European Union News - Internal Market

Every year European companies are estimated to be loosing around 26 billion euros of because of the obstacles caused by divergent regulations in contract law applying to sales between member states. In order to overcome some of these problems, the Commission has proposed common rules in sales law that will provide higher level of protection and facilitate transactions between member states.

The European Commission adopted a decision in order to push for an effective deployment of pan-European mobile satellite services. This decision aims to make it easier for Member States, following a coordinated approach, to decide on potential breaches identified by a competent national authority, as well as ensuring consistent remedies and sanctions if required.

The Council adopted a new framework for monitoring of energy markets. The monitoring wholesale energy markets will be done in order to effectively detect and deter market abuse and manipulation, thereby ensuring the integrity and transparency of those markets.

The European Commission approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of sole control of the Internet voice and video communication provider Skype by Microsoft Corporation.

The Agriculture Committee at the European Parliament called for EU-wide action to save bees. This demand is done having regard that an estimated 84% of plant species and 76% of food production in Europe depend on pollination by bees. MEPs ask to step up investment in research and increasing funding for apiculture programmes after 2013.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to launch a new purchase programme which consists in purchases for an intended amount of €40 billion and in purchases that will have the capacity to be conducted in the primary and secondary markets and will be carried out by means of direct purchases. On the other hand, the Governing Council of the ECB decided that the interest rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest rates on the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility will remain unchanged.

The Internal Market Committee approved a resolution in which asks EU-wide cooperation to counter the black market and protect children and vulnerable consumers regarding online gambling. They also think EU Member States should be free to maintain their own rules on this

The top new talents in European pop music, the winners of the 2012 European Border Breakers Awards, were announced by Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth and music festival Eurosonic Noorderslag.

MEPs backed a draft law to restrict the general public's access to chemicals that can be used to make home-made explosives. In addition, they amended the draft to clarify licence-to-buy requirements for certain chemicals that can be found, for instance, in fertilizers or pool cleaners and the definition of a "suspicious transaction".

The European Commission published a report which shows the results of 305 purchases in 28 countries. Delivery from abroad has turned out to be reliable overall, with 94% of orders delivered (up from 66% in 2003) and only 1% of the products found to be faulty. But shoppers had more problems when returning the goods (as part of the EU-wide cancellation rights), for example with getting the full costs reimbursed.