ESMA’s work relating to collective investment management covers principally the Directives on Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) and Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFMD), as well as the Regulations on Money Market Funds, European Venture Capital Funds (EuVECA), European Social Entrepreneurship Funds (EuSEF) and European Long-term Investment Funds (ELTIFs). IMSC’s work with respect to these legal frameworks covers such issues as marketing and distribution, conduct of business, product disclosures and transparency, valuation, eligible assets, asset safekeeping and risk management.

The purpose of the CWG is to provide technical assistance to ESMA in relation to the IMSC’s work, CWG members are selected for a renewable term of two years. ESMA invites interested experts to send their application by 17 March 2021 through the EU survey.

On Friday 12 February, Europol’s Executive Director, Catherine De Bolle welcomed Vittorio Rizzi, Deputy Director-General of Police and Director of the Criminal Police in Italy, to Europol’s headquarters. Together they chaired the fourth Working Group on COVID-19 Crime Threats and Law Enforcement Responses.

As the pandemic has changed the landscape of crime, law enforcement has had to adapt their approaches to the accelerated shifts in criminal modi operandi and market focus. The COVID-19 chiefs of police working group is an important initiative for law enforcement agencies to work together in monitoring the situation and coordinating the appropriate responses.

European chiefs of police from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and INTERPOL joined the virtual meeting to discuss the latest developments in criminality related to COVID-19 and the priorities of the working group.  

Some of the priority areas discussed:

• the risks of criminals taking advantage of vaccination campaigns rolling out across the world to sell fake vaccines. Although still limited, some offers of fake vaccines have appeared on the dark web; 
• the online sexual exploitation of minors remains a great concern given the increase in  the production and distribution online of child sexual abuse materials during the pandemic; 
• fraud schemes are likely to proliferate and intensify due to the economic hardship imposed by the pandemic. As unprecedented financial efforts are made in the EU to boost economic recovery, law enforcement agencies remain strongly committed to preventing and fighting financial and economic crime. 

Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime and other serious and organised forms of crime. We also work with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer. In 2019, Europol supported 1 874 international operations.

Related publications:

Europol early warning notification: The illicit sales of false negative covid-19 test certificates (02/02/2021)
Europol early warning notification: Vaccine-related crime during the covid-19 pandemic (04/12/2020)
Europol report: How COVID-19-related crime infected Europe during 2020. (12/11/2020)
 

February 15, 2021 EU Intellectual Property Network

Virtual meeting with INPI Portugal

The Executive Director of the EUIPO, Christian Archambeau, held a virtual meeting with the President of the Directive Council of the Portuguese Institute of Industrial Propriety (INPI), Ana Bandeira.

During the meeting, discussions focused on the success of the cooperation activities between the EUIPO and the Portuguese office, within the scope of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPN). The virtual meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views and to discuss about the future cooperation initiatives of both offices.

The initial results of the recently launched SME Fund and the implementation of the SME programme under the EUIPO’s Strategic Plan 2025 were also part of the agenda topics.

The Deputy Executive Director of the EUIPO, Andrea Di Carlo, the Head of Cabinet, Ursula Schildt, the Director of International Cooperation and Legal Affairs, João Negrão, and the Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Area, Sandris Laganovskis, also attended the meeting.

The exchange also addressed the needs of INPI in the context of the current Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU, which will run until 30 June 2021.

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• The EIB is providing €50 million to Forsee Power to help create a European battery champion.
• This second loan – following an initial €20 million granted in late 2017 under the Juncker Plan – will finance the expansion of the company’s range of products for 100% battery-powered, hydrogen hybrid and thermal hybrid vehicles.
• It will facilitate product development for new markets and strengthen Forsee Power’s manufacturing capacity.

Forsee Power – the smart battery systems for the electromobility markets expert – has announced the conclusion of €105 million in financing to support its expansion into new electromobility markets and regions. This includes a €50 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Confidence in electromobility to mitigate climate change

The signature of this loan confirms the European Union’s determination to act via the EIB to help create a European battery champion and develop the market helping to cut CO₂ emissions to benefit the climate. It comes in addition to significant financing secured by Forsee Power shareholders and banks in 2020. This substantial total contribution of €105 million has already made it possible to launch the development of new ultra-thin batteries and to increase the industrial performance of its plant near Poitiers in France. It will also enable the long-term development of commercial activities in new market segments and the continuation of the Group’s research and development efforts.

Forsee Power CEO Christophe Gurtner was proud to highlight that the company “has the transport market’s most complete range of batteries and has already signed major battery supply contracts with leading bus manufacturers including CNHI (Iveco, Heuliez), Alstom (Aptis), CaetanoBus in Portugal and Wrightbus in the United Kingdom.” The Group is also establishing a presence in the rail (Alstom/TER Regiolis and SOCOFER) and industrial vehicle (Kubota) markets.

“This financing is a great opportunity for the Group to consolidate its expertise and expand its smart and sustainable battery system ranges. Electric transport shouldn’t just be the future when it can be a reality today. It is the only way to achieve the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement.”

“Climate and innovation investments were at the heart of our strategy in 2020 and we are pleased to once again support Forsee Power’s development after initial financing in late 2017 under the Juncker plan,” said EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle. “We are convinced that the electromobility sector can constantly reinvent itself and become ever more efficient, and we want to support this extremely buoyant European market.”

Supporting Forsee Power’s growth

The Group supplies sustainable, high-performance batteries for original equipment manufacturers around the world, to equip light electric vehicles (LEVs), commercial vehicles, buses, non-road vehicles, rail vehicles and marine vessels (excluding cars – automobile manufacturers generally make their own battery systems). With its longstanding Industrial Tech operations, Forsee Power also designs battery systems for portable industrial technologies including medical and well-being technologies, robotics, household appliances and safety devices.

The €50 million EIB loan will finance the strategic development of the Forsee Power Group through the expansion of its range of products for 100% battery-powered, hydrogen hybrid and thermal hybrid vehicles. The Group will therefore be able to strengthen its range of battery systems in the market segments already covered and develop products for new markets, such as non-road vehicles (construction and agricultural vehicles) and light urban utility vehicles.

It will also make it possible to increase manufacturing capacity and provide working capital to meet existing orders, and will provide greater market scope via increased marketing and sales spending. With an installed production capacity of 1 GWh expandable to 4 GWh, Forsee Power is well positioned to support the electrification of all modes of transport.

About Forsee Power

Forsee Power is a French industrial group specialising in smart battery systems for sustainable electric transport (LEVs, trucks, buses, trains and marine vessels).

A major player in Europe, Asia, and North America, the Group designs, assembles and supplies energy management systems based on the most robust cells available on the market, as well as providing installation, commissioning and on-site or remote maintenance.

Forsee Power also offers financing solutions (battery rental) and second life solutions for transport batteries.