Study on assessing the independence and effectiveness of National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) in the field of energy

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Spark Legal Network, in collaboration with Groningen Centre of Energy Law and Trinomics BV, is carrying out the study on “Assessing the independence and effectiveness of National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) in the field of energy”.

The general objective of the study is to assess the independence of the national regulatory authorities in the field of energy and their effectiveness in performing key identified tasks in the following 12 Member States: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Spain. The outcome of the study will analyse the implementation practice and focus on issues encountered by NRAs both as regards their independence and their effectiveness. The study will strive to identify for each issue their causes and consequences.

The study is expected to last 10 months. For further information about this project, please get in touch via email.

Study to support the review of Directive 2003/98/EC on the re-use of public sector information

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Spark Legal Network, in collaboration with Deloitte, Open Evidence, WIK Consult and time.lex, has been carrying out the study to support the review of Directive 2003/98/EC on the re-use of public sector information, for the European Commission (DG CONNECT). The study involves the evaluation of the functioning of the PSI Directive based on the state of play regarding the re-use of public sector information in the 28 EU MS. It also includes an evaluation of the changes introduced by revision of the PSI Directive in 2013 and the interplay between the PSI Directive and other relevant pieces of legislation, such as the INSPIRE Directive. Based on the results of the evaluation, the study also assesses the expected impact of a limited number of policy options, and compares the different options.

For further information about this project, please get in touch via email.

Publication of the Final Report of the study “An evaluation of the anti-doping laws and practices in the EU Member States in light of the General Data Protection Regulation”.

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Tilburg University Institute for Law Technology and Society, and Spark Legal Network have completed the study “An evaluation of the anti-doping laws and practices in the EU Member States in light of the General Data Protection Regulation” for DG for Education and Culture. This study examined the relationship between anti-doping laws and practices in the EU and the European data protection framework, in particular the General Data Protection Regulation.

The research involved the conduct of legal desk research by national legal experts on the national laws regarding anti-doping and data protection in each of the 28 Member States. In addition, the study team interviewed the NADOs (National Anti-Doping Organisations) of 12 selected countries, a DPA (Data Protection Authority), WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency), EU Athletes, and one IF (International Federation).

Based on the results of the above research, the study team developed conclusions and provided recommendations regarding different possibilities to be explored in order to address the issue of the protection of personal data in the current system of anti-doping.

Call for applications for the FCP Annual Training on Competition Law and Economics 2017/2018, Second Edition

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The Florence Competition Programme (FCP), formerly known as ENTraNCE, is a project of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence (Italy).

The FCP Annual Training targets in particular:

– Officials from National Competition Authorities and National Regulatory Authorities
– Practicing lawyers
– Economic consultants
– In-house legal counsels, managers and experts in public affairs

The main features of the programme:
– Advanced training on recent developments in competition law and economics
– 3 short residential training blocks (Thursday-Saturday morning) at the EUI campus, surrounded by the beautiful Tuscan hills near Florence
– Classes taught by leading academics and practitioners in the field of competition law and economics
– Interactive classes, including frontal lectures, group exercises and mock cases
– Online activities between the residential blocks
– Diploma released by the European University Institute, a unique international academic institution specialized in post-graduate studies

Online applications are open until 30th June 2017.

For further information concerning the FCP Annual Training, please visit our webpage.

New Study – Operational restrictions in the retail sector

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Spark, in collaboration with London Economics and Valdani, Valdani & Associati (VVA Europe) and GDCC, has begun a study on operational restrictions in the retail sector, for the European Commission (DG GROW). The study will involve the identification, mapping and describing of national and regional regulations that may have a negative impact on daily operations of retail companies in the 28 EU Member States and Norway.

 For further information about this project, please get in touch via email.

New Study – Assessment of the regulatory aspects affecting the collaborative economy in the tourism accomodation sector in the 28 EU Member States

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Spark, in collaboration with Valdani, Vicari & Associati (VVA Europe), has begun a study on the assessment of the regulatory aspects affecting the collaborative economy in the tourism accommodation sector in the 28 Member States, for the European Commission (DG GROW). The study will involve the mapping of the regulatory environment at national level, a legal assessment of the regulatory framework, the creation of an openness scoring, market case studies and the development of best practices in the sector.  The results of the study are expected in September 2017.

 For further information on collaborative economy regulatory issues at the EU or Member State level, or to enquire about this project, please get in touch via email.

New Study – Evaluation of the Ten-E Regulation and assessing the impacts of alternative policy scenarios

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Spark will perform a quality assurance role on an evaluation and impact assessment concerning the TEN-E Regulation, which was recently awarded by DG ENTR to a consortium led by Trinomics. The general objective of the study is twofold. First, it is to provide the Commission with an independent evaluation of the Regulation, in particular collecting evidence where the PCI framework may not be delivering as expected. Second, it is to assist the Commission in assessing the impacts of a number of alternative policy scenarios in the framework of Trans-European Energy Networks. The study is expected to last 12 months.

 

Support study for impact assessment concerning the review of Merger Regulation regarding minority shareholdings

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The European Commission has published a study conducted by Spark Legal Network and the University of Queen Mary concerning the review of the Merger Regulation regarding minority shareholdings. The study involved the assessment of the features of a certain number of national merger control regimes, which provide for the control of minority shareholdings´ acquisitions; and research on rights attached to different levels of minority shareholdings. On the basis of the data collected, the study analyses the modalities of merger control of minority acquisitions in the various jurisdictions, in order to present important considerations which any EU regime being designed should consider. Finally, the study considers whether it is possible to define a level below which shareholding might be generally considered to be passive.

For further information please see the link:  http://ec.europa.eu/competition/publications/reports/KD0416839ENN.pdf

Study on data protection issues related to anti-doping in sport

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Spark, in collaboration with Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology and Society (TILT) has begun a study on data protection rules related to anti-doping in sport. The goal of this study is to assist the Commission (DG EAC) in providing guidance to Member States to adopt or revise existing national legislation on anti-doping in sport to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation. This objective will be achieved through an inventory of current legislation in all EU Member States, an analysis of personal data processing practices in Anti-Doping in sport, the identification of gaps with respect to the lawful processing of personal data in this context and provide guidance in closing these gaps through regulatory action. The results of the study are expected in Spring 2017.

For further information on data protection issues at the EU or Member State level, or to enquire about the contract, please get in touch via email.

Our DG Ener study on risk preparedness is published!

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Good news! Our final report for the study on risk preparedness of electricity supply (ENER/B4/2015623), conducted by VVA Europe and Spark Legal Network, has been published. It can be found and downloaded here (DG ENER website).

For any questions or comments, please contact the Spark team at info@sparklegalnetwork.eu.