EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
EU News: On 14 January 2011, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) issued an opinion on the Commission's Communication on the review of the EU legal framework for data protection. The Communication is an essential landmark on the way towards a new legal framework that will represent the ‘most important development in the area of EU data protection since the adoption of the EU Data Protection Directive 16 years ago’.
The opinion sets out the EDPS vision for the future framework and proposes a set of recommendations. The EDPS supports the main issues & challenges identified by the Commission, but asks for more ambitious solutions to make the system more effective and give citizens better control over their personal data.
NAO: Amyas Morse, Comptroller & Auditor General, has qualified his audit opinion on the 2008-09 Consolidated Statement on the use of EU Funds in the UK. It reports confirmed financial corrections, or ‘disallowance penalties’, being imposed on the UK by the European Commission of £398m and provisions for further corrections of £601m.
Press release ~ NAO: Consolidated Statement on the Use of EU Funds in the UK for the year ended 31 March 2009
EU News: The European Commission last week published a report on Member States' performance in the prevention & recycling of waste. This shows that some Member States have ‘made excellent progress, but that we are still some way from achieving the long-term goal of becoming a recycling society' – one that not only avoids producing waste, but also uses it as a resource.
EU News: Following the launch of the 3 new European Supervisory Authorities on 1 January 2011 (MEMO/11/1), the Commission now proposes to make targeted changes to legislation in the area of insurance & securities regulation to ensure that the new Authorities can work effectively.
In particular, the proposal sets out in detail the scope for the Authorities to exercise their powers, which include the possibility to develop draft technical standards and to settle disagreements between national supervisors. The proposed directive will now be sent to the Council and the European Parliament for consideration.
In particular, the proposal sets out in detail the scope for the Authorities to exercise their powers, which include the possibility to develop draft technical standards and to settle disagreements between national supervisors. The proposed directive will now be sent to the Council and the European Parliament for consideration.
Newswire – LGA: In an ‘unprecedented move’ the Government plans to make councils pay for fines levied by the EU against the UK for missing national targets on things like improving air quality and boosting recycling rates. The impact on council budgets could be almost immediate.
The Government is already exceeding air pollution targets and has less than a year to get an extension from the EU or face a potential fine of £300m, enough to add £15 to the average annual council tax bill.
The Government is already exceeding air pollution targets and has less than a year to get an extension from the EU or face a potential fine of £300m, enough to add £15 to the average annual council tax bill.
A number of other EU directives, with implications for local government, contain the potential for similar fines. Breaching the air quality limits, alongside a failure to hit targets on waste recycling, procurement and service delivery could see fines in excess of £1bn levied against the UK. The LGA has produced a report on the relationship between Europe and Local Government which sets out how the relationship could be improved - "Knowing me, Knowing EU".
