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Europe is lagging behind other global players in terms of research and development (R&D). The business sector in Europe believes that if the EU is to become more competitive globally, more focus needs to be put on innovation. Greater clarity is needed in setting priorities. The most serious problem is that despite funds being allocated to basic research, the results of the research process do not make it to the market. Research and new technologies exist, but there are obstacles preventing them from being brought to customers.

People living in 5 border regions in Greece and 4 regions in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will benefit from a new EU supported cross border programme adopted today. The "Interreg IPA" programme, is worth more than EUR 45 million, with a contribution from the European Union of nearly EUR 39 million from the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA).

The European Commission has selected 30 semi-finalists from over 1400 applicants in the 2015 edition of the European Social Innovation Competition.

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The European Commission has put the final measures in place to kick-start investment in the real economy. A package agreed today will ensure that the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) is up and running by early autumn 2015, keeping the ambitious timetable set by President Jean-Claude Juncker to implement the Investment Plan for Europe.

On 9 July 2014, the European Economic and Social Committee endorsed an opinion on structural reform of banks and called for further action at EU level. In that context, on 8 September 2015, the EESC Section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption will be having a large debate on following topic: A social pact for sustainable finance: stability, growth, new jobs. The objective of this event will be to reflect on a social pact for sustainable finance and to identify how sustainable finance can contribute to stability, growth and new jobs

2015 marks the 25 years of Interreg as an important cornerstone of European cohesion policy. To celebrate this important anniversary, the Interreg community is gathering in Belval, Luxembourg on 15-16 September 2015 for a two days conference: the first part being the annual event, the second part the proper 25 years conference, during which the implementation issues deemed most crucial by the programmes will be discussed.

Labour market developments have been improving against the background of a gradual economic recovery in the EU. Unemployment in the EU has continued to fall and job finding rates have modestly improved. However, despite its recent fall, unemployment remains high. The number of unemployed in the first quarter of 2015 was 23.6 million in the EU. The share of long-term unemployed is on the rise, standing at 4.9% in the first quarter of 2015.

A report published on 14/06 by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) reveals that EU funding for micro-entrepreneurs may not be adequately addressing their needs due to lack of specific needs assessments, proper risk management systems and comparative information on implementation costs.

Two days after an agreement paving the way for a new support programme for Greece, the European Commission revealed plans today to help Greece maximise its use of EU funds. As mandated by the Euro Summit on 12/13 July, this will help mobilise more than €35 billion up to 2020 to support the Greek economy, provided that the conditions agreed upon by the Euro Summit will be met.

KEPA's executives participated in the 12th European Microcredit Network Annual Conference, held in Dublin, on June 18-20, 2015, entitled "Microfinance and Banks: Are we the right partners?".

KEPA's executives have participated in the "2nd European Territorial Cooperation Conference: Launching the Programming Period 2014-2020 - The Challenge of Synergies", which took place on 22nd & 23rd June 2015 in Thessaloniki, Greece (Venue: Makedonia Palace Hotel). 

The event officially launched the INTERREG Programming Period 2014-2020. The goal of the Conference was to present the Programmes Greece is managing (Greece-Bulgaria, Greece-Cyprus, Greece-Italy, Greece-Albania, Greece-the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Balkan-Mediterranean) as well as the Programmes Greece is participating in, to seek synergies  and common ground for capitalization and to pave the way for the 1st Calls for Proposals.

On 10 July 2015 the European Economic and Social Committee organises the closing event of the Social Enterprise project on which it has been working since January 2014. The objective of this event, called "Social Entrepreneurship: Make It Happen! - A Renewed Commitment", will be to give a synoptic view of the work which have been carried out by the EESC project group and to present the results.