European Union News

The Council of the EU reinforced EU restrictive measures with regard to Iran in response to serious human rights violations and approved the implementation legislation as of 24 of March for the most recent EU restrictive measures in response to the Iranian nuclear programme. With regard to Belarus, Ministers strengthened restrictive measures against those responsible for the repression of civil society in that country.

According to the European Commission, if adopted as a new own resource of the EU budget the financial transaction tax (FTT), it will reduce Member States' GNI contributions to the EU budget by 50%. According to the estimates presented by the European Commission, Member States' contributions would be slashed by €54 billions in 2020.

Following a discussion of the outstanding issues, the majority of the delegations at the Transport Council meeting, could accept the general approach on new guidelines defining a long-term strategy for the development of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). In addition, the Council also stated its position on the draft regulation on a revision of the 1996 directive on groundhandling services at airports.

According to a Eurobarometer survey, 73% of Europeans think that the EU should propose additional measures to address water problems in Europe, and 68% of citizens think that water-related problems as droughts, floods and chemical pollution are serious. In addition, heavier fines for polluters, a fairer pricing policy or financial incentives (tax breaks or subsidies) also gained support as possible solutions.

The main message delivered by the Committee of the Regions at the Fifth European Summit of Regions and Cities is the importance of sustainable development and green growth in Europe's cities and regions to overcome the crisis, not just to fight climate change. The CoR also stressed the need for a coherent and integrated EU policy for urban areas together with a genuine multi-level approach.

Internal Market Committee voted in favour of a draft regulation to modernise the European standarisation process. MEPs agree that using common standards reduces sales costs and helps to ensure that the EU single market works smoothly.

In a vote on budget guidelines negotiated by Parliament's political bodies, MEPs confirmed that the European Parliament should freeze in real terms its budget for 2013. In addition, a majority of committee members pointed that substantial savings could be made by having only one work place instead of three (Brussels, Strasbourg, Luxembourg).

The European Commission published its figures that show an increase around 3% above its share in 2000 in global trade with mechanical engineering products. The figures also show that the EU successfully expanded their market shares although emerging competitors tapped into the market.

MEPs at the Environment Committee adopted a resolution in which call for setting up as a high political priority restoring ecosystems after knowing the EU has failed to meet its 2010 biodiversity target. In addition, they also stress that the CAP is not only a tool for food provision and rural development, but also for biodiversity conservation.

MEPs at the Civil Liberties Committee endorsed the proposal which aims to step up the EU's role in providing international protection. Once definitively adopted, Member States will see an increase of the support through a new joint resettlement programme to take up refugees.

The European Commission presented specific measures to increase the protection of posted workers, specially to address issues of abuse where workers do not enjoy their full rights in terms of pay or holidays. The measures proposed do not change 1996 Directive's provisions, they only aim to improve the way such Directive is applied in practice. The Commission also adopted a new regulation to show that workers' rights and their freedom to strike are on an equal footing with the freedom to provide services.

The European Commission presented a proposal which aims to ensure that all companies (both European and non-European firms) are on an equal footing when it comes to competing for business in the EU's lucrative public procurement market. According to the Commission, the main objective of the initiative is to help open worldwide public procurement markets and to ensure European businesses have fair access to them.