Publications Archive

The EU Commission's Proposal for a Directive enables Member States to incorporate costs of air pollution, noise pollution and congestion caused by heavy goods vehicles (HGV) in tolls paid for the use of public roads. The aim is to make transport more sustainable by way of internalising "external costs".

The creation of freight corridors aims to establish a European rail network and to increase the competitiveness of rail transport. As a consequence, freight transport will be given priority over passenger transport.

The Commission wishes to accelerate the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and to establish a legal framework. In its Action Plan the Commission calls for action and sets a timeframe for the deployment and improvement of single ITS.

The rapid development of the internet creates new services and applications. Not only the EU Commission, but also many national politicians call for "broadband access for all" and a quick expansion of high-speed networks in urban areas. The growing use of smart radio tags (RFID technology) storing and transmitting data, enables new applications on the one hand, but, at the same time, raises critical issues as to data protetion on the other hand.

The EU Commission has proposed an amended version of the existing directive for harmonised investment funds ("UCITS"). The proposal contains new rules simplifying cross-border marketing and mergers of investment funds. Moreover, investor information on UCITS shall be presented more concisely in the future.

The Capital Requirement Directive (“Basel II“), which is mainly based on negotiations held by the international Basel II Committee of the Bank for International Settlements, constitutes the core of banking regulation. The Commission's new proposals aim at improving the effectiveness of the existing Directive and at increasing the stability of financial markets. The Commission's proposal focusses on inter-bank credits, securitisation and the restructuring of supervision. With its Proposal the Commission expedites the process: It is no longer willing to await the results of the Basel II Committee. The amended Directive is scheduled for adoption for early June.

The EU Commission wishes to promote the circulation of electronic money by simplifying the legal requirements for the institutions concerned. The issuance of money is to be supervised according to its actual economic risk potential. Hence, the Directive treats institutions licensed to issue e-money different from credit institutions. Moreover, e-money institutions will be entitled to engage in further business activities. 

On 7 October 2008 the Council called for an increase of the coverage level for deposit guarantee schemes. Depositor confidence which was severely damaged through the bank crisis should be restored by such measures. The proposal submitted by the Commission first provides for an increase in the coverage level of EUR 20,000 to EUR 50,000 retroactively as of 15 October 2008 and then for an increase to EUR 100,000 effective as of 1 January 2010.

According to the EU Commission, all credit rating agencies in the EU should be registered and should fulfil certain requirements on their independence and transparency. Banks and other regulated financial service providers should be allowed to use ratings from such agencies only, when calculated the own funds they must retain.

Payment service providers must not charge higher fees for cross-border payments than for national payments. Thus, the EU Commission intends to cheapen cross-border payments and to improve payment transactions in the EU. The existing principle of equality of charges for credit transfers and cash card services is to be extended to direct debits.