EU Update
January 2008
Transparency of institutional investors debate
Eurosif will play a key role in the hearing the European Parliament Legal Affairs Committee is organising on “Transparency of institutional investors" on February 25th & 26th, 2008. Eurosif can provide a unique point of view within this debate based on years of experience in promoting responsible investment among institutional investors.
European Commission supports renewable energy & clean production technologies
The European Commission has agreed on a package of proposals to fight climate change and promote renewable energy. These measures will dramatically increase the use of renewable energy in each country and set legally enforceable targets for governments to achieve them. All major CO2 emitters will be given an incentive to develop clean production technologies through a thorough reform of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) that will impose an EU-wide cap on emissions. The package seeks to deliver the European Union to reduce greenhouse gases by at least 20% and increases to 20% the share of renewable energies in the energy consumption by 2020.
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/climate_actions/index_en.htm
Commission proposes measures for more cross-border investment by venture capital funds
Up to now venture capital funds, which are vitally important for the financing of growing innovative small companies, face too many problems to overcome different national regulations for cross-border fundraising and investment, and they often do not reach the necessary critical mass. The European Commission advocates a broad partnership with and between Member States to work towards mutual recognition of the current national frameworks for venture capital funds.
*Eurosif’s VC4S Report was used as a source in compiling this EU initiative
