The debate on the next multi-year EU budget (Multiannual Financial Framework / MFF) is about to start. The European Commission is set to formally propose its spending priorities for 2021-2020 next week, just after Labour Day. Lively discussions and debates are expected between Member States on the next generation of EU financial programmes and how these will be reflected in the EU budget. See below the Post 2020 negotiation roadmap prepared by Schuman Associates where you will have access to the next steps of the future EU funding. 

Schuman Associates is the leading consultancy in Brussels working on European funding and project financing. Delivering added-value and relevant content to our clients has always been a priority for us. To strengthen our local presence and strategy we have embarked on a new wave of local recruits in Romania, Poland and the Czech Republic. Our new colleagues will bring valuable experience to our local offices and support them in providing a hands on support to local and international companies in accessing business opportunities arising from EU funding. Schuman Associates has just launched its monthly ‘Country Digest’ to capture facts and other EU funding and relevant highlights. See our first report on Romania here. We are delighted to continue the series with Czech Republic.

The proposal tabled on the 2nd of May by the European Commission starts a vivid debate on the EU’s long-term budget for 2021-2027 in the months ahead. The proposed 7-years budget of EUR 1279 billion (in current prices), is  more than initially expected. By mid-June, the Commission will reveal further details for different policy and funding areas.

On 2 May 2018, the European Commission presented its proposal for the EU’s next seven years budget cycle (also known as the Multiannual Financial Framework – MFF) covering the period 2021-2027. The proposal will now go to the co-legislators (European Parliament and Council) which will further discuss and amend accordingly. In the best case scenario, the Commission expects to have the MFF ready before the European Parliament’s election taking place at the end of 2019.

On 2nd May the European Commission revealed its awaited proposal on the new multiannual budget for the period 2021-2027. This Communication officially marks the starting point of inter-institutional negotiations that will top the EU agenda in the coming months.

Philips and Schuman Associates have the pleasure to invite you to the event organized under the umbrella of European Week of Cities and Regions 2017 (EWRC) which will take place in Brussels on 10 October between 8:30 and 11:00 at L42.

Following the adoption of the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD), members of the EFSD Strategic Board convened for the first time in Brussels on the 28th of September to discuss overall strategy and investment areas, the so-called ‘investment windows’ that will define the Fund’s priority sectors.

On 11 October, in the framework of the European Week of Regions and Cities, the BCO Support Facility organized a workshop to showcase good practices for broadband deployment from three European Regions.

Brussels Invest & Export invited Schuman Associates to present at their event on 18th October in Belgrade. The aim of the event is to present the Brussels' economic environment and a wide range of opportunities it offers. Not only is Brussels the capital and the largest city in Belgium, but it also hosts a number of European and International Organizations. It is a place where policies are decided that impact businesses both in and beyond the European Union. 

On 10th October, in the framework of the European Week of Regions and Cities, Schuman Associates organised a workshop with Philips on the topic ¨Improving EU citizens’ lives through meaningful innovation in healthcare¨ . The objective was to raise awareness among EU decision makers about current challenges in using structural and investment funds by private large companies, and about the potential benefits of public-private partnerships for the healthcare sector was among our main objectives.

The European Commission’s DG Connect has launched the Digital Opportunity pilot project to provide digital internships to students across Europe.

What do you need to know?

Current and future initiatives supporting the development of sustainable energy in third countries through EU external aid funding instruments were presented in Brussels on 21 November in the context of a Sector Seminar organized by the Czech Permanent Representation to the EU and CEBRE, the Czech Business Representation to the EU. The event gathered over 100 companies from 14 different Member States as well as representatives from the EU Commission, the EIB, AFD, the Electrifi imitative and the Africa-EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme.

At the end of October, the European Commission published the final Work Programmes for Horizon 2020, covering the budgetary years 2018, 2019 and 2020 and representing an investment of around €30 billion.

Image Source: European Commission

The EU External Investment Plan (EIP) will leverage up to EUR 44 bn in private investments across Africa and the EU Neighbourhood until 2020. The key financial instrument of the EIP is the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSD) – an EU guarantee worth EUR 4.1 bn designed to back up risky investments that otherwise will not happen.

The Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund are financial tools set up to implement the regional policy of the European Union. They aim to reduce regional disparities in income, wealth and opportunities. Europe's poorer regions receive most of the support, but all European regions are eligible for funding under the policy's various funds and programmes. 

Lunch event in the European Parliament hosted by MEP Julie Girling on "Fact Checking Science - shaping the governance of scientific advice in the EU" in cooperation with the Nickel Institute and the European Risk Forum. For more information click here 

 In 2018, the Commission will make comprehensive proposals for the next generation of financial programmes for the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework, which is the EU's long–term budget. This consultation is an integral part of the process and its objective is to collect the views of all interested parties on how to make the most of every euro of the EU budget.

Schuman Associates held the latest in a series of events for Anti-Money Laundering Europe for which it acts as a secretariat.

The event discussed how the EU can continue its fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, and how cooperation amongst institutions, as well as public private cooperation can be  improve.

Speakers included Europol, the European Commission's DG HOME, the ECON secretariat of the European Parliament and the FFIS, the event was moderated by Laura Heuvinck, manager of the AME Secretariat on behalf of Schuman Associates.

European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC) also known as the “Open Days” is an annual four-day event held in Brussels during which cities and regions showcase their best practices in relation to their capacity to implement the European Union cohesion policy on various levels.

Each year the Committee of Regions as main institutional organizer selects different themes for the events that are attended by approximately 6,000 participants.