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EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
EU News: EU member states will have to share specific information on fraud cases involving EU funds on their territory with the EU Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), under an agreement between the European Parliament, Council and Commission, approved by the Budgetary Control Committee last week.
DECC: Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change, Edward Davey, has welcomed the launch of the 'A world you like. With a climate you like', the European campaign to promote climate action.
EU News: Offshore oil & gas firms would have to submit major hazard reports & emergency response plans before getting a licence to drill under a draft law approved by the Energy Committee last week. Licences would be granted only if the firm could prove it has enough cash to remedy any environmental damage caused. The draft will now be negotiated with the Council.
EU News: EU-wide coordination of national budgetary & economic policies must become more political, democratic, and include more stakeholders, says an Economic & Monetary Affairs Committee opinion evaluating the economic coordination done in 2012. The opinion also calls on national parliaments to play a greater role in this coordination and urges the European Commission to check that countries put its recommendations into effect.
EU News: Anni Podimata (S&D, EL), the MEP spearheading Parliament's position on establishing a financial transaction tax, last week made a statement about the intention of 11 countries to press ahead with the FTT.
HPA: In 2 reports published in Eurosurveillance on 4 October 2012, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) confirms that since the first case of severe respiratory illness associated with a new type of coronavirus was reported on 22 September 2012, there have been no new cases reported in the UK. The patient being treated in the UK with confirmed coronavirus infection continues to receive intensive care treatment in a London hospital.
EU News: The final figures for the budget 2013, as amended by the Budgets Committee, are available. Last Wednesday the Budgets Committee confirmed the outcome of last week's 2013 budget votes in a draft resolution to be put to a plenary vote on 23 October 2012. .
EU News: Citizens, businesses & other stakeholders are being asked for their opinion on certain reduced VAT rates, in a public consultation launched by the Commission last week. They are also asked to consider what a change in EU rules in this area might imply – See ‘Consultations’ section for more information.
