European Union News - 21 March 2011

The European Railway Agency (ERA) issued on 21 March its Technical opinion regarding the safety related aspects of the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) conclusions on the operation of rolling stock in the tunnel. The European Commission has welcomed this technical opinion as it paves the way to introduce more competition in the Channel Tunnel, ensuring the highest level in safety standards.

Although all Member states are currently experiencing difficult situations due to the economic crisis, the new Internal Market Scoreboard shows that most Member States are effectively transposing internal market provisions into national law. According to the Scoreboard, most Member states are meeting the target set by Heads of State and Government about the amount  Internal Market Directives for which the implementation deadline has passed, which stands at 0.9%.

The European Economic and Social Committee has suggested in its opinion on energy supply and neighbourhood policy, that the European Union should consider the security of its energy supply as one of the priorities of its external policy. In this opinion, the Committee came out in favour of appointing a high representative for energy policy to ensure that Europe speaks with one voice in this area.

In view of the recent events which were taking place in Libya, following UN Security Council Resolution 1973 from 18 March, and give that Colonel Gaddafi's disregard of international community's claims, world leaders met in Paris on 19 March in a Summit in order to study the decide of further steps to take. Participants expressed that, while contributing in differentiated way to the implementation of UNSCR 1973, they are determined to act collectively and resolutely to give full effect to these decisions. Within this context, the European Union is ready to implement Resolution 1973 within its mandate and competences.