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.

On the 17th November, Paul RÜBIG, Member of the European Parliament and Dave ELLIOTT, Chief Executive of Surface Engineering Association and President of the European Committee for Surface Treatment (CETS) hosted a breakfast briefing in the European Parliament’s Member Salon, in Brussels.

Last week, Schuman Associates participated in European Commission DG REGIO’s lecture series on key issues in regional and urban policy, organised in cooperation with European Regional Science Association (ERSA).

On 11-12^th December Schuman Associates gave a training to the delegates of Bulgarian municipalities who came to Brussels on a special invitation of Member of European Parliament Andrey NOVAKOV.

The European Commission will invest almost €16 billion in Research and Innovation in the next two years under Horizon 2020, the EU’s research and innovation funding scheme. The full package of 2016-2017 Work Programmes is available for downloading below, including the SME Instrument Work Programme.

  Schuman Associates is proud to have been selected by the European Commission to work as advisors on the setting up of the Broadband Competence Offices (BCO) network. The objective is to accelerate the roll out of broadband infrastructure using EU funds in Member States. Through its specific experience in this sector, Schuman Associates will contribute to the exchange of best practices and recommendation on implementation structures for Broadband investments in Member States and Regions. Read more on: https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/broadband-competence-offices

The Netherlands, a country with a strong business-friendly reputation, has just taken over the Council presidency at a crucial time for the EU. With strong political backing from top European Commission officials (First VP Frans Timmermans and Secretary-General Alexander Italianer), the Dutch presidency is committed to pursue a focused and pragmatic agenda and expected to deliver on its key priorities.

The European Capitals of Culture (ECOC) initiative is a major European Union action aimed at highlighting the richness and diversity of cultures in Europe, as well as promoting greater mutual understanding among Europe's citizens. In addition to this, experience has shown that the event is an excellent opportunity for regenerating cities, raising the international profile of cities, the eyes of their own inhabitants and to boost tourism.

The Commission is consulting on the new eGovernment Action Plan 2016-2020, one of the actions for completing the Digital Single Market, as announced in the Communication on a Digital Single Market Strategy for Europe.
The new eGovernment Action Plan 2016-2020 will address the needs, requirements and expectations of European citizens and businesses with respect to the delivery of effective, efficient and user-friendly government services in the EU.

Jan DRÖGE, Partner at Schuman Associates, moderated EU Sector Seminar “TRANSPORT AND INFRASTURCTURE IN THE EU EXTERNAL AID INSTRUMENTS”, which took place on 11th June. The Seminar gathered delegates from Permanent Representations, Trade Promotion Organizations from EU Member States and over 100 companies from private sector.  Key note speech was be given by deputy director general Marcus Cornaro from DG DEVCO.

Schuman Associates was honoured to be partner of The International Conference SMEs financing opportunities 2014-2020, organized on the 12th of March, in Bucharest at the initiative of EurActiv.ro and the Representation of the European Commission in Romania. 

On 18th March 2015, Schuman Associates and Enterprise Ireland co-organised a high-level luncheon discussion in Brussels for the visit of Irish Minister of European Affairs and Data Protection, Mr. Dara Murphy for the occasion of St. Patrick's Day.

Senior members of the Irish and Belgian business community were invited to contribute in a discussion around improving the relations between Belgium and Ireland and how Irish business can better succeed in Europe.

On 6 and 7 May 2015, Schuman Associates participated in the 5th European Civil Protection Forum in Brussels to discuss new ways to enhance collaboration between the public and private actors in disaster preparedness and response.

Alongside 10 European Commissioners, including 3 of the Vice Presidents, the President of the European Parliament and more than 2300 business leaders and policy makers, Schuman Associates took part in the discussion of the Europe’s top priorities, notably the digital economy at the European Business Summit 2015.

Schuman Associates was honored to be a partner of the international conference ”Financing opportunities for the private sector. The large investments” organized by EurActiv Romania and the European Commission Representation, on the 26th of May 2015, in Bucharest.

On 29 May 2015, Schuman Associates participated in the Conference “The Balkan and the Black Sea Area on the Move” organised by the Committee of the Regions in Brussels.

On 4^th June, Schuman Associates organised Roundtable lunch in the European Parliament as part of running the secretariat for the Anti-Money Laundering Europe Association.

On 9 June 2015, Schuman Associates presented the Winning Business in Africa (WBIA) web portal at the IBEC premises in Dublin. The event was attended by a wide range of Irish enterprises. The WBIA is a joint initiative between the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, IBEC and Schuman Associates.

In June 2015 Schuman Associates co-organized an event "Satellite connectivity and public-private partnerships to boost delivery of public goods in Africa" in the Framework of European Development Days.

EDDs has established itself as the premier European forum on global development issues. It represents an unparalleled opportunity to share ideas, benchmark best practices and learn from the latest innovations to improve the impact and effectiveness of aid.