Funding available
EIF and OXO Group join forces to support start-ups in the CEE Region. OXO Group announced today the signing of a European Investment Fund (EIF) commitment to set up a technology fund focusing on start-ups in Central and Eastern Europe. With the expected launch next semester and a target fund size of EUR 50 million, the fund will invest into innovative, early stage technology companies, with equity ticket size of EUR 3 million, on average.
Springrowth SGR launches the Diversified Enterprises Credit Fund with EIF as a cornerstone investor. The EIF has signed an agreement with Springrowth SGR SpA to subscribe EUR 50 million in the Fondo di credito diversificato per le imprese (Diversified Enterprises Credit Fund), an Italian alternative investment fund, with a fundraising target of EUR 500 million.
EU policies for better business
EU Consumer Conditions Scoreboard: consumers show growing demand for cross-border online shopping. The 2017 edition of the Consumer Conditions Scoreboard shows that more and more EU consumers are shopping online and that their trust in e-commerce has increased, in particular in buying online from other EU countries.
E-commerce: making online shopping safer for consumers. The European Commission issued guidelines to help national market surveillance authorities better control products sold online. In 2017, 55% of Europeans buy online (2017 Consumer Scoreboard) and get products shipped directly to their door, escaping the authorities' traditional controls. Read the new guidelines.
Get involved
EU Commission launches consultation on how to make cross-border payments cheaper. The European Commission launched a public consultation on ways to reduce the costs of cross-border payments within the European Union in currencies other than the Euro. The consultation is open until 30 October 2017.
EU Commission launched public consultation on retail regulations in a multi-channel environment. The Commission seeks input from stakeholders for identifying best practices regarding the implications of the growing importance of e-commerce and changing consumer habits for the retail sector and its regulatory framework. The consultation is open until 8 October 2017.
Kick-starting the circular economy among small businesses in Europe. The European Commission is looking for business support organisations which would like to receive training on the subject of circular economy, circular solution providers and regional authorities which would like to receive policy advice on how to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in adopting circular solutions. Applications are open until 18 September 2017.
Re-launch: call for good practice on training for SME internationalisation. This call has been re-launched and will remain open until 30 September 2017.