European Union News

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has issued two opinions for improving the single market for services and for regarding the problem of cross-border tax obstacles. Both opinions aim to reduce the number of cross border difficulties experienced by European citizens and businesses alike.

The European Commission calls on EU Member States to develop and pursue a common vision on how to coordinate research at EU level in the field of ageing. The call has as main objective a Joint Programming Initiative on ageing populations focuses in research areas in order to help older people remain active for as long as possible, in good health and with a better quality of life and how to make our future care systems sustainable.

The European Commission published a Recommendation in which considers that access to a basic payment account will promote financial and social inclusion for consumers across Europe. According to the Commission, the access to a bank account has become a pre-condition for participating fully in the economic and social life of a modern society.

The European Ombudsman’s concluded after his investigation into a complaint by an NGO about Special Adviser to former Commissioner Kuneva, that the European Commission should improve its rules for the handling of possible conflicts of interest involving the tasks of Special Advisers and their outside activities. The Ombudsman also advised the Commission on how to improve the rules.

According to the European Commission, European researchers, engineers and entrepreneurs must have easy and fast access to scientific information, to compete on an equal footing with their counterparts across the world. Therefore, they are invited as well as all other interested parties to send their contributions on how to improve access to scientific information.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held on 14 July a debate on the Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-2020 with the European Commission. Among the conclusions drawn from the debate, EESC members consider that the EU should aim to drastically reduce administrative burden.

The European Commission has launched a pilot Partnership with the aim to enhance European competitiveness while tackling societal challenges by bringing together key stakeholders from the demand and supply side. The initiative is part of the preparatory work for the 2012, European Year for Active Ageing.

The European Commission proposes to reduce the sulphur content of shipping fuels in order to lower sulphur dioxide emissions by up to 90%, and fine particle emissions by up to 80%. According to the Commission, the benefits for public health will be between €15 and 34 billion, far exceeding the expected costs, which are in the range of €2.6 to 11 billion.

According to the European Economic and Social Committee members, the new financial products and a fragmented market have created a confusing situation for consumers. Therefore, the EESC wants to create a new framework whereby consumers and borrowers are aware of which products they engage in and their rights and remain fully protected, especially within the EU mortgage market.

The European Commission published a Green Paper which has as main goal how to shape a more targeted and more ambitious strategy for the future, which will make clearer to consumers – both in the EU and beyond - the quality, traditions and added-value of European agricultural and food products.

New EU telecoms rules, requires operators and Internet service providers to inform, without undue delay, national authorities and their customers about breaches of personal data that they hold. Thus, the Commission wants to gather input based on existing practice and initial experience with the new telecoms rules and whether additional practical rules are needed to make sure that personal data breaches are notified in a consistent way across the EU.

The Polish Deputy Prime Minister, Waldemar Pawlak insisted at the plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on the need for Europe to have its own "transparent, accountable and responsible" rating agency. He also enjoyed the occasion to present the Polish presidency priorities to the EESC members.