The European Commission unveiled a 23 steps Action Plan on how to harness the opportunities presented by technology-enabled innovation in financial services (FinTech), it aims to tackle a wide range of issues from cryptocurrencies, cybersecurity, data protection, blockchain innovation and EU compliance and supervision of these new technologies. Here are some of the highlights:

On Wednesday, 14 March 2018, the MEPs adopted their official negotiating position for the post-2020 EU budget. The main message is that the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) should not only finance new priorities; but also compensate for the financial shortfall caused by Brexit, estimated to leave a budget hole of 14 BEUR.

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Schuman Associates was an active participant in the European Commission's Public Consultation on EU funds in the area of Cohesion.
The consultation was an integral part of the preparation process of post 2020 Multiannual Financial Framework.

We welcomed the EC initiative to share our views and experience - spanning over two decades in the area of EU policy and regulatory framework driving EU Funds. Our key messages included in the Position paper on post 2020 Cohesion Policy: 

  In March 2018 Schuman Associates Brussels Headquarters and local offices gathered together for the annual «Away Day» to share best practices, reflect on company's values and present the business strategies for 2018.

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 is also pleased to launch its monthly ‘Country Digest’ in which we will capture facts and other EU funding and relevant highlights. First to take-off….Romania!

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.