EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.

EU News: To mark ‘European 112 Day’ (11 February), the European Commission urged Member States to step up their efforts to increase public awareness of the existence of ‘112’, which can be used in all EU Member States toreach emergency services.  A 75% of EU citizens still do not know this life-saving number.
 
Member States are further required to improve the accuracy & reliability of caller location information under the new EU telecoms rules, which must be implemented into national law by 25 May 2011 (see MEMO/09/568).
Press release (includes several links) ~ Video to raise awareness of 112
 
EU News: Access to credit is a major concern for many EU companies, in particular for SMEs and for entrepreneurs who want to start their own business or get new projects off the ground.  Without financing, companies & entrepreneurs can lose out on important employment opportunities.  This has become even more worrying in the current economic context.

That is why the European Commission has, jointly with the European Investment Fund (EIF), launched the first EU microfinance project in the Netherlands.  As part of the EU's Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable & inclusive growth, the EU Microfinance Facility is one of the concrete actions taken at European level to address the consequences of the crisis (IP/09/1070)
Press release ~ European Progress Microfinance Facility ~ Microfinancing in the Netherlands
 
EU News: The European Commission has requested Spain to amend its tax provisions on inheritance & gift tax that impose a higher tax burden on non-residents and on assets held abroad.  The provisions are incompatible with the free movement of workers and capital as provided for by the Treaty.  The request takes the form of a complementary ‘reasoned opinion’.  If there is no satisfactory response within 2 months, the Commission may decide to refer the case to the EU's Court of Justice.
Press release and links
 
EU News: The European Commission has asked the UK to change provisions in its legislation that exempt some maintenance & repair activities from the application of the EU directive on protection of workers from asbestos.

UK authorities do not comply with 3 clear obligations, undermining the protection foreseen by EU law for workers exposed to asbestos.  The request takes the form of a reasoned opinion under EU infringement procedures.  The UK now has 2 months to bring its legislation into line with EU law.  Otherwise, the Commission may decide to refer the UK to the EU's Court of Justice.
Press release and links
 
EU News: A scientist supported by the European Union's Marie Curie research fund has found new evidence that a specific 'asthma gene' is a cause of the respiratory condition in children.  The young German scientist, Michaela Schedel, believes that her findings could change our understanding of childhood asthma and lead to new treatments for the potentially fatal condition, which affects 100m people in Europe and three times as many worldwide.
Press release and links
 
EU News: The European Commission has formally requested the UK to amend two discriminatory anti-abuse tax regimes which concern the ‘transfer of assets abroad and attribution of gains to members of non-UK resident companies’.  The requests take the form of Reasoned Opinions.  In the absence of a satisfactory response within 2 months, the Commission may refer the UK to the European Court of Justice.
Press release and links
 
EU NewsSix substances of very high concern will be banned within the next 3 to 5 years unless an authorisation has been granted to individual companies for their use.  These substances are carcinogenic, toxic for reproduction or persist in the environment and accumulate in living organisms.

Operators wishing to sell or use these substances will need to demonstrate that the required safety measures have been taken to adequately control the risks, or that the benefits for the economy & society outweigh the risks. Where feasible alternative substances or techniques exist, a timetable for substitution will also have to be submitted.
Press release and links
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