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Highlights
March 2013

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Highlights

Stories - March 2013

Trade marks: Commission proposes easier access and more effective protection

27/03/2013 - Business

The European Commission has today presented a package of initiatives to make trade mark registration systems all over the European Union cheaper, quicker, more reliable and predictable. The proposed reform would improve conditions for businesses to innovate and to benefit from more effective trade mark protection against counterfeits.

EU Justice Scoreboard: European Commission broadens the scope of its analysis of Member States' justice systems

27/03/2013 - Justice and citizens rights

The European Commission has unveiled a new comparative tool to promote effective justice systems in the European Union and thereby reinforce economic growth. The ‘European Justice Scoreboard’ will provide objective, reliable and comparable data on the functioning of the justice systems in the EU’s 27 Member States. |PHOTOS|VIDEO|

Commission moves forward on climate and energy towards 2030

27/03/2013 - Energy and natural resources / Environment, consumers and health

The European Commission today took the first step towards developing a 2030 framework for EU climate change and energy policies. It adopted a Green Paper which launches a public consultation on the content of the 2030 framework. |PHOTOS|VIDEO |

March 2013: Business and Consumer surveys

27/03/2013 - Business / Economy, finance, tax and competition / Statistics

In March 2013, the Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area decreased by 0.14 points to 0.86. The Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) decreased in both the euro area and the EU, putting on hold the recovery that had started in November of last year.

Scoreboard shows EU more innovative, but gap between countries widening

26/03/2013 - Science and technology

Innovation performance in the EU has improved year on year in spite of the continuing economic crisis, but the innovation divide between Member States is widening. This is the result of the European Commission Innovation Union Scoreboard 2013, a ranking of EU Member States.

EU Employment and Social Situation: Quarterly Review analyses deepening social crisis

26/03/2013 - Employment and social rights

The employment and social situation in the EU remained critical in the fourth quarter of 2012 with employment receding overall and unemployment rising further, while households' financial situation remained serious according to the European Commission's latest Employment and Social Situation Quarterly Review.

Eurogroup reaches an agreement with Cyprus

25/03/2013 - Economy, finance, tax and competition / Institutional affairs

The euro area finance ministers reached a political agreement with the Cyprus authorities on the key elements paving the way for the future economic adjustment programme. The aim of the programme is to form the basis for restoring the soundness of Cyprus' public finances and the viability of its financial sector. The |VIDEO 1|2|

European Commission launches Green Paper on the long-term financing of the European economy

25/03/2013 - Economy, finance, tax and competition

Europe faces large-scale long-term investment needs, which are crucial to support sustainable growth. To fund long-term investment, governments, businesses and households need access to predictable long term financing. |PHOTOS|

A Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Japan

25/03/2013 - Economy, finance, tax and competition

The EU and Japan officially launched the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement. The aim is for a comprehensive agreement in goods, services and investment eliminating tariffs, non-tariff barriers and covering other trade-related issues, such as public procurement, regulatory issues, competition, and sustainable development.

Main results of the Environment Council

21/03/2013 - Economy, finance, tax and competition / Environment, consumers and health

The Council adopted a new venture capital framework aimed at facilitating access to finance for European companies. It also adopted an energy infrastructure regulation, which will help to modernise and expand Europe's energy infrastructure in order to allow the EU to meet its core policy objectives of competitiveness, sustainability and security of supply. |PHOTOS|VIDEO|

March infringements package: main decisions

21/03/2013 - Institutional affairs

The Commission has taken 101 decisions, including 3 reasoned opinions and 9 referrals to the European Union's Court of Justice, out of which 4 include financial penalties.

European Neighbourhood Policy in 2012: Continuing engagement for a stronger cooperation with neighbours despite turbulent political and economic conditions

20/03/2013 - External relations and foreign affairs

The "ENP annual package" shows that many partners remain committed to strengthening relations with the EU and that the EU has deepened its support to those partners embarking on important reform agendas. |PHOTOS|VIDEO|

Commission sets out next steps towards a deep and genuine Economic and Monetary Union

20/03/2013 - Economy, finance, tax and competition

The European Commission presented two new Communications on the next steps towards a deep and genuine Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). The aim is to strengthen economic policy coordination and integration in the euro area.

The Council agrees on reform of the common agriculture policy

20/03/2013 - Agriculture, fisheries and food

Commission seeks input on improving redress for consumers in cross-border claims

19/03/2013 - Environment, consumers and health

The European Commission has today launched a public consultation on how to improve access to justice for consumers and small businesses in small-scale cross-border disputes.

Leaders endorse EU's economic priorities for 2013

15/03/2013 - Economy, finance, tax and competition / Institutional affairs

At the European Council meeting on 14-15 March the EU leaders endorsed the Union's economic priorities for 2013 and provided strategic guidance for the member states' national budgetary policies and structural reforms for this year. |PHOTOS 1|2|3|VIDEO 1|2|

Things we learnt in the March plenary

15/03/2013 - Institutional affairs

MEPs will not accept the Council proposal for the EU's budget for 2014-2020 in its current form and are preparing for negotiations with EU governments. They also adopted a negotiating position for a greener and fairer EU agricultural policy and approved laws that make solving commercial disputes cheaper and easier.

EU reports on progress in fight against protectionism

14/03/2013 - Business

The efforts of the European Commission to fight protectionism over the last year bear fruit and could create better trade and investment conditions for EU companies.

Putting a stop to marketing scams: European Commission takes action to strengthen enforcement against unfair commercial practices

14/03/2013 - Justice and citizens rights

The European Commission outlined a series of actions to tackle aggressive commercial practices across the EU such as fake ‘free’ offers, ‘bait and switch’ advertising for products which cannot be supplied, and exhortation of children.

Long-term EU budget negotiations: EP sets out its stance

13/03/2013 - Economy, finance, tax and competition

Parliament's mandate to negotiate the EU budget for 2014-2020 with the EU member states' Irish Presidency was approved in a resolution. Parliament rejects the 8 February European Council conclusions in their current form. |VIDEO|

Commission takes initiative to support Blue Growth through sustainable management of marine and coastal areas

13/03/2013 - Environment, consumers and health

The proposal – which takes the form of a draft directive – aims to establish a common European framework for maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management in EU Member States. |PHOTOS|VIDEO|

New EU farm policy: greener, fairer and better able to deliver food security

13/03/2013 - Agriculture, fisheries and food

To deliver secure supplies of high-quality food while protecting the environment better, the new EU farm policy must make "greening" measures mandatory but flexible and help farmers to cope with market challenges. |VIDEO|

2014 European Parliament Elections: Commission recommends that political parties nominate candidate for Commission President

12/03/2013 - Institutional affairs / Justice and citizens rights

The proposals aim to better inform voters about the issues at stake in next year's European Parliament elections, encourage a Europe-wide debate and ultimately improve voter turnout. |VIDEO|

Green light for economic governance "two pack"

12/03/2013 - Economy, finance, tax and competition

The next round of EU economic governance legislation will do more to deliver growth and the European Commission's new powers to vet Eurozone countries' budgets will be better democratically controlled, thanks to the “two pack” economic governance legislation voted by Parliament. |VIDEO|

EU discusses clean transport

11/03/2013 - Energy and natural resources / Transport and travel

The Council held an exchange of views on the Commission's "Clean power for transport" initiative. The objective is to break the dependence on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport. |PHOTOS|VIDEO|

Full EU ban on animal testing for cosmetics enters into force

11/03/2013 - Environment, consumers and health

A Communication adopted by the Commission confirms the Commission's commitment to respect the deadline set by Council and Parliament in 2003 and outlines how it intends to further support research and innovation in this area while promoting animal welfare world-wide. |VIDEO|