European Union News - Internal Market

The European Commission has approved, under EC Treaty state aid rules, the prolongation of the Credit Guarantee and Recapitalisation Schemes, which form part of the UK's support measures to the banking industry during the current financial crisis. The Commission's investigation found that the circumstances on the financial markets justify the extension which aims at underpinning lending to the UK real economy.

The European Commission decided to send reasoned opinions – the last step before lodging a case to the Court of Justice – to Poland and Spain for failure to respect EU legislation on port state control of shipping.

In its 9th review of the European Union's trade policy, the World Trade Organisation has praised the EU for its instrumental role in strengthening the multilateral trading system and its leadership in the Doha Round of world trade talks. The WTO report highlights the EU's efforts to help integrate developing countries into the international trading system. The report recognises the progress made over the last two years in consolidating EU's Internal Market, and notes the benefits of EU's reformed Common Agricultural Policy. The WTO meeting takes place in Geneva on 6 and 8 April 2009. The revision has been done according to more than 800 advance written questions.

The European Commission has granted temporary clearance to the illiquid asset back-up facility provided by the Dutch State to the financial group ING, with final approval dependent on the result of an in-depth investigation. The Commission found that the measure in favour of ING constitutes state aid. Some of its provisions can be considered in line with the Commission's guidance on the treatment of asset relief measures, and so the measure has been given temporary clearance for six months. Other provisions (including such complex issues such as valuation of the portfolio) require a further in-depth analysis before approval can be given.

The European Commission has decided to lower further the fees payable to the Community agency responsible for granting EU-wide trade mark rights, and to simplify the registration procedure. This measure, which follows an initial reduction in 2005, will make trade mark protection much cheaper and easier to obtain for businesses operating in the EU single market, saving them some €60 million a year. It will come into force on 1 May 2009.

The Directorate-General for Energy and Transport of the European Commission has launched on March 31st 2009 a set of Calls for Proposals in order to award grants to projects in the field of the Trans-European Transport Network for 2009.  Such Calls are launched both under the multi-annual work programme and annual work programme 2009, as well as under the European Economic Recovery Plan.

On 2 April 2009 at the second High Level Conference on Counterfeiting and Piracy, Internal Market and Services Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, together with Members of the European Parliament, will launch a European Observatory on Counterfeiting and Piracy. By enhancing cooperation across the EU, the Observatory will be at the forefront in the fight against fake goods or illegal downloading and other infringements of intellectual property rights. A wide range of stakeholders representing business, public administrations, enforcement and civil society are expected to attend the event.

As part of the Small Business Act implementation, the Commission in close cooperation with Member States has established the new ‘Your Europe - Business’ portal, which gives entrepreneurs easy access to information on doing business in other EU Member States. This new portal has been re-launched in the occasion of the 7th European Business Summit which was held in Brussels between March 26th and 27th.

The European Parliament adopted on March 25th 2009, the second legislative package for the Single European Sky (SES II), as a result of very fruitful discussions with the Czech Presidency. These measures will deliver safer, greener and more performing flights, with annual savings for airlines calculated around four billion euros by 2020. After EP's agreement, the Council should formalise the final adoption of the legislative package very soon.

The European Commission has published in the Official Journal of the European Union on March 26th 2009, its Communication on on the treatment of impaired assets in the Community banking sector. In this Communication, the Commission puts forward its recommendations for Member states, highlighting the different envisageable approaches to deal with impaired assets, specially by assets purchase or assets insurances schemes.