European Union News

As pointed out in its drafted report, the European Parliament believes that lack of trust in the security and safety of transactions and payments constitutes the most important danger for the future of e-commerce. MEPs call on the Commission to investigate the causes and to redouble its efforts to create mechanisms for strengthening businesses' and individuals' trust in international electronic payment systems, as well as establishing suitable means for resolving disputes related to illegal commercial practices.

In a recently adopted report, the European Parliament urges the Commission and Member States to enable EU SMEs to develop in a harmonious manner, gain access to new markets and to expand their export activities and internationalisation. MEPs consider that the internationalisation of SMEs is a primary objective of trade policy and should constitute a cornerstone of the European Small Business Act, and stress the need to improve access to finance, for SMEs, especially to micro-credit, as well as their access to public procurement.

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of joint control of Porterbrook Leasing Company Limited and its subsidiaries (Porterbrook) of the UK by OP Trust Private Markets Group (OP Trust) of Canada, Deutsche Bank AG (DB) of Germany, Lloyds TSB Bank plc of the UK and Antin Infrastructure Partners FCPR, a UK investment fund controlled by BNP Paribas SA (BNP) of France.

The European Commission has adopted the first ever EU Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, which aims to ensure that effective steps are taken to help rebuild shark stocks wherever they are under threat, if necessary on a precautionary basis, and to set down guidelines for the sustainable management of the fisheries concerned, including those where shark are taken as by-catch. The plan also includes measures to improve scientific knowledge of shark stocks and shark fisheries.

The proposal of a Council Decision published in the OJEU on February 5th, follows an initiative of the French Republic, and aims to reinforce cooperation between customs administrations, by laying down procedures under which customs administrations may act jointly and exchange personal and other data concerned with illicit trafficking activities, using new technology for the management and transmission of such information.

This Agreements are the result of the conversations held during the visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to the European Commission. The visit has been instrumental in giving a high-level impulse to bilateral cooperation within the EU-China strategic partnership which the Commission intends to continue to develop and enhance based on mutual interest.

The Official Journal of the European Union, OJEU, published on February, 4th 2009, the Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the European Community, of the Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean. This Protocol aims at implementing coastal management as to ensure sustainable development and integrating all the related economic activities, respecting the ecosystems and landscapes as well as Mediterranean cultural heritage.

The European Parliament adopted in its Plenary Session on January 3rd, a report in which MEPs call call for mandatory emergency action plans in case of gas supply shortages, more grid interconnections among Member States, a specific road map for investments in nuclear energy, and new climate targets to be achieved by 2050, including cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80%. These wide-ranging recommendations would make up the EU's future energy policy.

In the framework of its strategy to better combat tax evasion and fraud, the European Commission adopted on January 30th 2009 two proposals for new Directives aimed at improving mutual assistance between Member States' tax authorities in the assessment and the recovery of taxes. One of the key elements of the proposals is that Member States would no longer be able to invoke bank secrecy in order to refuse cross border co-operation.

The European Commission has authorised under state aid rules of the EC Treaty, a scheme offering reduced-interest loans to businesses investing in the production of green products. The aid, which is one of the measures adopted by France to tackle the current economic crisis, will support businesses faced with financing problems because of the credit squeeze, while at the same time making it easier for them to invest in products with an environmental benefit.

The Official Journal of the European Union, OJEU, has published in February 3rd 2009, Directive 2008/122/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of January 14th, 2009, on the protection of consumers in respect of certain aspects of timeshare, long-term holiday product, resale and exchange contracts. This Directive aims to tackle the existing regulatory gaps which create appreciable distortions of competition and may cause problems for EU consummers.

The European Commission has published a set of Decisions (2009/85/EC, 2009/86/EC and 2009/87/EC) adopted in January 2009, concerning the clearance of the accounts of certain paying agencies in Estonia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Austria, Belgium and Germany concerning expenditure financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), and expenditure in the field of rural development measures, as well as expenditures, financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF). All these Decisions concern the 2007 financial year.