Brussels – Today, the European Commission launched a public consultation on modernising EU rules governing insolvencies. The existing rules (the Insolvency Regulation) date from 2000 and set out how bankruptcies – of companies or individuals – should be coordinated between several EU countries. The results of the consultation will help determine whether and how the [...]

Brussels– The European Commission has today adopted a Communication entitled ‘Promotion measures and information provision for agricultural products: a reinforced value?added strategy for promoting the tastes of Europe’. The Communication is the second stage of the promotion policy reform process launched in July 2011, which aims to make the agriculture and agri?food sector more dynamic [...]

Brussels – In today’s globalised labour market EU workers often spend part of their careers working outside the EU. In the same way, non-EU nationals make up around 4% of Member States’ workforces. Yet, despite effective social security coordination system within the EU, there is a fragmented approach to social security coordination as regards the [...]

Brussels – The Commission has launched a public consultation to gather views on the 7th EU Environmental Action Programme (7th EAP), which will set out priority objectives to be pursued up until 2020. The consultation remains open until 1 June. European Commissioner for Environment Janez Poto?nik said: “The EU is home to some of the [...]

Brussels – Sunday marks the launch of European Citizens’ Initiatives. From that day, a million citizens from across Europe can come together on an issue that is important to them, and ask the Commission to do something about it. Vice-President Šef?ovi? said: “I am delighted that after all the hard work and long wait, Europeans [...]

On 30th March 2012, the European Commission put forward a package including a policy Communication on the External Dimension of EU Social Security Coordination, together with 4 proposals for Council Decisions on the EU position concerning social security coordination with Albania, Montenegro, San Marino and Turkey. Social Security Coordination: what is it? Social security systems [...]

I. General Q&A on the European Citizens’ Initiative What does the Treaty of Lisbon say on the European citizens’ initiative? When will it be possible to launch the first citizens’ initiatives? What happens in a case like the recent Greenpeace petition? Can that be resubmitted now the Regulation on the citizens’ initiative applies? What is [...]

Why is cooperation in research and innovation with the Mediterranean region important? The European Union and the southern Mediterranean region face common challenges such as climate change, food security and the pollution of the Mediterranean Sea, which can only be addressed through cooperation at an international level. Investment in research and innovation can help us [...]

Brussels– The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, a modification to Germany’s and Commerzbank’s commitment to divest its largest subsidiary Eurohypo by the end of 2014. The commitment had been given in the context of Commerzbank’s restructuring plan, approved by the Commission on 7 May 2009 (see IP/09/711). When it appeared that [...]

Copenhagen Ladies and gentlemen, In September 2010, I came to the Eurofi conference to present our financial regulation roadmap. One and a half years later, we have delivered. We are changing the face of European financial markets: Following the Larosière report, we set up three new European supervisory authorities for banks, markets and insurance and [...]