In appointing the auction platforms and the clearing system or settlement system connected to them, account should be taken of the solutions offered by candidates to provide for cost-efficiency, full, fair and equitable access to bid in the auctions for small and medium-sized enterprises and access for small emitters, and robust auction supervision including the provision of an extra-judicial dispute resolution mechanism.

22. Emphasises that access to resources for SMEs, micro enterprises and entrepreneurs is crucial to increasing RD, developing new technologies and getting innovative solutions to the market; in this regard stresses the need for both early stage funding and ongoing funding of sufficiently long duration; highlights, however, that the present venture capital system does not meet the funding needs of the target group, particularly as regards non-technological innovation; calls, therefore, on the Member States to use public funds, including the Structural Funds, to begin establishing risk ...[+++] capital funds in the form of public-private partnerships in regions and fields having innovative potential and a sound knowledge base; urges, furthermore, the Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) to determine suitable ways of funding by adapting venture capital or, if necessary, designing innovative funding instruments;

As far as specific issues are concerned, the Commission has identified, in particular, the following: - adaptability at the workplace, and the potential for developing new forms of employment based on new forms of work organisation - the development of new working time structures able to expand employment opportunities; - the development of training systems and qualifications able to improve integration into the labour market, and ...[+++] anticipate structural change - investigating the scope for reducing labour costs and increasing employment-intensity, notably by modifying the incidence of taxation systems; - the exploitation of the employment growth potential of new areas of work - the environmental industries, the arts, household services etc; - the creation of employment through small businesses, and self- employment, and the role of SMEs generally; - the role of local initiatives and local economic and employment development in strengthening the capacity of areas to create employment; - the role of different agencies and partners in developing efficient external labour markets.

ANNEX I RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL AND OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL, of ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF OLDER WORKERS "THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Whereas demographic changes are causing the job situation of older workers to become a matter of concern in most European countries; Whereas those changes will have major economic and social consequences for expenditure to improve the functioning of the job market, the financing of r ...[+++]etirement pensions and the balance of the age pyramids within undertakings; Whereas Governments, social partners and undertakings should anticipate those changes by placing emphasis on, for example, part-time work, the adjustment of working conditions and vocational training throughout the working life; Having regard to the action already put in hand by Member States in those areas notably in order to eliminate any obstacles to the employment of older workers; Whereas certain early retirement schemes have resulted in several Member States in instability for older workers who have received compensation under varied and changing schemes, and have led to a loss of know-how in undertakings; whereas abolition of official early-retirement schemes would not stem the spate of ever earlier withdrawals from the job market observed in certain Member States; Whereas many Member States have introduced phased retirement schemes, thereby enabling the changeover by older workers to part-time work to be offset by recruitment of persons in difficulty on the job market and young workers; Whereas the organization of work must take into account productivity requirements; Whereas it is important to take account of the availability of financial resources, national priorities and balances within national systems; Whereas account should be taken of ...