European Union News - Internal Market

It has been a certain tome from now that the European Commission has been promoting the idea to reach an agreement in order to deliver a common charger compatible with mobile phones of all brands. Thanks to the collaboration between fourteen manufacturers and the European Commission this objective has become reality, and Commissioner responsible for industry and entrepreneurship, Antonio Tajani, has received the first prototype of this new common mobile charger.

On 8 February 2011, EU ministers for Transport held an informal meeting in Gödöllő (Hungary), with the European Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas and Chairman of the TRAN Committee of European Parliament Brian Simpson. Participants of the informal ministerial meeting held a policy debate on the review of the TEN-T trans-European transport network focusing on planning methodology and financing, and highlighting the crucial role played by transport infrastructures in social cohesion and economic growth.

Only one day after the president of the European Central Bank (ECB) and president of the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) sat before the European Parliament Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee in his inaugural hearing, the Official Journal of the EU published a Call for expressions of interest for external experts to be appointed as members of its Advisory Scientific Committee. Further to this selection, 15 members of the Committee will be appointed in order to advice the ESRB.

In order to increase road safety, all new types of passenger cars and small delivery vans will now have to be equipped with Daytime Running Lights (DRL). These special lamps which automatically switch on when the engine is started act as safety device as they substantially raise the visibility of motor vehicles for other road users. In case of trucks and buses, this obligation will apply from August 2012 onwards.

Among the priority issues included in the agenda for Heads of State and Government meeting at the Council of the EU on 4 February, the debate focused on the future of innovation in the European Union. In their conclusions, EU leaders underlined that investing in education, research, technology and innovation is a key driver of growth, and that innovative ideas will help create growth and quality jobs.

The European Commission has announced which countries and regions will lead priority areas of work of the Strategy for the Danube Regions, which aims to develop the huge economic potential of the Danube river. This Strategy will aim at a strong cooperation between countries, making a more optimal use of all EU funding available. I will focus on eleven concrete priority action areas, such as the improvement of navigability, water quality, security cooperation and the opportunities for tourism.

Volatility in commodity prices as well as market distortions due to protectionists measures threatens to increase inflation in a sector which is vital for EU’s economy and the development of innovative technologies. In order to tackle this problem, the European Commission has presented an integrated strategic vision to tackle challenges in Commodity markets and on Raw materials proposing actions to improve the regulation, functioning and transparency of financial and commodity markets.

With these two new Guidelines, the European Commission aims at clarifying the European rules applicable to the organisation and financing of services of general interest as well as applying socially responsible criteria in public procurement. The Commission will thus help public authorities, especially at local level, to provide high quality and efficient services in line with the EU rules.

Plans to use the enhanced co-operation procedure to create a unitary patent system in the EU, as requested by 12 Member States last year, were approved by the Legal Affairs Committee on 27 January. If Parliament as a whole and Council authorise this use of enhanced cooperation, the Commission will have to table two legislative proposals: one on the language regime and the other establishing the single patent.

At the Committee of the Regions plenary session in Brussels, mayors and regional presidents urged EU lawmakers to simplify the rules for delivering cross-border infrastructures and public services to citizens, and set out ways to improve a key legal tool, the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC). Representatives also launched a platform for public authorities setting up and running such cross-border bodies.

Aiming to provide public authorities and their suppliers with more effective and flexible instruments to make contract awards more transparent and competitive processes, the European Commission has launched a public consultation seeking for interested parties opinions. This public debate, which will open until 18 April 2011, will focus on the modernisation of the rules, the tools and methods for public procurement to deliver better on these goals.

The lack of dynamism of European Single Market for services not affects the possibility for consumers to choose, but also prevents small and innovative businesses to grow, develop their activities and become more competitive. For that reason, the European Commission has adopted a set of targeted actions to tackle remaining problems and allow to fully enjoy the benefits Single Market for services.