European Union News - Internal Market

Nanotechnologies have enormous potential benefits for manufacturers, consumers, employees, patients and the environment. They will bring more energy and resource efficient processes, improve computer memories and processors and could usher in a new age of customized pharmaceuticals and medical procedures.

On 30th April 2007 the European Commission decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the Green Paper on Retail Financial Services in the Single Market The Section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 3 December 2007. At its 441st plenary session, held on 16th and 17th January 2008 (meeting of 16 January), the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 129 votes to one with one abstention.

On Tuesday 17th June, the European Parliament ITRE Committee adopted the report of Ms. Eluned Morgan (PES, UK) concerning "common rules for the internal market in electricity" In line with the European Parliament position, the EESC supports the principle of the effective unbundling of transmission system operators, electricity supply and production activities. In its recent opinion on the "Third legislative package on the electricity and gas markets", the EESC refuses the alternative option known as "Independent 'System Operator" that enables vertically integrated companies to retain the ownership of their network assets. EESC Member Carmelo Cedrone (Group II-Employees, Italy), believes that the behaviour of some Member States that oppose  ownership unbundling conflicts with the spirit of the original Commission proposal, which aimed to create a viable internal energy market.

Delocalisation is not Europe’s number one ‘job-killer’ was the tag line for the major international conference, organised by Eurofound in Poznań, Poland, 3th-5th June 2008.

On 6th June 2008, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration by which the undertaking Economic Zones World FZE (‘EZW’, United Arab Emirates) belonging to the Dubai World Group acquires control of the whole of the undertaking Gazeley Ltd (‘Gazeley’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares.

On the 14th June 2008 the European Commission published in the Official Journal of the European Union (oJ) information concerning the Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty Cases where the Commission raises no objections. One such aid scheme dating back to the 6th May 2008 was grated to all economic sectors in Northern Ireland (United Kingdom).

The EU has initiated, on the 13th June 2008, anti-subsidy and anti-dumping investigations into imports of biodiesel from the United States. Examination by the European Commission of complaints lodged by European industry found that an investigation was warranted – sufficient evidence was provided of subsidies to the US biodiesel sector, as well as dumping of biodiesel in the European market. The complainant has argued that this has had an adverse effect on the European biodiesel industry. A detailed investigation by the Commission will now determine whether measures are justified under EU trade rules.

On 5th June 2008, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration between Danfoss and Sauer-Danfoss by which the undertaking Danfoss A/S (‘Danfoss’, Denmark) acquires control of the whole of the undertaking Sauer-Danfoss Inc. (‘Sauer-Danfoss’, USA) by way of purchase of shares. Sauer-Danfoss is currently jointly controlled by Danfoss A/S and Sauer Holding GmbH.

The first meeting of the High Level Group (HLG) on the Competitiveness of the Agro-Food Industry held on the 12th June 2008, took the first step in paving the way to boosting the performance of this important sector in Europe. The group, chaired by European Commission Vice President Günter Verheugen, includes Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Consumer Protection Meglena Kuneva, Commissioner for Health Androulla Vassiliou and senior policy makers from the public and private sector. Their task is to identify and address issues that determine the competitiveness of the Agro-Food industry and to formulate a set of recommendations to achieve predictable and stable framework conditions for years to come.

EU Telecoms Ministers meet, on the 11th June 2008 in Luxembourg. The Commission will be represented by Viviane Reding, EU Telecoms Commissioner. The Ministers will discuss several significant Telecoms dossiers, including the EU Telecoms Reform and the mid-term review of the i2010 strategy. The Council is also expected to agree on a general approach for the extension of the mandate of the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA).

Taking goods and services together, the EU and the USA account for the largest bilateral trade relationship in the world. The significant amount of bilateral trade and investment illustrates a high degree of interdependence of the two economies.