EU-China Tourism Year 2018

Following the announcement made by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in July 2016, the EU-China Tourism Year (ECTY) will be launched tomorrow at the Doge’s Palace in Venice. This initiative provides a unique opportunity to increase the number of visits, promote sustainable tourism, stimulate investment opportunities for Europe and China, improve air connectivity and underpin the ongoing negotiations on EU-China visa facilitation.

Are you ready for the 2018 EU-China Tourism Year? The opening event will start soon. Learn more about #ECTY2018🇪🇺🇨🇳 here: https://t.co/CnK4sw8fbl #EuropeForCulture #EuropeForTourism pic.twitter.com/qY0mSfWkk3

— Market,Industry&SMEs (@EU_Growth) January 18, 2018

The year will be opened by the Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Elżbieta Bieńkowska, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, the Bulgarian Minister of Tourism representing the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Nikolina Angelkova, the Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, Dario Franceschini, the Vice-Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, Mr Qi Xuchun, and the Vice-Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration, Du Jiang. The EU-China Tourism Year will consist of a number of cooperative marketing campaigns funded through public-private partnerships, business summits, and business-to-business meetings for tourism operators funded by the COSME programme. On the EU side, the aim is to lead to an annual increase of 10% of Chinese visitors, representing at least €1 billion each year for the EU tourism industry, and an estimate of 200 partnership agreements between EU and Chinese companies. The ECTY is a concrete manifestation of EU cultural diplomacy in the framework of the EU-China strategic partnership. The initiative is also in line with the EU Strategy on China adopted in 2016. It is a way to develop a better understanding between European and Chinese people, contributing to the “High Level EU-China People-to-People Dialogue” and the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage. The opening ceremony will be followed by the first EU-China Tourism Business Summit.

EU more flexibility to set VAT for SMEs

The European Commission has today proposed new rules to give Member States more flexibility to set Value Added Tax (VAT) rates and to create a better tax environment to help SMEs flourish.

(VAT: More flexibility on VAT rates, less red tape for small businesses) has been published on Cyprium News – https://t.co/ooIRR3FnQa pic.twitter.com/UcJEBqm7hn

— Cyprium News (@CypriumNews) January 18, 2018

Today’s proposals are the final steps of the Commission’s overhaul of VAT rules, with the creation of a single EU VAT area to dramatically reduce the €50 billion lost to VAT fraud each year in the EU, while supporting business and securing government revenues. The EU’s common VAT rules, agreed by all Member States in 1992, are out of date and too restrictive. They allow Member States to apply reduced VAT rates to only a handful of sectors and products. At the same time, EU countries consider VAT rates as a useful instrument to pursue some of their political objectives. The Commission is now making good on its pledge to give Member States more autonomy on rates. Countries will be on a more equal footing when it comes to some existing exceptions to the rules, known as VAT derogations. The Commission is today also addressing the problem of smaller companies suffering from disproportionate VAT compliance costs.

Milano Unica presents the S/S Trends

We all have a big responsibility: to design excellent fashion and contribute to saving our Earth. The dialogue that springs from events like the presentation of the Trends is an important tool for the entire fashion industry.

The three themes that inspire the international global trends focus on three elements that are essential to our life on the planet – Water, Air and Earth – and its payoff is projected towards the future: «Milano Unica: Save the Planet». 

Myths, heroes, legends, novels, comics, movies, songs, opera, ballets, scientific studies, theories and calculations act as “testimonials”. Identified by Stefano Fadda and a panel of Italian national and international industry specialists, they send out an important and incisive message, which Milano Unica, along with many other fashion players, embraces and intends to promote: love for life, nature and ourselves.

With a view to fulfilling this social need and in addition to the analysis of new technology and research, the dialogue among all the players of the supply chain will play a key role in the identification of new solutions to protect our unique, amazing but also fragile planet.

The presentation, which has now become a ‘must’ event, will stimulate discussion about an increasingly sensitive and transparent fashion system, thanks to reduced consumption of water and energy and fashion items increasingly devoid of harmful substances.

“The dialogue must extend more and more, and also include end users, as was the case with the recent “Apriti Moda” initiative (in which Milano Unica participated as the partner depositary of the upstream art), an event that opened the doors of the fashion houses that, until yesterday, had always remained concealed inside their creative cocoons. All fashion players today agree on the fact that fashion must remain “exclusive” but not be “excluding”, becoming a platform to share confrontation strategies. A shared industry vision is critical to boosting creativity based on exchange and unity of intents,” said Ercole Botto Poala, President of Milano Unica.

Where will the S/S 2019 trends identified in our contemporary society bring us? Exhibitors, fashion houses, designers, style offices and for the first time also fashion students will have a preview in the exhibition dedicated to the suggestions for materials and the inspiration behind the creative and productive path.

“Milano Unica interprets international society so that fashion can identify the ideas for tomorrow’s collections. Milano Unica does it by transmitting our planet’s need for a rebirth, and the mounting threat it faces from unheeded or disdained transnational agreements. Milano Unica is where ideas and stimuli spark off for the textile collections that fashion entrepreneurs will offer to end users: their needs represent the beginning and the end of a cycle that we all must interpret. It follows, then, that we all have a big responsibility: we need to design excellent fashion and, simultaneously, contribute to saving our Planet,” said Antonella Martinetto, President of Moda In, in charge of the Trends for MU.

Massimo Mosiello, General Director of Milano Unica, added: “We should not neglect the dialogue with fashion students, they are the craftspeople of the future. Talking with them, involving them in the creative process will give strength to the message that Milano Unica also intends to promote to start the engine at the system’s core. Textiles and fashion together represent a sounding board with immense potential for reaching out to everyone, even those holding the reins of international politics”.

Giuliano Canovese

More data protection for a digital Europe

“This proposal is one of the first EU instruments that explicitly refers to the once-only principle, which aims to ensure that citizens and businesses do not need to submit the same information to a public administration more than once. I welcome this initiative, but also recommend that the Commission take into account some key issues related to data protection in their continued development of the once-only principle. Additional clarity on important data protection principles, such as the legal basis of the processing, purpose limitation and data minimisation will reinforce the protection of the rights of individuals.” said Giovanni Buttarelli, EDPS.

The successful implementation of an EU-wide once-only principle to enable the lawful exchange of data across EU borders depends on ensuring that the relevant data protection principles are respected, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) said today, as he published his Opinion on the Commission’s proposal for a Regulation establishing a single digital gateway and the once-only principle.

The Commission’s proposal aims to modernise administrative services by facilitating the availability, quality and accessibility of information across the EU. It foresees the exchange of evidence for specified cross-border procedures, such as a request for recognition of a diploma, through a technical system, which will allow authorities to exchange data directly, at the explicit request of the individuals concerned and without these individuals having to re-submit documents that are already available in another Member State.

The EDPS supports the efforts made to ensure that individuals remain in control of their personal data. He also welcomes the amendments to the Internal Market Information System (IMI) Regulation, which the proposal introduces. These clarify the coordinated supervision mechanism foreseen for IMI and would enable the new European Data Protection Board to benefit from the technical possibilities offered by IMI for information exchange under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

However, the EDPS also asks for additional clarity on some subjects. In particular, the proposal should not provide a legal basis for the exchange of information for purposes other than those it specifies, and it should not provide a restriction on the principle of purpose limitation as set out under the GDPR. He also requests clarification on a range of issues relating to the practical implementation of user control.

The Commission’s proposal is a necessary and welcome development in the modernisation of administrative services throughout the EU, which also respects relevant data protection principles. As such, it represents a promising step towards achieving the digital Europe, based on the free movement of data, envisioned by the Estonian Presidency of the Council, whilst also demonstrating the compatibility of data protection with this vision.

EU cross-border online shopping growing

“My priority has been to improve trust of the people and smaller retailers in the Digital Single Market. Consumers are now more confident when they shop online. And we’ve equipped them with a quick procedure to get their money back if something goes wrong, even when buying from another country. The challenge now is to encourage more businesses to respond to this growing demand.” Said Commissioner Jourová.

Growing demand for cross-border online shopping in EU: does your #business sell online? + info: https://t.co/XGdfBHuv6d #ConsumerProtection https://t.co/WS2cf2VcAL

— Enterprise Europe EU (@EEN_EU) July 25, 2017

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. For retailers, however, the Scoreboard shows that many are still reluctant to expand their online activities and continue to have concerns about selling online to consumers in other EU countries. Such concerns are mainly linked to a higher risk of fraud and non-payment in cross-border sales, different tax regulations, differences in national contract law and in consumer protection rules. While consumer conditions have improved overall since the last Scoreboard, the levels of trust, knowledge and protection still vary greatly between EU Member States. The Scoreboard also shows that consumer trust in e-commerce has dramatically increased. In ten years the share of Europeans buying online has almost doubled (from 29.7% in 2007 to 55% in 2017). Since the last Scoreboard consumers’ levels of trust have increased by 12 percentage points for purchases from retailers located in the same country and by 21 percentage points for purchases from other EU Member States.

Seafood Expo Global Brussels 25 – 27 march 2017

About Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global

Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global form the world’s largest seafood trade event. Thousands of buyers and suppliers from around the world attend the annual, three-day exposition in Brussels, Belgium, to meet, network and do business. Attending buyers represent importers, exporters, wholesalers, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, and other retail and foodservice companies. Exhibiting suppliers offer the newest seafood products, processing and packaging equipment, and services available in the seafood market. SeafoodSource.com is the exposition’s official media. The exposition is produced by Diversified Communications, the international leader in seafood-industry expositions and media. www.seafoodexpo.com/global

 

About Diversified Communications
Diversified Communications is a leading international media company providing market access, education and information through global, national and regional face-to-face events, digital products, publications and television stations. Diversified serves a number of industries including: seafood, food service, natural and organic, healthcare, commercial marine and business management. The company’s global seafood portfolio of expositions and media includes Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, Seafood Expo Asia and SeafoodSource.com. Diversified Communications, in partnership with SeaWeb, also produces SeaWeb Seafood Summit, the world’s premier seafood conference on sustainability. Based in Portland, Maine, USA, Diversified has divisions in the Eastern United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Thailand and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit: www.divcom.com.

Source: Two cents

Universal Press

Patrick GRIGNARD

Seafood Expo Global, the World’s Largest Seafood Exposition Continues Succes Streak

The 24th edition of Seafood Expo Global and the 18th edition of Seafood Processing Global, produced by Diversified Communications, concluded following a busy three days, 26-28 April at the Brussels Expo in Brussels, Belgium. Together these events form the world’s largest seafood exposition and this year’s event was no exception with seafood professionals actively conducting business, networking and discovering the latest in industry trends.

More than 22,160 buyers and sellers from around the globe came to Brussels for the event, which drew visitors from 143 countries. The expo featured the stands of 1,664 exhibiting companies from 80 countries covering 35,862 square meters of combined exhibit space, including 73 national and regional pavilions. Finland, Russia, Scotland and Uruguay were among the new pavilions represented at the expo; and new exhibiting companies came from Barbados, Seychelles, Tanzania and Uganda.

“Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global was tremendously successful this year in light of what happened in Brussels a few weeks prior to the exposition,” said Liz Plizga, Group Vice President for Diversified Communications. “As we anticipated in these circumstances, we saw some impact on the level of participation, though the event offered a safe environment bringing together serious buyers and suppliers from around the world to conduct business,” said Plizga.

“[The event] gives me the opportunity to see many of my suppliers and samples of their products in a small amount of time, to talk to them about market trends and the evolution of raw materials as well as to meet new potential suppliers,” commented a sourcing manager from Delhaize (Belgium), one of 347 Key Buyers who attended the event this year.

A PL sustainable purchaser from COOP Switzerland added: “Everyone I expected to be at the event was there and I met the people I wanted to meet. I am rather new in the seafood business and the Brussels exposition was a good opportunity for me to get in touch with suppliers, partners, NGOs, which was a fruitful experience. I’m looking forward to next year’s expo.”

Other Key Buyers who attended  included the following companies: Ahold (Belgium); Aldi (Italy, Spain); Alibaba.com (China); Auchan (France, Italy, Portugal); Axfood (Sweden); Carrefour (Belgium, France, Italy); Colruyt (Belgium); Compass Group (United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, France); Coop (Switzerland, Italy, Denmark); Costco (France, United Kingdom); Delhaize (Belgium); DO & CO (United Kingdom, Turkey, Austria); E.Leclerc (France, Reunion); Eland (South Korea); Eroski (Spain); Subway (United States); Gate Gourmet (United Kingdom); Intermarché (Belgium, France); JD.com (China); Jeronimo Martins (Columbia, Poland); Jumbo Supermarkten (Netherlands); Kaufland (Germany); La Sirena (Spain); Lidl (Italy, Germany, United Kingdom); Marks & Spencer (United Kingdom); Mercadona (Spain); Metro (United States, Germany, France, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Belgium, Hong Kong, Italy); Monoprix (France); Morrisons (United Kingdom); Picard (France); REWE (Hong Kong, Germany, Austria); Sainsbury’s (United Kingdom); Sodexo (United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy).

Awards were presented for the Seafood Excellence Global awards competition that recognizes the best seafood products represented at the exposition in several categories.  On 26 April, the company Kagerer & Co. of Munich, Germany, won the best retail product category with its entry, Dim Sum – Quick ‘n’ Easy.  Freshpack of San Martin les Boulogne, France, won the grand prize for the best HORECA (hotel/restaurant/catering) product for its high pressure shelled raw king crab meat.

The special award for Health and Nutrition went to SAS Kermarée of Blainville sur Mer, France, for its product L’huître Noisette.  The award for Convenience went to Marine Harvest of Boulogne sur Mer, France for its product, Mini Gourmandises.  La Famille Boutrais of Saint Coulomb, France was presented the Seafood Excellence Global special award for Innovation for its product Gold Special Oysters “Ostra Regal.”  Marine Harvest France was also given the Seafood Excellence Global special award for Retail Packaging for its product ASC Salmon Traiteur in Double Protection Packaging.

In this competition, a panel of experts in seafood products judged 39 finalists on their taste, originality, practicality, innovation, packaging, market potential and nutritional aspects.  The full list of award winners can be found online at:
http://www.seafoodexpo.com/global/seafood-excellence-global-awards-winners

Lancement d’une nouvelle émission économique Tv-Web

Les Clubs Economiques Euro-Experts-Consultants et TV-WEB Wallonie-Bruxelles ont créé une Direction Economique TV avec une émission économique TV-WEB mensuelle ou hebdomadaire aussi pour la Grande Région UE (Wallonie-Bruxelles-GD Luxembourg –France NordEst).

La nouvelle émission est dirigé et présenté par le co-fondateur Président de Euro-Experts-Consultants,  de Clubs Economiques et de l’Académie Européenne des Experts-Consultants , Francois Izzi, Expert Economique avec plus des 40 ans d’expérience.

Seront abordée différents rubriques comme: l’actualités Economiques du mois-semaine par Région; exposé de la Bourse d’affaires du mois, nouvelles opportunités en Région; interviews de Dirigeants d’entreprises ou autres personnalités; avis d’Experts sur un sujet Socio-Economique utile pour les Entreprises; la vie des «Clubs Eco Business» par province, Apero contacts mensuels, etc

 

 

 

Crise grecque : scénarios et conséquences pour les marchés financiers #UE #grece #candriam

Nadège Dufossé, Head of Asset Allocation chez Candriam Investors Group, décrit dans un article sur le blog de Candriam une série de scénarios de la crise grecque et les conséquences attendues sur les marchés financiers.

Elle conclut comme suit : « Parmi les scénarios possibles, le risque d’une sortie de la Grèce de la zone euro n’a pas nécessairement augmenté au cours des derniers jours.

Nous estimons toujours cette probabilité à 30 %. La probabilité d’un résultat plus clair et plus positif a, quant à elle, diminué.

Il y a maintenant un risque plus élevé d’instabilité politique en Grèce et un accord temporaire devrait éviter un effondrement à court terme.

Notre position en faveur des actions de la zone euro sera maintenue aussi longtemps que la crise grecque actuelle n’affecte pas matériellement notre scénario macro-économique pour 2015 et que, suite à un vote positif grec dimanche prochain, les risques de contagion soient limités. »

 

La chambre de #commerce #France – #Belgique élit ses nouveaux membres. #bruxelles #business

La Chambre de Commerce et d’industrie FRANCE BELGIQUE , société privée et autonome de droit belge, regroupe 3 activités:

1. Un Centre d’Affaires de 1700 m², située en plein coeur de Bruxelles, qui met à disposition 40 bureaux et 4 salles de réunions.

2. Un service d’appui aux Entreprises ( S.A.E.) qui accompagne les sociétés le marché belge par le biais de travaux sur mesure: missions commerciales, études de marché, création d’entreprises, implantation, etc.

3. Un Club Affaires de 260 sociétés membres, qui permet aux adhérents de la CCI FB de se rencontrer et de nouer des contacts professionnels lors de ses 20 évènements annuels à caractère économique, commercial, politique et social.

La CCI FRANCE BELGIQUE à organisé tout récemment  à la Chapelle Reine Elisabeth l’élection des nouveaux membres suivants:

Agnès OGIER, CEO de Thalys, Alexis Brouhns, Directeur Général Europe de Solvay et Rémy BOSSERT, Président de l’Association pour la promotion de l’Alsace.

 Patrick GRIGNARD