European Union News - Internal Market

The European Commission has put forward a revision of EU rules on deposit guarantee schemes that puts into action the commitments made by EU Finance Ministers on October 7th. The new rules are designed to improve depositor protection and to maintain the confidence of depositors in the financial safety net. In the first stage of the application of these new rules bank deposits protection will be increased to 50,000 €.

It has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union (2008/C 257/12) the Committee of the Regions (CdR) oppingon related to Clusters and cluster policy.

The European Commission launched on October 8th, 2008, a proposal for EU-wide rights to make it easier for consumers to shop on the Internet and in the main street. The new proposal will guarantee consumers, wherever they shop in the EU, clear information on price and additional charges and fees before they sign a contract. It will strengthen consumer protection against late delivery and non delivery, as well as setting out tough EU-wide consumer rights on issues from cooling off periods, returns, refunds, repairs and guarantees and unfair contract term.

The ECOFIN Council adopted on October 7th, their conclusions on the immediate responses to take to the financial crisis, along with four statements on the following subjects: financial stability and financial supervision, a coordinated EU response to the economic slowdown, executive pay, and the fight against tax fraud.

The Council has published in the Official Journal of the European Union on October 7th, 2008, its Common Position adopted on June 23rd with a view to the adoption of a Directive on airport charges. The draft Directive would establish a common framework regulating the essential features of airport charges and the way they are set, as in the absence of such a framework, basic requirements in the relationship between airport managing bodies and airport users might not be met.

The former member of the Commission responsible for trade, Peter Mandelson, submitted his resignation  on October 3rd, 2008, to the Commission President, José Manuel Barroso. Mr Mandelson resignation came after his acceptance of the invitation to join the government made by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

In its position, the Council takes into account the seriousness and the worrying growth of the phenomenon of counterfeiting and piracy, in particular in a globalised economy, for the competitiveness of the European Union, for its businesses, creative forces and consumers. The Council also highlights the scale of this phenomenon on the Internet and the risks involved in counterfeiting products, which poses a health and safety hazard.

Following the mandate stated in the European Council Conclusions of December 14th, 2007, Commissioner Danuta Hübner and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt launched the debate on EU strategy for Baltic Sea Region at the stakeholder conference held in Stockholm on September 30th, which was attended by relevant representatives from Member States, NGOs, local authorities and financing institutions, with the aim of laying the foundations for a stronger and more coordinated Baltic Sea policy.

The Justice, Freedom and Security DG, Unit JLS/C/4 is going to develop an study in order to make possible developments of Community legislation in the field of electoral matters including possible modification of Directive 93/109/EC

The Official Journal of the European Union published on September 30th, the Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of September 24th, 2008, on the inland transport of dangerous goods. The conditions set up by this Directive will ensure that transport of dangerous goods by road, rail or inland waterway, is carried out under the best possible conditions of safety.

The European Commission has approved a proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers on a new programme for the period 2010–15 under the name “Interoperability Solutions for European Public Administrations” (ISA). The program responds to the need of cooperation and communication in order to establish and promote commonly agreed solutions to avoid e-barriers at national borders.

The Commission has published in the OJEU of September 26th, the Guidelines setting out the principles that it will follow when defining markets and assessing cooperation agreements in liner shipping services, cabotage and international tramp services, maritime transport services directly affected by the changes brought about by Council Regulation (EC) No 1419/2006 of September 25th, 2006.