Why SMEs should take full advantage of the benefits and opportunities offered by European Standards?

The European Conference "SMEs and Standardisation" will be held in the Square Business Center in Brussels on the 28th May 2013. It will provide a unique opportunity to discuss how to promote the successful participation of SMEs in standardisation activities, and make it easier for them to access the results.

What are the benefits that European Standards can offer to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)?  

• To improve their efficiency and competitiveness, minimize waste and reduce costs. 
• To ensure the quality and safety of products and services, and to make it easier to sell them throughout Europe and around the world  
• To help to create a level playing field, allowing SMEs to access more markets and to attract new customers.  

SMEs can take full advantage of the benefits and opportunities offered by European Standards, but often don't know how.

More information about the conference "SMEs and Standardisation".

On 26 July all European bloggers are invited to the Council of European Union in Brussels

On 26 July the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union will organize an event in Brussels bringing together European bloggers. 

Citizen participation is at the heart of European politics. New digital social platforms can facilitate citizen participation, while citizen journalism and social media make the discourse in European issues accessible.

The meeting will be web-streamed and recorded, while Wi-Fi connectivity will allow on-line participation. The discussion will be structured around the four thematic priorities of the Presidency: 

• Europe, more efficient and sustainable
• Europe, with a better performing and growth economy
• Europe, more relevant to its citizens, with solidarity and social cohesion
• Europe in the world, closer to its neighbors.

Starting from today those wishing to participate may register for the event!

Twitter hashtag:  #cy2012eublogs

The Digital Agenda Summit, 3 October 2011, Brussels

ETNO and the Financial Times are organizing a Summit to foster dialogue between all actors of the Internet eco-system to debate how to allow innovative services to be launched, how the current commercial model may need to evolve and how new revenues can be generated to justify infrastructure investments. The event will also look at the role policy makers can take in supporting these initiatives to achieve a viable, sustainable Internet for the benefit of all.

The Summit will provide further input from industry on how to achieve the Digital Agenda targets and stimulate the debate amongst industry players on how to boost private investment in high speed broadband networks and encourage new business models and services to emerge.

Chief Executive Officers of leading digital economy players, including major telecoms operators and ICT equipment manufacturers, will gather at this event together with Commissioner Kroes as keynote speaker.

More information

EMF at the 1rst Digital Agenda Assembly

EMF actively participated in the 1rst Digital Agenda Assembly that took place in Brussels on 16-17 June. The Assembly was a mixture of workshops, designed to identify solutions to specific challenges and plenary sessions designed to synthesise the discussions and identify the way forward. EMF promoted the ideas expressed in its Position Paper on a Digital Agenda for Europe and discussed the main points of the Digital Agenda with other stakeholders.

More information
Download the results of the workshops
Download EMF´s Position Paper on a Digital Agenda for Europe

Registrations for the 1rst Digital Agenda Assembly are now open!

The first Digital Agenda Assembly will take place in Brussels on 16-17 June 2011. The event will address key topics relating to information and communications technologies and their impacts on society and economy. The annual Digital Assembly will bring together Member States, EU institutions, citizens' representatives and industry and it will support the Digital Agenda for Europe by assessing progress, identifying challenges and stimulating contributions.

The main objectives of the Assembly are to:

•Assess progress to date on delivery towards the Digital Agenda's goals and actions and seek ways to improve delivery;
•Identify challenges ahead for the implementation of the Digital Agenda and for the information society in general;
•Mobilise stakeholders' actions to make further progress and address challenges.

Registrations and more information