In her presentation before the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) of the European Parliament (EP), Cyprus' Minister of Interior, Ms Eleni Mavrou, who is also responsible for the research portfolio during the Cyprus Presidency, underlined that “we have attained all the targets set in research and innovation, paving the way for a timely launch of Horizon 2020, the EU funding programme for research and innovation for the period 2014-2020, that will deliver competitiveness, growth and jobs and will contribute to addressing important societal and economic challenges ”....

The most important achievements of the Cyprus Presidency under the competences of the International Trade (INTA) and the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committees of the European Parliament, were presented today to the Committees’ members by the Cypriot Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Mr....

An Odyssey that had been going on for almost 40 years, came to a happy end for the European Union last week. The European Parliament (EP) endorsed the agreement on the unitary patent protection package, which was reached in the Committee of Permanent Representatives on November 19 and was supported politically from the Competitiveness Council on December 9....

Today, December 12, the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper 1) endorsed the political agreement with the European Parliament on two proposals for Regulations, the European Venture Capital Funds Regulation – EuVECA and the European Social Entrepreneurship Funds Regulation – EuSEF....

At today's meeting in Brussels, the Competitiveness Council (Research and Space), under the Presidency of Cyprus Minister of Interior Ms Eleni Mavrou, reached preliminary agreement (partial general approach) on the Specific Programme implementing Horizon 2020 and on the Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)....

The Cyprus Presidency welcomed today's positive vote by the European Parliament (EP) Plenary on the unitary patent protection package. Following the successful endorsement of the package by the Competitiveness Council yesterday, December 10, the long road of establishing this important system is coming to an end....

The Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper I) adopted on Wednesday December 5, a political agreement on a legislative package on consumer alternative dispute resolution (ADR/ODR), which was reached the same day at a trilogue with the European Parliament (EP) and the European Commission (EC)....

EU Ministers participating at the afternoon sessions of today’s Competiveness Council, in Brussels, endorsed the historic agreement reached by Coreper I on the Unitary Patent Protection Package. The Council, chaired by the Cypriot Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Mr Neoklis Sylikiotis, also adopted Conclusions on the second wave of priority proposals under the Single Market Act II....

The adoption of Conclusions on an update to the European Industrial Policy, the debate on the simplification of state aid rules and the important decisions made regarding customs issues, are among the results of today’s morning session of the Competitiveness Council (Industry), in Brussels....

Reaching an agreement in two more legislative proposals of Horizon 2020 and the adoption of Council Conclusions on European Research Area are the main objectives of the Cyprus Presidency in the forthcoming Competitiveness Council (Research) on 11 December 2012 in Brussels....

EU Ministers meeting at the Competitiveness Council (Industry) in Brussels, on Monday, December 10, 2012, are expected to endorse the agreement reached by Coreper I on the Unitary Patent Protection Package and to adopt Conclusions on the second wave of priority proposals under the Single Market Act II....

On Monday November 19, the Member States participating in the enhanced cooperation reached unanimous agreement on the Unitary Patent Package at the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper I).  Later in the same evening, an extraordinary meeting of the Committee on Legal Affairs of the European Parliament (JURI), took place in Strasbourg where MEPs expressed overwhelming support for the proposal agreed by Member States....

The ways to help Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) ‘Go for Growth’ were discussed during the 1st SME Assembly, held at the “Filoxenia” Conference Centre in Lefkosia (Nicosia). The two-day conference, which ended today, was co-organized by the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission, and brought together representatives of European SMEs, business organizations, national and regional government, academia and the media....

The important role that European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) could play in the economic recovery of Europe and its transition to a knowledge-based economy is at the heart of the Cyprus Presidency Conference, which is held in Larnaca on 8-9 November 2012....

The potential of the Marie Curie Actions and ways in which they can contribute to the “Europe 2020” Strategy objectives, along with their international dimension were the focus of discussions during the Cyprus Presidency’s “Marie Curie PEOPLE 2012” Conference....

The consolidation of the image of Europe as a collection of sustainable and high-quality tourist destinations, the facilitation of tourism flows from third countries and the maximisation of the potential of EU policies and financial instruments for developing tourism, were the topics under discussion at the 11th European Tourism Forum, held at the ‘Filoxenia’ Conference Centre in Lefkosia (Nicosia)....

The Cyprus Presidency will highlight the importance of Mediterranean cooperation as an instrument to ensure peace, stability and growth in the region, during a Conference on October 24 and 25 in Lefkosia (Nicosia). The Conference is organised together with the European Territorial Cooperation Programme MED and the Neighburhood Cross-border Cooperation Programme in the Mediterranean Sea Basin ENPI MED and will include participants from neighbouring Mediterranean countries....

In the past few decades, we have seen the term ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ (CSR) enter our daily lexicon.Concerning actions promoted by companies on a voluntary basis, which are over and above their legal obligations towards society and environment, corporate social responsibility must become an integral part of corporate and business strategy, according to the European Union....

Today’s Competitiveness Council (Industry) unanimously adopted conclusions on Key Enabling Technologies (cutting-edge technologies) and the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials. During this second day of the meeting in Luxemburg, the EU’s Competitiveness Ministers also exchanged views on the European Industrial Policy, reviewed the state of play of the Single Market Act and adopted a resolution on the European Consumer Agenda....

At today’s meeting of Competitiveness Council (Research), which was held in Luxembourg, the Cyprus Presidency reached a preliminary agreement (partial general approach) on the Regulation on the Rules for participation and dissemination in the next EU funding programme for research and innovation for the period 2014-2020 (Horizon 2020), and on the amended Regulation of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)....