European Commission

Top News

Brussels, Friday 20 July 2012

Top News from the European Commission

21 July – 7 September 2012

Background notes from the Spokesperson’s service for journalists
The European Commission reserves the right to make changes

Wednesday 25 July: Commission to amend proposals on market abuse

The news:

The Commission will adopt amended proposals on insider dealing and market manipulation to include specific provisions prohibiting the manipulation of benchmarks and to make such manipulation a criminal offence.

The background:

On 20 October 2011 the Commission adopted legislative proposals on insider dealing and market manipulation, including criminal sanctions (see IP/11/1217 and IP/11/1218). These proposals are currently being discussed by the European Parliament and the Council.

Recent scandals have, however, raised concerns about manipulation of benchmarks, such as LIBOR and EURIBOR, and as the proposals on the table do not fully prohibit this, the Commission has decided to amend them to ensure that manipulation of such benchmarks becomes clearly illegal and its practice liable to criminal sanctions.

The event:

A joint press conference with Commissioner Barnier and Commissioner Reding will be held at 11.30 in the Berlaymont press room on Wednesday 25 July.

Press release and memo with frequently asked questions available on the day.

• Available on EbS

The sources:

For more information on Market Abuse

http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/securities/abuse/index_en.htm

Vice-President Reding's website:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/reding/

Commissioner Barnier's website:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/barnier/index_en.htm

The contacts:

Stefaan De Rynck +32 2 296 34 21 Stefaan.De-Rynck@ec.europa.eu

Mina Andreeva + 32 2 299 13 82 Mina.Andreeva@ec.europa.eu

Carmel Dunne +32 2 299 88 94 Carmel.Dunne@ec.europa.eu

Audrey Augier + 32 2 297 16 07 Audrey.Augier@ec.europa.eu

Monday 30 July: The Commission presents an Industrial Policy for the Security Industry

The news:

On 30 July, the European Commission will publish a dedicated industrial policy initiative to boost the European security industry, which is one of the sectors with the highest potential for growth and employment in the EU.

The main priority will be to overcome the fragmentation of the EU security markets and to create a true Single Market for security technologies.

The background:

Over the last ten years the global security market has grown nearly tenfold from some €10 billion to some €100 billion in 2011 with an annual turnover in the EU of around €30 billion. The security sector can broadly be subdivided into the following areas: aviation security, maritime security, border security, critical infrastructure protection, counter-terror intelligence (including cyber security and communication), physical security protection; and protective clothing.

However, as recent market evolutions indicate, the global market shares of European companies could drop significantly over the next years if no action is launched to enhance their competitiveness.

In response to this significant potential for market growth, the Commission made the security industry one of the essential parts of the EU 2020 flagship initiative "An Integrated Industrial Policy for the Globalisation Era Putting Competitiveness and Sustainability at Centre Stage", which announced the launch of a dedicated initiative on a Security Industry Policy.

The event:

12.30 Antonio Tajani, the Vice-President of the European Commission for Enterprise and Industry, will announce on 30 July the adoption by the Commission of a dedicated industrial policy initiative for the security industry (Berlaymont press room in Brussels). A press release and the industrial policy initiative will be available on the day.

• Available on EbS

The sources:

EU 2020 flagship initiative "An Integrated Industrial Policy for the Globalisation Era Putting Competitiveness and Sustainability at Centre Stage":

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2010:0614:FIN:EN:PDF

DG ENTR website on the security industry:

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/security/industrial-policy/index_en.htm

Studies, workshops and reports on the security industry:

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/security/documents/index_en.htm

• I-072037 Security Research 2011

The contacts:

Carlo Corazza: +32 (0)2 29 51752 carlo.corazza@ec.europa.eu

Sara Tironi: +32 (0)2 29 90403 sara.tironi@ec.europa.eu

Tuesday 31 July: Commission presents construction sector action plan

The news:

On 31 July, the European Commission will publish a strategy to boost the competitiveness of the construction sector. Proposed actions will include: 1) stimulating favourable investment conditions, in particular in the renovation and maintenance of buildings and infrastructures; 2) boosting innovation and improving worker's qualifications by promoting mobility; 3) improving resource efficiency and environmental performance, promoting mutual recognition of sustainable construction systems in the EU; 4) providing standard design codes of practice to construction companies making it easier for them to work in other Member States; 5) fostering the global position of European construction enterprises to stimulate good performance and sustainable standards in third country markets.

The background:

The construction sector plays a very important role in the European economy, generating almost 10% of EU GDP and providing 20 million jobs, mainly in micro and small enterprises. The performance of the construction sector can significantly influence the development of the overall economy. The energy performance of buildings and resource efficiency in manufacturing, transport and the use of products for the construction of buildings and infrastructures have an important impact on the quality of life of Europeans. The competitiveness of construction companies is therefore an important issue not only for growth and employment in general but also to ensure the sustainability of the sector.

The event:

12.30 Vice President Antonio Tajani, responsible for industry and entrepreneurship, will present the Commission action plan at a press conference (Berlaymont press room in Brussels).

• Available on EbS

The sources:

Information on EU construction policy:

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/construction/index_en.htm

The contacts:

Carlo Corazza: +32 (0)2 29 51752 carlo.corazza@ec.europa.eu

Sara Tironi: +32 (0)2 29 90403 sara.tironi@ec.europa.eu

Thursday 6 September: EU High Level Group presents recommendations to increase level of literacy in Europe

The news:

The EU high level group of experts on literacy will present recommendations on how to tackle low literacy levels in Europe. H.R.H. Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, who chaired the group, will hand over its final report to Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou at a Presidency conference on literacy in Cyprus.

The background:

73 million adults in the EU are low-skilled, and the results of the most recent PISA (programme for international student assessment) survey show that one in five 15 year olds in the EU has poor reading skills. EU countries therefore need to step up their efforts significantly if they are to reach their joint target for reducing the ratio of low performers in reading, maths and science to less than 15% by 2020.

Launched in February 2011, the high level group has examined research, gathered evidence and analysed the most successful literacy programmes and policy initiatives in Europe. The report's recommendations reflect discussions within the group as well as the input received through their consultations with a wide variety of other experts, organisations and stakeholders.

The members of the group are experts on literacy from academia, politics and business. They met eight times over the past 18 months.

The event:

Press Conference with Commissioner Vassiliou and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, Nicosia, Cyprus, 6 September, 13.00 local time.

• Available on EbS

The sources:

IP/11/115: Commission launches high-level expert group on literacy chaired by Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands

European Commission's website on literacy

Commissioner Vassiliou's website

The contacts:

Dennis Abbott: +32 2 295 92 58 dennis.abbott@ec.europa.eu

Dina Avraam: +32 2 295 96 67 dina.avraam@ec.europa.eu