European Union News - Internal Market

In 2008, EU27 external trade in services recorded a surplus of 78.4 billion euro, compared with a surplus of 86.9 bn in 2007 and a surplus of 71.4 bn in 2006, according to latest Eurostat release.

The European Commission has closed a four-year antitrust investigation into U.S. chipset maker Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) without levying a fine or absolving the company. The commission, the European Union's regulatory arm, said companies that objected to Qualcomm's pricing for its technology have all withdrawn their complaints or are planning to withdraw them.

The current crisis is taking its toll on EU labour markets, reversing most of the employment growth achieved since 2000. Men, young people, the low-skilled and workers on temporary contracts have borne the brunt of the employment contraction. Employment in the EU has shrunk by over 4 million jobs since the start of the crisis, although the effect has been somewhat mitigated thanks to the use of shorter working hours and other schemes. But these short term measures, however important, are not in themselves sufficient to ensure a successful exit from the crisis. Employment policies must focus on preparing for the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The European Commission will tonight present awards to European companies and public authorities for outstanding achievements in environmental management. The annual European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) Awards celebrate and promote best practice in managing the environment. The award ceremony will take place at the National Museum of Sweden in Stockholm

The European Commission has created an information network for exchange of data accessible from the Internet, allowing inter-administrative cooperation in the internal market, by allowing direct communication electronically.  It will be through an r ed European authorities and the development of an electronic multilingual information exchange.

The economic crisis has left many countries with budget deficits well over the 3% of Gross Domestic Product limit, a data that would have been unthinkable in most countries a year ago. The commission is proposing deadlines for reducing the gaps.

Experts on reuse of public sector information will share their experiences on November 24 in a meeting in Stockholm (Sweden) unther the theme "Stimulating PSI Re-use: European Progress".

In connection with the EU–India Summit, a Business Summit between the EU and India was held in New Delhi on Friday 6 November. European participants included Sweden’s Minister for Trade Ewa Björling, EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton and business leaders.

A plan to create a micro-finance to help people at risk of losing their jobs to start their own micro-enterprises was backed by the Employment and Social Affairs Committee on Thursday, but MEPs rejected the funding arrangements proposed by the European Commission.

Europeans will be able to pay their bills by direct debit from anywhere in the EU. A scheme that lets companies withdraw payments directly from a customer’s account in another EU country has been launched. Holiday home owners, students and retirees living abroad are among those who stand to benefit.

Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina must catch up on the reforms needed to qualify for a short-stay visa waiver like those of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, said Civil Liberties Committee MEPs. The European Commission should report on the two countries' progress early in 2010, and also start a dialogue on visas with Kosovo, they added.