- 03 Apr 2012 - Deadline to submit proposals within the FP7-ENERGY-2012-1-2STAGE Call 

- 03 Apr 2012 - Deadline to submit proposals within theSP1-JTI-CS-2012-01 Call 

- 13 Apr 2012 - Deadline to submit proposals within the TEN-T Call 

Brussels, 22 March 2012 - Transport ministers today reached agreement on proposals to transform the existing patchwork of roads, railways, airports and canals into a unified European transport network.  

The proposed Regulation for Guidelines for Trans-European Networks (TEN-T) will remove cross-border bottlenecks, upgrade infrastructure and streamline cross-border transport operations for passengers and businesses throughout the EU.

Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, said: "This is a very significant step forwards. Transport is the lifeblood of the European economy. And if it does not flow smoothly, our economy will weaken and fail to grow. Ministers have today given strong political backing for plans to build the strategic transport connections necessary to fuel Europe's future economic growth."

Brussels, 28 March 2012 - The European Commission announced today the projects selected to receive over €160 million in EU co-financing from the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) programme to continue improving transport infrastructure across the EU.

The 26 selected projects will use the EU's financial support to speed up the implementation of important priorities of the TEN-T Programme in order to contribute to delivering a safe, competitive and efficient transport infrastructure network.

Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, noted:

"Once more the European Commission makes significant funding available from its TEN-T programme to boost transport infrastructure in the European Union. I am very proud to give the green light today to these projects which will not only positively affect the lives of our citizens in the near future, but which will also widen the basis of the EU's future transport infrastructure for years to come."

"These figures are a wake-up call. This is the slowest decrease in road deaths in a decade. 85 people still die on Europe's roads every day. This is unacceptable. We will need to sharply intensify efforts at EU and national level to reach our goal of cutting road fatalities in half again by 2020. I am writing to ministers in all Member States to ask for information about national road safety enforcement plans for 2012. I want to be reassured that even in tough economic times this important work, which is so central to road safety, is not being scaled back. At EU level, I intend also to target specifically fatalities on motorcycles in 2012, we need to see the current trend reversed and these deaths start to fall." 

The objective of this public consultation is to collect the opinions of stakeholders and EU citizens on the provision, where possible, of road safety related minimum universal traffic information free of charge to users.

More precisely this questionnaire addresses issues related to the type of safety messages, the possible channels of communication, the geographical coverage, the expected impacts of such information.

The aim of the European Commission is to support the coordinated and coherent deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) within the EU and to set out the general conditions necessary for that purpose.

More details can be found here.   

The Commission launched an Eco-Innovation Action Plan to expand the EU's focus from green technologies to all aspects of eco-innovation.

The Eco-innovation Action Plan develops actions under the Europe 2020 "Innovation Union" and "Resource Efficiency" flagships. It proposes measures to target eco-innovation specific barriers and drivers. The aim of the Plan is to deliver efficient solutions for environmental problems, improving European resource efficiency while opening new opportunities for business. Commissioner Janez Potočnik explains the reasoning and the key elements of the new plan.
Why is eco-innovation important for Europe?

EU businesses need to adapt to the pressures of high resource prices and scarce materials. Many of our firms will need to become more competitive, improving their energy and resource efficiency. Eco-innovation in particular can offer many new business opportunities. It also reduces the risk of environmental pollution. In fact this is a business sector that is already growing rapidly: EU eco-industries are already bigger than the European automotive industry and are often world leaders.

Eco-innovation needs to permeate all sectors of the economy, from construction to the chemical industry, if we are to face up to the challenge of sustainability. There will be tremendous competitiveness benefits too, if we provide the solutions that everybody is looking forward to

Next 08 May 2012 in Brussels there will be the information day regarding the Eco-Innovation call for proposals.

The European Info Day 2012 will give essential information and advice on how to develop a good project proposal and apply successfully. It also offers the chance to find project partners from across Europe, exchange views and share expertise. 

- 01-04 Apr 2012 - Paris (FR) - ICT - WCNC 2012 - 2012 IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference

- 02 Apr 2012 - Brussels (BE) - TRA - EBSF Event - Workshop on "Electrified Public Transport Bus System" 

- 03-05 Apr 2012 - Paris (FR) - ENE+ENV+ITS+TRA - eCarTech Paris 2012  

- 16-21 Apr 2012 - Amsterdam (NL) - TRA - European Road Transport Show (TERTS)  

- 17-18 Apr 2012 - Brussels (BE) - INN+LEG - CEN/CENELEC "STANDARDAYS" 

- 17-18 Apr 2012 - Brussels (BE) - BIO - SUSCHEM's (European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry) 10th Stakeholder Event 

- 17-18 Apr 2012 - Sofia (BG) - EUP+PRO - Communication Seminars for INTERREG IVC Projects 

- 17-18 Apr 2012 - Birmingham (UK) - TRA - PARKEX 2012 

There are fantastic business opportunities for you.

It is possible to sponsor one or more events (Event Sponsor) or even become an Event Section Sponsor (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze packages available). Please drop us an email if interested and we will provide you with all information.

Notice: EPN Consulting Members enjoy up to 20% discount on sponsoring packages. Join us!

Last 19 and 20 March 2012

EPN Consulting attended the Business 2012 event organised in London at the O2 Arena and it was the first of its kind.  

There were over 200 exhibitors and seminars providers to give information, hints&tips to be successful in Business in the UK and abroad. Interviews to special entrepreneurs such as Richard Branson, Alan Sugar and James Caan made the event particularly interesting.

We would like to remind our readers that there are only 9 weeks (including Easter) left to prepare and submit a good quality proposal within the Intelligent Energy Europe 2012 call  

Some 72 Million Euros of funding have been allocated to the promotion and dissemination of best practice in the following fields:

- Energy Efficiency (SAVE) - 15 Million Euros

- Energy use in Transport (STEER) - 12.5 Million Euros

- Renewable Energy Sources (ALTENER) - 12 Million Euros

- Integrated Initiatives - 32.5 Million Euros

Activities of Research and Implementation will NOT be funded.

When planning activities with your consortium partners please note that beyond Easter period, 1st May is holiday in many European countries. Besides, 25th April is holiday in Italy and 7th May is Bank Holiday in the UK. And the 8th May is the deadline for submission!

Not many days left ...