European Union News - Internal Market

European Commission Vice-President responsible for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes underlinded that the top priorities for 2013 are to increase broadband investment and to maximise the digital sector's contribution to Europe's recovery. Cloud computing is also expected to accelerate through public sector buying power.

The European Commission announced that on 11 of January it will take place the official opening of the European Cybercrime Centre established at the European Police Office, Europol in the Hague (the Netherlands). Investigations will focus into online fraud, child abuse online and other cybercrimes that regularly involve hundreds of victims at a time, and suspects in many different parts of the world.

The new action plan to support entrepreneurs and revolutionise entrepreneurial culture in the EU presented by the European Commission stresses the key role of education and training to nurture new generations of entrepreneurs, and includes specific measures to help budding entrepreneurs among young people, women, seniors, migrants, and the unemployed.

The European Commission presented a strategy which involves more rational use of resources, better quality and availability of trade data, and deeper partnership with trade and international partners in order to enable customs to better tackle risks associated with goods being traded in international supply chains. In 2011, EU customs processed nearly 300 million customs declarations.

According to flash estimates published by the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat), the inflation rate in the euro area remained stable in December 2012 compared to the previous month's data. According to these data, in the last month of the year inflation remained at 2.2%.

The European Commission has announced its approval to the aid granted by Belgian, French and Luxembourg governments for the resolution of the financial group Dexia. According to the Commission's decision, this plan will allow the residual group to exit from the market altogether.

The European Commission published a report which shows that most European film heritage institutions have not yet adapted to the digital revolution and are not yet able to preserve film digitally. According to the figures, yet only 1.5% of European film heritage is commercially or freely accessible to the public.

The European Commission launched a public consultation on the state aid rules applicable in the agricultural and forestry sector. The deadline for submissions in this public consultation is 20 March 2013.

The Council announced the approval of new agreement reached with the European Parliament on foods considered essential for certain vulnerable persons such as babies and young children. The new regulation seeks to clarify the legal framework relating to these foods by avoiding the overlap between the specific legislation applicable to such foods and the legislation applicable to normal food.

The European Commission has concerns that transatlantic cooperation of Lufthansa, United and Air Canada may harm premium passengers on the Frankfurt-New York route because it could result in higher prices, in breach of EU antitrust rules. The Commission has therefore invited interested parties to comment on commitments proposed by the three companies to address competition concerns about their transatlantic cooperation.