European Union News - 25 February 2011

The European Commission has published an evaluation of the agreement to ensure a minimum level of protection against stress at work, concluding that it has had positive effects where implemented. In particular, employers' and workers' efforts have led to policy developments in 12 Member States where little had been done before. Although the agreement has not been implemented evenly in all countries, 19 Member States now have legislation or binding collective agreements that address stress or other psychological risks at work.

EU ministers in charge of Justice and Home Affaits meeting in Brussels on 24 February 2011, debated over the Commission communication on the European Union internal security strategy in action, reaching a series of conclusions regarding this text. In their remarks, ministers underlines that any response to EU's main threats must respect its common values, including the protection and promotion of fundamental rights within the Union and in its relations with the wider world.

The European Commission has adopted on 25 February a proposal to interconnect business registers within the EU, which aims to facilitate cross-border electronic access to business information, by ensuring business registers are updated, and business information is more easily and readily accessible.  These changes are crucial for companies when setting up branches, conducting cross-border trade or providing cross-border services in the EU.