Publications Archive

The Commission has published a Directive Proposal replacing the existing Sector Directive (2004/17/EC). The aim of the new Directive is to remove legal uncertainty in public procurement between contracting authorities and their cooperation. Moreover, access for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) to the procurement procedure is to be made easier. In future, public procurement is to be used for societal and environmental policy targets.

The Commission wishes to improve the pharmacovigilance rules of 2010 by amending the pharmacovigilance system. New transparency and information obligations for authorisation holders are to be introduced. The initiation of the urgent union procedure is to be automatised and the list of drugs for additional surveillance is to be extended.

The Commission identifies six key enabling technologies (KET) which are essential for the EU’s economy and presents a strategy on how the EU and Member States could better coordinate KET funding and use it more efficiently. The proposed measures are aimed at the technology development stages following basic research (technological research, product demonstration, competitive manufacturing activities). Thus the gap between basic KET knowledge generation and its commercialisation into goods and services is to be closed.

In view of the challenges of an increasing global population, the depletion of resources, increasing environmental pressures and climate change, the Commission is calling for a “bioeconomy strategy” to “radically” change the use of biological resources. The strategy comprises proposals for measures in the EU and/or Member States for investments in research, innovation and qualification, closer political cooperation at a national, EU and global level and strengthening the markets and competitiveness of the bioeconomy sector.

The Commission wishes to reform the EU data protection law fundamentally with the General Data Protection Regulation. It is mainly aimed at an EU-wide full harmonisation of the data protection standard while taking account of the latest technical challenges of the internet age. It is to replace the existing Data Protection Directive (95/46/EC).

Motor vehicles and their trailers (vehicles) must, after having been registered for the first time, be regularly submitted to periodic roadworthiness tests in order to ensure that vehicles on the road remain roadworthy and safe. The Commission now wishes to harmonise and tighten the existing test requirements in order to increase traffic safety and to improve environmental protection.

The Commission wishes to improve the access of European providers to public contracts in third countries and therefore extend the right to exclude providers from third countries from public procurement in the EU.

The Commission outlines its medium-term strategy for EU consumer policy by 2014 under the European Consumer Agenda.

In its Communication, the Commission proposes to Member States measures to create new jobs in the EU.

Motor vehicles for the commercial use of goods and passengers and their trailers are not only inspected regularly but due to their intense use inspected also randomly and unexpectedly on public roads (“roadside inspections”) in order to be able to assess their compliance with technical rules and environmental requirements at any time. Now the Commission wishes to harmonise and strengthen the existing rules (Directive 2000/30/EC) in order to enhance transport safety and to improve environmental protection.