The Investment Plan for Europe is one of the main initiatives of the Juncker Commission. After the official launch of the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) in Summer 2015, major infrastructure projects and investment platforms start materializing across the EU.

In February 2016 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 2016.  

Winter is being a very hot season for the digitalization of Europe, a revolution that could contribute €415 billion per year to our economy and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. The Digital Single Market for Europe (DSM) gave an important step in the unification of rules to strengthen fundamental rights and the European Market in December 2015 with the agreement on the reform of the Data protection rules and the first EU wide cybersecurity legislation – the Network and Information Systems Directive.

Ibec, the group that represents Irish business, today announced details of a joint programme with the Department of Foreign Affairs to help Irish companies compete with other European businesses for billions of European Development Funds (EDF) earmarked for projects up to 2020. The Winning Business in Africa programme is an online one-stop-shop for companies providing the information and support needed to bid on over 200 projects in Sub-Saharan countries worth €7 billion. The comprehensive database is backed up with advice and support, from funding experts Schuman Associates, for companies that want to access these contracts.

The SME Instrument under the Horizon 2020 has since its launch in 2014 attracted more than 10.000 individual applications, but only 12% of them are good enough to be considered for funding.

Schuman Associates supports the "Czech Ball Brussels 2016" organized by the European Economic Interest Grouping 'Access EU! - EEIG'. The Czech Ball Brussels 2016 took place in the Concert Noble, the favourite site of the Brussels Ball Season, on Friday January 29th 2016. 

Jan Dröge, Partner at Schuman Associates moderated the EU Sector Seminar "PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT IN EU EXTERNAL ACTION PROGRAMMES" on 10th March.

Distinct from the well-known Brussels-based institutions, decentralised agencies are another important component of the European Union ecosystem. These bodies have been set up by the EU in different Member States to carry out technical, scientific or managerial tasks that help institutions make and implement policies.

Given the growing interdependence and complexity in relations between the EU & US and in order to position our clients to maximum effect, Schuman Associates has formed a strategic alliance with a particular focus on the technology sector. Issues such as security, privacy, cybercrime, procurement, trade etc. require a dialogue with decision makers on both sides of the Atlantic. Both companies are committed to delivering the best outcomes for our clients and are delighted to create this innovative partnership. The strategic alliance will allow both companies to share their knowledge, positioning and experience, while servicing customers in global markets around technology, policy and procurement.

Skills are a key element in the prosperity and economic growth of the EU. Despite high unemployment, many employers report difficulties in recruiting staff with the right skills set, particularly the deficit in ICT skills is growing with an estimated 825,000 open vacancies by 2020. There is an pressing need for better anticipation of the skills needed by employers and for development of these skills that will be needed by the labour market. The question is, will there be operational actions included in the agenda and will they be implemented across the EU or will it become an initiative with mere guidelines for the Member States to tackle these issues nationally?

We would like to thank all our friends and clients for the many many kind mails and messages we have received. It is heartening to feel the solidarity of people from around the world. Luckily all in Schuman are fine. All our thoughts go to the victims and their families.

E-Government services are crucial to advance towards an European Digital Single Market. For this reason, the European Commission is working to adapt the EU policy and funding context to tackle this new reality.

Due to the high specialisation of each organisation, it is crucial to collaborate with other bodies to benefit from synergies and from  different expertise.  But how to find the right partner for the right project? This is a big challenge for every instituion involved in Horizon 2020 projects, might it be industries, research organisations, SMEs, or universities.

In the framework of an existing strategic partnership with Euractiv Romania, on the 9th of October 2015, Schuman Associates supported the organization of a special event dedicated to EU funding opportunities for agricultural and rural development in Romania.

On October 2nd, Lene Topp from Schuman Associates conducted a tailored training on EU funding for corporations and trade associations for selected members of the Public Affairs Council. During the training the participants obtained an understanding of EU funding and why it matters as well as insights on how to position and tender for funds managed by the European Commission.

On Wednesday 14 October 2015, Laura Heuvinck spoke on behalf of Anti-Money Laundering Europe (AME) at the Council of Notaries of the European Union (CNUE) money laundering lunch debate.

On 27th October Schuman Associates organized the Third Executive Breakfast Briefing, which addressed the role and opportunities for the private sector in EU Africa cooperation programmes under the 11th EDF during 2015 and new EU Financial instruments (Agrifi, Electrifi and Africa Trust Fund). The event built on the outcomes of the first and second EEAS/DG DEVCO Schuman Executive Briefings in 2014 and key developments since then.

Jan Dröge, Partner at Schuman Associates will moderate the next EU Sector Seminar "PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT IN EU EXTERNAL ACTION PROGRAMMES". The Seminar, organized by the Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the EU will  gather delegates from Permanent Representations, Trade Promotion Organizations from EU Member States and over 100 companies from private sector. The seminar will take place on 10th March 2016.

In November 2015 Schuman Associates organised a cocktail reception in the European Parliament around the topic of “Sports and physical activity for active and healthy ageing - the Tai Chi example”.

On 3rd December, Schuman Associates attended the Fi-Compass: Seminar on Financial Instruments delivering ESI Funds in Athens, Greece. The seminar, organised by DG Regio and the EIB aimed to give participants an understanding of how financial instruments can help in the efforts to deliver ESIF 2014 - 2020 objectives.