EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.

EU News: The EU's Justice Commissioner has welcomed an announcement by Spain that it intends to improve legal certainty for property owners along the Spanish coast which have been affected by the Coastal Law. The Coastal Law (Ley de Costas) aims to protect local habitats by designating an area along the entire coastline as a public domain.
 
A new draft law (an English summary of the proposal is now available on the website of the Spanish Ministry for Environment) would extend the period of the existing concession to enjoy possession of properties built in the protected zone (public domain) from 30 years to 75 years.  It would also introduce the possibility to sell this interest in the property (subject to prior authorisation), and to renovate the buildings situated in this zone, as long as this would not imply a change in the volume, height or surface of the property.
 
In addition, the public administration will be obliged to register the definitive & provisional demarcation line in the property register, so that purchasers will be better informed about whether the property is situated in a protected area and the exact location & extension of this area. The demarcation lines will also be published on the website of the Spanish Ministry for Environment. Citizens can comment on the draft by email.
Press release & links
 
EU NewsImproved rules on the collection & treatment of e-waste (WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU) entered into force recently.  E-waste (i.e. waste electrical & electronic equipment, or WEEE) is one the fastest growing waste streams, and it offers substantial opportunities in terms of making secondary raw materials available on the market.
 
Systematic collection & proper treatment is a precondition for recycling materials like gold, silver, copper & rare metals in used TVs, laptops & mobile phones. The new Directive is a clear step forward in terms of environmental protection and a major boost to resource efficiency in Europe.
Press release & links
 
EU News: So far, over 5,500 EU-citizens have participated in one of the broadest web based consultations (closes on 9 September 2012) in the EU's history on citizens' rights and the future of Europe – the latest Commission figures released recently show.  

On 9 May (Europe Day) the European Commission called on citizens all over the European Union to help set the policy agenda for the years to come and shape the future of Europe (IP/12/461).
Press release & links
 
EU News: The European Commission has published a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the application of EU antitrust rules in the motor vehicle sector.  The FAQs provide stakeholders with guidance on how the Commission applies these rules, in particular in the markets for repair & maintenance services and spare parts.
Press release & links
 
EU News: The European Commission is proposing to create a digital seabed map of European waters (by 2020) by collecting all existing data into one coherent database accessible to everyone. In a Green Paper on ‘Marine Knowledge’ adopted last week the Commission launched a consultation as to how this could be achieved.
 
It poses a number of questions such as ‘how can ongoing efforts in Member States be incorporated into a common EU effort?’, ‘how can new cheaper observation technologies be developed?’ and ‘how can the private sector contribute?’  The consultation closes on 15 December 2012..
Press release & links
 
BIS: New measures to deliver greater clarity & transparency on consumer rights, that will help boost the confidence of both consumers and businesses, have been published in a consultation (closes on 1 November 2012) on the Consumer Rights Directive – See ‘Consultations’ section for more information.
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