European Union News

The European Parliament and the Council negotiators a political agreement on offshore legislation. Among the points agreed, the directive would require oil and gas firms to submit major hazard reports and emergency response plans and prove their ability to remedy any environmental damage caused, before could get a licence to drill. The European Parliament and Council are expected to formally approve the legislation in the coming months.

On 21 February, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) approved the audited Annual Accounts of the ECB for the year ending 31 December 2012. The Governing Council decided to transfer as at 31 December 2012 an amount of €1,166 million to the risk provision, which increased it to the level of its present ceiling of €7,529 million. As a result of the transfer to the risk provision, the ECB’s net profit for 2012 was €998 million (2011: €728 million).

The Civil Liberties Committee in the European Parliament adopted a resolution which calls for annual EU monitoring of member states’ media laws in order to protect media freedom and to help prevent excessive media concentration. MEPs also called for promoting "ethical" journalism in the EU.

The European Space Agency (ESA) welcomed the Council decision to secure the Europe’s Global Monitoring for Environment and Security programme (GMES) EU funding through 2020. Within the new multiannual financial framework, €3786 million was allocated for GMES. ESA highlights that this amount covers GMES Services, In-Situ Component (a network of sensors on the ground, at sea and in the air) and the Space Component, securing funding for the programme’s long-term operational phase.

The European Commission presented a strategy aimed at increasing the competitiveness of European maritime technology. The LeaderSHIP 2020 strategy's recommendations range from the wider use of EU instruments to foster new skills, competence and qualifications, to Public Private Partnerships for new maritime research, EIB funding opportunities and smart specialisation strategies in regional policy.

The European Commission welcomed the adoption of an opinion by the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) on the Commission’s proposals to reform the EU’s data protection rules. According to the Commission, the ITRE Committee backed the main innovations of the Commission's data protection reform.

The European Commission launched a public consultation on its proposal for revised competition regime for technology transfer agreements. The Commission highlights that the proposal aims to update the current regime in order to strengthen incentives for research and innovation, facilitate the diffusion of intellectual property and stimulate competition. Replies to the consultations can be submitted until 17 May 2013.

The European Parliament and the Council negotiators reached a draft deal on the two pack regulations focus on strengthening Commission surveillance of national budgetary and economic policy and further economic policy coordination. The so-called “two-pack” also lays down clear rules for countries seeking EU financial help.

The Communication on Social Investment for Growth and Cohesion calls on member states to prioritise social investment and to modernise their welfare states. The Social Investment Package includes a Commission Recommendation against child poverty, calling for an integrated approach to child-friendly social investment.

The European Commission welcomed the draft report issued by the European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) with regard to the optional EU-wide rules for businesses and consumers who are concluding contracts in the Single Market. According to the Commission, an optional EU-wide contract law would promote growth by making it cheaper for businesses to access new markets and offering consumers a greater choice of products at more competitive prices.

The European Parliament and the Council of Ministers reached a political agreement on a proposal by the European Commission for an EU-wide protection order. The agreement means women who have suffered domestic violence will be able to rely on a restraining order obtained in their home country wherever they are in the EU.

The international agreement for establishing a Unified Patent Court (UPC) was signed on the 19th of February. According to the Council, the new court will avoid the occurrence of multiple court cases with regard to the same patent in different member states. Bulgaria is expected to sign in the coming days once internal procedures have been completed. Poland and Spain did not sign the agreement.