EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
EU News: The European Commission has recently decided to request Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Luxemburg, Poland, and the UK to implement EU rules on defence products (Directive 2009/43/EC) into national law. The implementation deadline was 30 June 2011.
EU News: The European Commission recently took an important step to protect foreign investors at the EU level, thereby ‘ensuring that Europe continues to be a safe and attractive place for investment by foreign companies’. The recent proposal establishes a legal & financial framework for ‘investor to state dispute settlement’ as part of a broad investment policy which has become an exclusive EU competence under the Lisbon Treaty.
EU News: The Commission believes there has to be a clear longer term vision on the future of the EU's Economic & Monetary Union to give a sense of direction to the reforms & decisions necessary for the EU and its Member States to tackle current challenges.
Therefore, the Commission has been pushing for deeper economic integration as one of the remedies to the current crisis. This new step in European integration would complement our monetary union. In this context, the Commission is putting forward the concept of a banking union.
EU News: The European Parliament and the Council have agreed on new rules aimed at equipping the EU budget with simpler financial rules while ‘securing sound treatment of European taxpayers' money’. The financial regulation can be considered as a cornerstone of the EU legislation since it contains all the principles & rules for the implementation of the EU budget and is applicable to all areas of expenditure and all revenue.
The agreement on the financial regulation paves the way for the adoption of around 70 proposals for sector specific legislative acts covering areas such as agriculture, cohesion policy, research, environment, transport, energy and external aid.
EU News: Since the Lehmann Brothers bankruptcy, the EESC has been calling for more European integration as the only appropriate response to the crisis. Now, after years of ‘inter-governmentalism’ in Europe and with too many small, half-hearted steps, only a true master plan with a clear roadmap attached can save Europe from disintegration and disorder and pave the way for sustainable growth and employment.
Press release & links ~ CH: Crisis-hit eurozone countries need strong conditionality in return for serious money
EU News: The European Commission has called for a European effort to boost Key Enabling Technologies (KETs). The EC has tabled its strategy to boost the industrial production of KETs-based products, in order to ‘keep pace with the EU’s main international competitors and restore growth in Europe.
EU News: Minimum sanctions for tax crimes, a cross-border tax identification number, an EU tax-payer's charter and stronger common measures against tax havens. These are just some of the concrete ideas that the Commission has put forward recently to improve the fight against tax fraud & evasion in the EU. Taking a holistic approach, the recent Communication looks at ways to strengthen current measures and sets out possible new initiatives for eliminating fraud & evasion in Europe.
EU News: European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström and László Andor, the European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, have welcomed the OECD report International Migration Outlook 2012.
The OECD report analyses recent developments in migration movements & policies in OECD countries. It underlines the central role of employment in the process of migrant integration in the host society and the need for concrete integration policies with particular emphasis on education, including language training, and actions promoting labour market integration.
EU News: The 2-year transition period for the organic food sector to comply with new EU labelling rules is reaching its end. As from 1 July 2012, the EU organic logo will be obligatory on all pre-packaged organic food products produced in EU Member States which meet the necessary standards.
The logo will stay optional for non-packed & imported organic products. Other private, regional or national logos will continue to be allowed to appear alongside the EU label.
The logo will stay optional for non-packed & imported organic products. Other private, regional or national logos will continue to be allowed to appear alongside the EU label.
EU News: Euro Area Summit Statement
EU News: From 1 July 2012, using mobile internet to access maps, videos, photos, social networks and email will be much cheaper while travelling in other EU member states.
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