Latest News
- PRESS RELEASE
- European Commission consults on the modernisation of the European Public Procurement Market
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(27 January 2011) Public procurement accounts for roughly 17% of the EU's GDP. In times of tight budgets and economic difficulties in many Member States, public procurement policy must ensure the most efficient use of public funds, with a view to supporting growth and job creation. This would require flexible and user-friendly tools that make transparent and competitive contract awards as easy as possible for European public authorities and their suppliers. With these objectives in mind, the European Commission has today launched a consultation. This open debate with interested parties will focus on the modernisation of the rules, tools and methods for public procurement to deliver better on these goals. The deadline for responses to the Green Paper is 18 April 2011.
- PRESS RELEASE
- Smarter use of scarce resources: Commission launches flagship initiative for sustainable growth
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(26 January 2011) Natural resources, from raw materials to food, water, air and ecosystems, are fundamental to the functioning of our economy and our quality of life. But global strains on them are increasing. Building a more resource-efficient Europe is therefore crucial to the EU's economic and ecological security. The European Commission today set out its views on a strategic framework that should deliver a more sustainable use of natural resources and the shift towards resource-efficient, low-carbon growth in Europe.
- PRESS RELEASE
- European Commission proposals to ease cross-border trade advance as EU countries agree on Consumer Rights Directive
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(24 January 2011) The European Commission's proposal to give consumers more confidence when they shop online advanced today when EU Member States formally adopted the Consumer Rights Directive. The agreement follows a discussion at the Competitiveness Council on 10 December during which EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said the ministers' balanced approach will strengthen both the Single Market's functioning and consumer rights. The proposed Consumer Rights Directive is the main current legislative initiative in consumer policy. It was adopted by the European Commission in October 2008. Harmonising consumers' rights in distance sales and off-premises sales will make it easier for consumers to shop cross-border, in particular on the Internet. It will also make it less costly for traders to offer their products to consumers in other countries. Today's breakthrough also means that businesses will benefit from lower costs, a level playing field and more legal certainty. Before taking effect, the legislation must be approved by the European Parliament. The Parliament's legal affairs committee (JURI) approved amendments to the legislation last week and the consumer protection committee (IMCO) will vote in February. A vote in plenary may be held in March 2011.
- PRESS RELEASE
- Antitrust: Commission probes co-operation between Telefonica and Portugal Telecom on Iberian markets
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(24 January 2011) The European Commission has opened a formal investigation to ascertain whether the Spanish and Portuguese telecoms incumbents Telefonica S.A. and Portugal Telecom SGPS S.A. have breached EU rules by agreeing not to compete with each other in their respective home markets. The agreement being investigated under Article 101 of the EU Treaty, which bans restrictive business practices, was concluded last year when Telefonica acquired sole control over their previously-held Brazilian joint venture Vivo. The Commission will also investigate whether the non-compete agreement pre-dates the Vivo deal, which is not concerned by this probe. Opening antitrust proceedings means that the Commission will treat the case as a priority. It does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation.
- PRESS RELEASE
- EU research and innovation funding - immediate changes to cut red tape for researchers and SMEs
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(24 January 2011) Today the European Commission has adopted measures to make participation in the EU's current Seventh Framework Programme for Research more attractive and more accessible to the best researchers and most innovative companies, especially Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). Based on the simplification plan unveiled by the Commission in April 2010, these measures will take effect at once.
See also: Background memo
- NEWS ARTICLE
- Data Protection Day: guaranteeing individuals' privacy rights
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(27 January 2011) Nowadays the exchange of information across the globe has become easier and faster. An individual's personal data - email, photos and electronic agendas - may be created in the UK using software hosted in Germany; processed in India; stored in Poland and accessed in Spain by an Italian citizen. This rapid increase in information flows around the world presents a big challenge for individuals' rights to personal data privacy. Data protection issues, including their cross-border dimension, affect people every day - at work, in dealing with public authorities, when buying goods or services, or when travelling or surfing the internet. Today - on Data Protection Day - the Council of Europe and the European Commission are joining forces to promote the fundamental right to data protection.
- EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT
- The Digital Highways of Europe in 2020 - speed, access, security
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2 February 2011 Brussels, Belgium
This high-level seminar aims at giving an overview of the key challenges in implementing Europe's digital agenda, setting the right objectives, implementing an adequate legislative framework to foster investments and competition, so that the ICT sector can contribute to Europe's economic growth and social development.
- EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT
- Information day for CIP ICT PSP Call 5
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11 February 2011 Brussels, Belgium
This Information day will offer potential participants the opportunity to share ideas and network with potential partners on the following objectives: ICT Solutions for Fall prevention and ICT and Ageing network ; Digital competences and social inclusion ; e-accessibility. This event is organised prior to the general CIP Call 5 Info Day of 28 February 2011.
- EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT
- How are Doctors using Social Media, Apps, and Web 2.0 Tools to work with Patients, Colleagues, Governments, Industry, Payers?
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22 June 2011 - 23 June 2011 Paris, France
This conference will be devoted to the understanding of how physicians use New Technologies, Web 2.0 tools, Social Media to communicate with other health care professionals, patients, payers, pharmaceutical companies, public agencies. Those who decide on or benefit from e-services to physicians (professional and patient associations, pharmaceutical companies, governments, payors) are expected to participate in this event.
New in the Library
- SPEECH
- Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda
- Towards a European Cloud Computing Strategy
World Economic Forum, Davos, 27 January 2011
- SPEECH
- eHealth: an answer to EU healthcare and demographic challenges
ETNO Innovation Day 2011, Brussels, 25 January 2011
- SPEECH
- Michel Barnier, Commissioner Internal Market and Services
- Copyright in the digital era
MidemNet in Cannes, 22 January 2011
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