Today the European Heads of Governments agreed on the location of the Unified Patent Court. This ends more than 30 years of negotiations on the European Patent Reform. In the future patent applications should only be filled once to be applicable in all the 25 EU member states who are participants in the enhanced co-operation. This will make it both easier and cheaper for European businesses to protect their patents in Europe.
The Danish EU Presidency has reached an agreement about a European label for venture capital and social entrepreneurship funds in the EU. Thereby the Council and the European Parliament has agreed on two key initiatives in the Single Market Act; initiatives which can abate the current financing challenges for especially innovative and newly established companies in the EU.
The European patent prize has today been awarded to inven-tors from Danish Widex at the European Inventor Award 2012 in the Danish Playhouse in Copenhagen. The prize is awarded for Widex' revolutionary computer technology to design hearing aids. The prestigious prize emphasizes Danish companies’ innovation capacity, says Danish Minister for Business and Growth, Ole Sohn.
To day the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission agreed on a Directive that makes it possible for cultural institutions to give access to Europe’s cultural heritage across borders in the EU.
Le ministre danois du Commerce, de l'Industrie et de la Croissance Ole Sohn mettra, les 7 et 8 juin prochains, la croissance et l'emploi à l'ordre du jour de la session du Conseil Transports, télécommunications et énergie.
The Danish EU Presidency has reached an agreement on European standardisation. Thereby the Council and the European Parliament has agreed on the first of the twelve initiatives in the Single Market Act intended to modernise European trade and contribute to growth in Europe. The agreement will improve conditions for participation of businesses and stakeholders in the development of standards, ensure that standards reach the market faster, which will shorten the time span from idea to production, and boost the development of European standards for services.
The European ministers for research- and innovation have after long and hard negotiations reached an agreement on the overall structure for the EUs coming Framework programme for research and innovation – Horizon 2020 – which has a proposed budget of EUR 80 billion.
The administrative burdens on listed companies are being reduced in order to make it easier for businesses to raise capital and contribute to growth and employment in the EU. This is at the heart of changes to the so called Transparency Directive. The Danish Presidency is leading negotiations of the Directive, and has just received a mandate in the Council of Ministers to begin negotiations with the European Parliament.
New EU rules require that providers of mortgage credit in the EU should ensure better information for consumers and more solid credit assessments for the receipt of mortgage credit. At the same time it will be easier for consumers to see where the best options are for them in taking out a mortgage. This is the heart of the new so-called Mortgage Credit Directive. The Danish Presidency is leading negotiations on the Directive, and has just received a mandate in the Council of Ministers to begin negotiations with the European Parliament.
On 30 May, together with other European ministers, the Danish Minister for Business and Growth set a footprint on the growth agenda in Europe. The Competitiveness Council discussed a number of the initiatives to cre-ate growth in the Single Market Act.
Les 30 et 31 mai, la présidence danoise de l'UE conduira sa seconde et ultime réunion formelle du Conseil Compétitivité. Le thème en sera la croissance au sein du Marché unique et le prochain programme cadre européen en matière de recherche et d'innovation, Horizon 2020.
The establishment of the Single Market in 1992 has had a massive impact on the everyday life of EU citizens. Every time you buy a new mobile phone, have steak for dinner or watch TV with your family, the EU’s Single Market has played its part.
Today, the Danish Presidency has reached agreement with the European Parliament on a regulation on the Internal Market Information System (the IMI-system). The agreement ensures that Member States’ authorities are able to cooperate more effectively across borders. The Danish Minister for Business and Growth sees the agreement as a considerable result for the Danish Presidency.
Today, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament agreed to initiate a pilot phase on European project bonds in 2012-13. This remains an important milestone, and the Danish presidency has therefore played an important role in the efforts towards strengthening European infrastructure. Concretely, the project will contribute to enhancing Europe’s competitiveness and thereby enhance the prospects for economic growth. The pilot phase on project bonds makes cooperation between private stakeholders and the European Investment Bank (EIB), EU and the member states on infrastructure projects within transport, energy, and information- and communication technology easier.
On 7-8 May 2012, high-level representatives and experts from EU Member States, international institutions, businesses, civil society and academia have been invited by the Danish EU Presidency to discuss how the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights adopted by the UN last year can be put into practice. The Danish Government will be represented by the Minister for Business and Growth, Mr Ole Sohn, the Minister for Trade and Investments, Ms Pia Olsen Dyhr and Minister for Development Cooperation, Mr Christian Friis Bach.
The Danish Presidency is ready to begin negotiations with the European Parliament on the accounting directives
Today, the Danish Presidency reached an agreement on a stronger European Maritime Safety Agency. The agreement ensures that the Agency is able to carry out its tasks in relation to maritime safety and the marine environment in a better and more efficient manner.
Today the Danish EU Presidency has finalised an agree-ment on roaming in the EU. The new agreement ensures, that mobile prices on telephony, sms and internet now drops significantly in the EU. Minister of Business and Growth, Ole Sohn, considers the agreement as one of the major results of the Danish Presidency.