European Union News - 2008

The Directorate-General for Energy and Transport of the European Commission and the TEN-T EA wish to have a framework contract that would allow a swift and efficient way to strengthen its capacity to follow up a number of major EU-funded projects for the deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System along key European corridors (ERTM).

A new version of the "Guide to Cost-Benefit Analysis of Investment Projects" has been published by the DG Regional Policy. The guide has been prepared by the Commission and it is particularly addressed to people working on cost-benefit analysis of "major projects" co-financed by EU funds in the framework of Cohesion Policy. It provides useful methodological guidance to project promoters in the Member States and candidate countries. At the same time, it serves as a reference to Commission officials involved in the appraisal of "major projects".

The Commission of the European Communities has presented a proposal for  a Council Decision authorising the Italian Republic to apply a measure derogating from Article 285 of Council Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax (COM(2008) 404 final)

The Commission adopted on July 2nd, a proposal for a directive which provides for protection from discrimination on grounds of age, disability, sexual orientation and religion or belief beyond the workplace. This new directive would ensure equal treatment in the areas of social protection, including social security and health care, education and access to and supply of goods and services which are commercially available to the public, including housing.

The European Commission has adopted Guidelines on the application to maritime transport services of EC Treaty rules on restrictive business practices. Those Guidelines will help maritime operators understand the implications of this change, and provide details on market definition, information exchange in liner shipping and on operational co-operation agreements between tramp operators (i.e. unscheduled maritime transport of non-containerised bulk cargo), so-called pool agreements.

The Interim Agreement (IA) with Bosnia and Herzegovina has entered into force since 1st July 2008. The IA effectively creates a free trade area, with progressive opening of the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina facilitating economic and social development. The two sides signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) and the IA on 16 June in Luxembourg. Until the ratification process is finalised the trade provisions of the SAA are applied through the IA.

The European Parliament and the Council adopted on June 30th the joint Decision No 626/2008/EC on the selection and authorisation of systems providing mobile satellite services (MSS). The introduction of new systems providing MSS will contribute to the development of the internal market and enhance competition by increasing the availability of pan-European services and end-to-end connectivity as well as encouraging efficient investment.

The European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA) launched the procurement of the first complete constellation of the European satellite navigation system. A total of 30 dedicated navigation satellites will be put into space, monitored and controlled by a ground-based infrastructure which will be deployed around the world, with the main control centres in Europe.

On the 1th July 2008, the European Commission published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ), Prior notification of a concentration between Hewlett-Packard Company (‘HP’, USA) and Electronic Data Systems Corporation (‘EDS’, USA) by way purchase of shares. It is published following the notification received on 19 June 2008 by the Commission.

With this agreement the two carriers will combine in an all-stock transaction with a combined enterprise value of $17.7 billion, creating America’s premier global airline.

With this Agreement Albania will be able to take part in the framework of the European Charter for Small Enterprises by making direct ties with EU Member States and learning from good practice in promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in all its various forms. This will strengthen Albania's own policy and delivery capability for the benefit of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Following Slovenia in the first half of the year, France takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2008.