The EU Competitiveness Council is meeting in Brussels on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 May under the chairmanship of Mr Andrej Vizjak, Minister for Economy of Slovenia, Mr Gregor Virant, Minister of Public Administration, and Ms Mojca Kucler Dolinar, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Slovenia. The European Commission will be represented by, Vice President Gunter Verheugen, responsible for Enterprise and Industry, Commissioner Charlie McCreevy responsible for the Internal Market and Services, Commissioner Janez Potocnik for Science and Research, Danuta Hubner, Commissioner for Regional Policy and Jan Figel Commissioner for Education, training, culture and youth.

Among the topics to be discussed:

1. A Fresh Impetus for Competitiveness and Innovation of European Industry (TVL).
2. Second Strategic Review of Better Regulation in the European Union (TVL).
3. Enhancing the patent system in Europe (OD).
4. Under Research: Proposal for a Council Regulation setting up the Fuel cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (CR).
5. IP Charter Initiative: Recommendation on the management of intellectual property in knowledge transfer activities and Code of Practice for universities and other public research organisations.
6. Small Business Act for Europe Initiative (TVL)

Small Business Act for Europe Initiative (TVL)

The objective of the Commission in coming forward with a Small Business Act for Europe is to put small and medium sized enterprises at the forefront of decision-making in the EU and to introduce concrete measures to unlock the growth potential for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). It will include new initiatives to:

• Reduce regulatory burden on SMEs.
• Facilitate access to Single Market/public procurement.
• Help provide necessary financial/human resources for SME development.
• Help SMEs face the challenge of globalization and climate change.

The preparation of a "Small Business Act" for Europe is one of the key measures announced in the Commission's package for the next cycle of the Growth and Jobs Strategy adopted last December.2008. Vice President Verheugen will provide Ministers with an update on the preparation of the proposal.

The Council also looked closely at various other topics such as Reducing CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles, a code of conduct for responsible nanosciences and nanotechnologies research and Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) (OD).