EU News - Internal Market

EU battle against Payment Card Fraud

Payment card fraud has become an increasing criminal phenomenon in Europe. This serious international crime, which can only be tackled successfully by close cooperation between the relevant law enforcement authorities and by coordination and centralisation of all information at European level, has focused the International Conference on Payment Card Fraud held in  Szczytno (Poland).

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EC proposal to harmonize aviation security charges

The European Commission has put forward a proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on aviation security charges, setting the common principles for the levying of security charges at Community airports.

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New Guidelines on co-operation for Accreditation

As part of the process of formal recognition of the European co-operation for accreditation (EA) as the body providing the support infrastructure to the new European accreditation framework, the signing of the general Guidelines for cooperation between the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) and the European Commission, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the competent national authorities took place in Brussels on April 1st 2009. These Guidelines have now been published in the OJEU on May 21st 2009.

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Prior notification on Météo-France/CDC/NYSE Euronext/MetNext concentration operation

The European Commission has published in the Official Journal of the European Union on May 20th 2009 a prior notification of a concentration between the companies Météo-France, CDC, NYSE Euronext and MetNext. Interested parties may submit their views to the Commission about this operation within ten days after this publication.

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EC opens public consultation on draft Guidelines for broadband networks state aid

The European Commission has published, for public consultation, draft Guidelines on the application of EU state aid rules to public funding of broadband networks. The main issue at stake concerns public financing of very high speed, so-called "next generation access networks". Member States and stakeholders can submit their views on the proposed text by June 22nd 2009. Further to this consultation, and taking into account its results, Commission will issue the definitive Broadband Guidelines later this year.

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Antitrust: Commission imposes fine of €1.06 bn on Intel for abuse of dominant position

The European Commission has imposed a fine of €1,060,000,000 on Intel Corporation for violating EC Treaty antitrust rules on the abuse of a dominant market position by engaging in illegal anticompetitive practices to exclude competitors from the market for computer chips called x86 central processing units (CPUs). The Commission has also ordered Intel to cease the illegal practices immediately to the extent that they are still ongoing.

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Authorised State aid to London & Continental Railways and Eurostar

The European Commission approved on May 13th 2009 a State aid for the high-speed rail link service between London and the Channel as well as the restructuring of Eurostar, for a total amount of £ 5.169 billion. The UK authorities notified the operation with the aim of establishing each of LCR's businesses on a sustainable commercial and financial basis and to bring these long-term guarantees and liabilities to an end. It is also intended to remove the need for ongoing public sector support and to encourage competition for international services in the light of the opening of the market in 2010.

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Commission files the PSI Directive amendment until 2012

The European Commission has published a report making a review on the implementation of Public Sector Information (PSI) Directive, which highlights the potential for reuse of this information in the digital age. European PSI market is estimated to represent about 27 billion Euro, although its potential has not been fully exploited since the implementation of the Directive has been uneven across Member States.

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EC sets consultation mechanisms on VIS

The European Commission has adopted Decisión (2009/377/EC) of May 5th 2009, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on May 12th 2009, adopting implementing measures for the consultation mechanism and the other procedures referredto in Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Visa Information System (VIS) and the exchange of data between Member States on short-stay visas (VIS Regulation).

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“Telecom package” likely to pass on conciliation at the next legislative term

At their vote in Plenary Session on May 6th 2009, MEPs have amended a political agreement reached with the Council on the reform of the regulatory framework for electronic communications, including mobile and fixed telephones, broadcasting, wireless and fixed internet. This means that the whole "telecom package" is likely to be subject to conciliation in Parliament's next legislative term after the European elections.

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"Small business, Big ideas", launching the first EU SME Week

The first European SME Week, which will take place all around Europe between May 6th to 14th 2009, is a campaign to promote entrepreneurship across Europe and to inform entrepreneurs about support available for them at European, national and local level. Under the slogan, “Small business, big ideas” more than 1000 events will take place in 35 countries. EU SME Week will allow SMEs to discover an array of information, advice, support and ideas to help them develop their activities.

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