Publication of the European Commission’s evaluation of the 2009/81/EC Directive has been delayed, the EC says, but the report will be ready before the end of the year. The document, which will be submitted to the European Parliament and the European Council, examines whether the directive’s objectives are being met. At the end of February 2016 the EC sent administrative letters.....All member states have responded.
Two commissions have described forced technology transfers in China as a critical policy tool for both defence and civilian use. The latest report by the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property has described an increase in theft and compulsory technology transfer in China….
Omani contractors undertaking government-funded infrastructure projects are finding the Sultanate’s mandatory Partnership for Development programme hard to fathom. The Oman Society of Contractors, an umbrella group of local construction contractors, has expressed reservations about the policy.
Over the last year South Africa has completely overhauled its broad-based black economic empowerment (“B-BBEE”) policies. The most significant changes include the criminalisation of fronting practices, the establishment of the B-BBEE Commission, and the promulgation of the new B-BBEE regulations which came into force on June 6th, 2016.
Transparency International has completed an evaluation of the functioning and impact of Directive 2009/81/EC across 20 EU states. The document identifies what TI sees as positive and negative practices, trends in the use of the security interest exemption. TI focuses on its perception that defence procurement lends itself to corrupt measures.