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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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. 

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.

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.

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.

  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. The months to come will bring us the results of several public consultations reflecting the pace of technology and hinting how the infrastructure’s development should evolve: ·         Public consultation: eGovernment Action Plan 2016-2020 (closed 22/1/2016):  The new eGovernment Action Plan 2016-2020 will address the needs and expectations of European citizens and businesses with respect to the delivery of efficient and user-friendly government services in 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.  

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.

On 28^th January Schuman Associates as secretariat of AME organised a lunch seminar with a fruitful discussion around the topics: The ongoing implementation of the 4th Anti-money Laundering Directive and issues/gaps around AML, Terrorist financing, Fraud, Tax evasion which need to be handled during the 5th AMLD and 2016 Priorities.

Until now, eHealth policies have mainly focused on institutions and IT systems. Today, that focus is shifting and is now being placed on eHealth users. The people who are using eHealth are becoming increasingly involved in the discussion and being placed at the heart of eHealth policy-making.

As announced by the European Agenda on Security adopted in April 2015 and reiterated by the Agenda on Migration presented in May, the European Commission is about to finalise its revised legislative proposal on Smart Borders. The new proposal, which is supposed to be published next March ahead of the Justice and Home Affairs Council scheduled on 10-11/03, comes at a very delicate time. Growing travellers flows combined with the current refugee crisis are putting the EU common external borders under an increasing pressure and scrutiny and Member States are confronted with increasing difficulties to manage this situation.

With the kick off of the San Sebastian European Capital of Culture 2016, Schuman Associates (SA) had the opportunity to chat with the Communication Director of San Sebastian 2016 Capital of Culture, Fernando Álvarez (FA) and this is what he shared with us:

At the end of December 2015, the EU closed the negotiations on the new European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF 2014-2020) programmes with all 28 Member States. This marks the end of a process that last for more than 3 years of intense preparations. It also paves the way for more than 450 billion EUR to be injected in the EU economies by 2020.