSEUROPE letter sent to all MEPs prior to the vote.
Contact: Vincent Tilman Contact: Typhaine Beaupérin-Holvoet
Joint letter EUROCHAMBRES-BUSINESSEUROPE on European Private Company Statute EUROCHAMBRES' Position
Event EUROCHAMBRES contributes to dialogue on entrepreneurship education
EUROCHAMBRES has been invited by the European Commission - DG Enterprise and Industry and DG Education and Culture - to join it in setting up a permanent dialogue structure at European level in the field of entrepreneurship education. The aim of such a structure, which will involve also all EU and European Economic Area member states, will be to increase co-operation between ministries responsible for enterprise and education, to facilitate the exchange of ideas, and to test the feasibility of a wider European policy or programme in this area. The first event will take place in London on 16-17 March.
Contact: Margarete Rudzki  
Opportunity Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is launched!
The new European mobility programme "Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs" was launched on 19 February across the 27 EU countries. In Brussels, Maive Rute (Director for Promotion of SMEs' competitiveness, European Commission), Ben Butters (Director of EU Affairs, EUROCHAMBRES) and Wolfgang Treinen (one of the German local contact points) kicked off the programme during a well attended press conference, while similar events were organised at national and local levels.A total of 870 matches between 'new' and 'hosting' entrepreneurs shall be organised in 2009-2010 and registrations should be completed by December 2009.
Contact: Typhaine Beaupérin-Holvoet Press Release 19 February
"Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs" website Press Dossier EN FR
Pictures of the event  
 
International Relations and Trade
Info Preparation for the high-level delegation to Washington DC is stepped up
Secretary General Arnaldo Abruzzini and Christopher Murray, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Mission to the EU, met in Brussels on 2 March and discussed current transatlantic economy issues and the programme of the European Chambers' high-level delegation to Washington DC which will be held on 29 April-1 May.
Contact: Micol Martinelli  
Event Eastern neighbours, one step closer to the EU market
Representatives from 27 Chambers and public institutions of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Russia will participate in a TAIEX seminar on EU technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment in Brussels on 23-24 March. Such a seminar was initiated and co-organised by EUROCHAMBRES in the framework of its pan-regional strategy to foster integration of the economies of the European Neighbourhood Policy countries with the EU.
Contact: Micol Martinelli  
Opportunity "EU Training Programme for Turkish Chamber Executives": call for speakers
From April onwards, 50 Turkish Chamber executives will receive a training on how best to inform, guide, support and advise their members on EU policies. This special training, designed by EUROCHAMBRES as part of the ETCF programme, will be implemented in cooperation with TOBB (the Turkish Chamber) in association with the Ankara University and the Bahçesehir University in Istanbul. EUROCHAMBRES is in the process of selecting the speakers for the programme.
Contact: Juliette Loppé Contact: Sedef Subasi
ETCF website  
Position President Simon: "SMEs are crucial for the future of the Mediterranean"
Only Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can generate the growth that the Mediterranean region needs for a stable future, and dedicated support from their respective governments is necessary to help them develop and become more international. This was the key message delivered by President Pierre Simon at a MedInvest conference in Beirut (Lebanon) on 20 February. Mr Simon also outlined the expectations and experiences of European investors in the region and praised the contribution of Invest in Med, a project co-financed by the European Commission which includes special activities for supporting SMEs.
Contact: Freya Lemcke Invest In Med website EN FR
Event European Chambers back from second discussion round in the Gulf

The second round of discussion groups on SMEs' development in the Gulf region was successfully concluded on 18 February. Under the lead of Fernando Gómez-Áviles, Vice President for International Relations at the High Council of Spanish Chambers, a group of European Chambers met their counterparts from Chambers, business associations and ministries in Kuwait, Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam (Saudi Arabia) to discuss policy frameworks and the development of Chamber services for SMEs. Such discussion groups are part of the EU-GCC Chamber Forum, a project co-financed by the European Commission's DG Relex.

Contact: Freya Lemcke Pictures of the event
EU-GCC relations website  
 
Education, Training and Social Affairs
Position Women and Business: the perfect match?
Whilst holding enormous potential for the future of the economy, women in Europe remain underrepresented in positions of power. European Affairs Director Ben Butters presented EUROCHAMBRES' Women Network's point of view in the debate "Women and Business: the perfect match?" staged in Brussels on 5 March by CaféBabel on the occasion of international women's day.
Contact: Birgit Arens Programme of the debate
 
Innovation: Trends and Tools
Opportunity Test e-Business solutions delivered by your Chamber!
Chambers from nine European countries teamed up to deliver innovative e-Business solutions to their member companies, such as e-Invoicing, e-Custom, e-Signature or Registered emails. Businesses are invited to connect to the demonstration portal where they will be able to test various applications in their own language and provide feedback. If satisfied, the applications are commercially available.
Contact: Vincent Tilman e-Business solutions' website
Position Chambers take position on Energy Labelling
By informing users about the energy efficiency of household equipment, the energy label has been useful to stimulate development towards better products. In the Chambers' view, the recasting of the Energy Labelling Directive currently being discussed in the European Parliament should enhance the system without unduly increasing administrative burdens - especially for SMEs.
Contact: Sonja Starnberger EUROCHAMBRES' Position
 
Economic Affairs
Position European businesses hit hard by economic crisis
EUROCHAMBRES polled about 220 European entrepreneurs, members of the European Parliament of Enterprises, on the effects of the current financial and economic crisis on their business. More than two-third of respondents said to have registered tighter lending conditions from banks over the last three months, and about 45% of them will decrease their investment activities over the next six months. Moreover, entrepreneurs consider that the general macroeconomic uncertainty, the steep decline in domestic demand and increased difficulties in accessing finance will be the main obstacles their business will have to face in the coming months.
Contact: Giovanni Campi Press Release 9 March
Full results of the survey  
Event EUROCHAMBRES opens CFO Outlook 2009 conference in Amsterdam
Secretary General Arnaldo Abruzzini gave the opening address at a high-level conference organised by CFO Europe (Economist group) in Amsterdam on 5 March, under the title 'Opportunity and risk in a new era of finance'. Mr Abruzzini's intervention touched upon the consequences of the unprecedented financial and economic crisis on the banking and corporate sectors and the capacity of businesses to adapt to the new business reality that the crisis is rapidly shaping.
Contact: Giovanni Campi CFO Outlook 2009 website
Position EUROCHAMBRES disappointed by Extraordinary European Council
"Intangible" and "disappointing" were the adjectives used by Secretary General Arnaldo Abruzzini to describe the outcome of the Extraordinary European Summit on the economic crisis held in Brussels on 1 March. No concrete measures were announced in certain key areas for businesses, namely access to credit, the fight against protectionism and the support to Central and Eastern European countries.
Contact: Giovanni Campi Press Release 1 March
Position Economic consequences of EU enlargement, 5 years later
Alongside the release of the European Commission's report "Five years of an enlarged EU", EUROCHAMBRES polled its members from the 12 "new" Member States on how they perceive the economic consequences of EU enlargement. Overall, EU membership is perceived as a helpful tool in facing the current economic and financial crisis. However, problems relating to workers' migration, lack of qualified workforce and persisting administrative and regulatory barriers in the single market indicate that the situation can be further improved. The findings of this survey were also presented by European Affairs Director Ben Butters at a conference on enlargement in Prague on 2 March.
Contact: Giovanni Campi Press Release 20 February
Programme of conference "EU Enlargement - 5 Years After" EN FR  
 
Chambers' News
Opportunity Summer Academy 2009: 'early birds' fee until 1 May!

The 11th edition of EUROCHAMBRES' Summer Academy will take place on 15-19 June in Obidos, only one hour north of Lisbon (Portugal). Join this professional development programme exclusively designed for Chamber managers with new courses and new faculty members! Participants registering before 1 May will benefit from an 'early birds' fee of 2,000 EUR (normal fee: 2,400 EUR). Brochure and online registration available on the Academy website as of 16 March.

Contact: Sophie Devos-Gaillard Summer Academy 2009 webpage
Event EUROCHAMBRES Congress gets Commissioner Verheugen's blessing
With just a couple of months to go before EUROCHAMBRES' Congress, the largest annual gathering of Chambers of Commerce in Europe. The event, which will take place on 14-15 May in Prague and be devoted to the theme "Doing Business Without Barriers", now benefits from the patronage of Günter Verheugen, EU Commissioner responsible for Enterprise and Industry. The early birds fee for registration has been extended until 13 March.
Contact: Isabelle Gueury Contact: Tessa Delville
Press Release 3 March Congress' website
Info Trade Academy 2009 receives best score in eight years
Another successful Academy can now be added to the already impressive track of EUROCHAMBRES' training programmes! The International Trade Academy Forum, held on 28-31 January in Menthon Saint Bernard (France), hosted 45 senior executives representing 20 Chambers. Intensive training courses combined with a fascinating social programme were rated by over 80% of participants as "excellent" and received the highest score since 2003: 2.81 (maximum score is 3).
Contact: Sophie Devos-Gaillard EUROCHAMBRES' past Academies website
Subscribe Unsubscribe Modify your data
Next issue: 8 April 2009
We welcome your comments and suggestions. For feedback please send an email to: press@eurochambres.eu
The contents of this publication can be reproduced and disseminated provided that the source is acknowledged.
EUROCHAMBRES is not responsible for the content or any external Internet links included in this newsletter.

EUROCHAMBRES
Av. des Arts, 19 A/D - B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel. + 32 2 282 08 50 - Fax +32 2 230 00 38
e-mail: eurochambres@eurochambres.eu - www.eurochambres.eu

EUROCHAMBRES - The Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry represents 45 national associations of Chambers of Commerce and Industry
and 1 Transnational Chamber Organisation, a European network of 2000 regional and local Chambers with over 19 million member enterprises in Europe.
Copyright © 2008 EUROCHAMBRES

EUROCHAMBRES is a partner of the 2009 Year of Creativity and Innovation