European Union News - Internal Market

The European Parliament adopted a resolution that points out that the Eurozone is unique in having a single currency, but no common bond market. The resolution keeps up pressure on the Commission and member states to explore all avenues for pooling sovereign debt.

MEPs adopted the new rules aimed at regulate when and how credit rating agencies may rate state debts and private firms' financial health. According to MEPs, agencies' shareholdings in rated firms will be capped, to reduce conflicts of interest.

Three EU regions will be awarded with the label 'Entrepreneurial Region of the Year 2014'. The Committee of the Regions announced that the period for submitting application to this label competition is now open until the 28 February 2013.

The European Commission launched a public consultation aimed at all citizens interested in organic production in Europe. The consultation will cover possible simplifications to be brought to the existing scheme, while maintaining high standards, as well as the issues of control and international trade.

The conference 'New skills for a European Bioeconomy' which brought together bioeconomy and education and training stakeholders, was recently held in Brussels to discuss the role of skills development in driving and facilitating transition towards the bioeconomy and seizing the employment opportunities that this transition entails.

Europol and over 200 law enforcement officers have dismantled an organised crime group responsible for massive VAT fraud in several EU countries. The joint investigation team arrested 14 suspects and seized €4.8 million in cash, as well as luxury motor vehicles and real estate.

Eurostat announced that in November 2012 compared with October 2012, seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 0.3% in both the euro area and the EU. The largest decreases were registered in Slovenia, Portugal and Spain, and the highest increases in Estonia, Latvia and the Netherlands.

A report published by Eurostat shows that 53% of enterprises from industry and services reported innovation activity between 2008 and 2010. However there are important difference among Member States. The highest proportions of enterprises with innovation activity were recorded in Germany,Luxembourg, Belgium, while the lowest were recorded in Bulgaria, Poland, Latvia, Romania and Hungary.

The European Commission welcomed the presentation of two draft reports on the reform of the EU's data protection rules proposed by the European Commission just a year ago by two MEPs. These two MEPs stress in the reports the need for a high level of protection for all data processing activities in the European Union to ensure more legal certainty, clarity and consistency.

On 9 of January, it entered into service the high speed section between Barcelona and Figueres, which represents the completion of a project, the high speed line Madrid-Barcelona-French border. This section has had a significant involvement and support of the European Union.