News 2012

December

29.12.2012 – Accounting

New regulation adopting standards/interpretations: IFRS 7, IAS 32

29.12.2012 – Accounting

New regulation adopting standards/interpretations: IAS 12, IFRS 1, IFRS 13, IFRIC 20

29.12.2012 – Accounting

New regulation adopting standards/interpretations: IFRS 10, IFRS 11, IFRS 12, IAS 27, IAS 28

21.12.2012 – Insurances

EU-US insurance dialogue outlines the way forward

21.12.2012 – Free movement of professionals

Communication from the Commission – Notification of evidence of formal qualifications – Directive 2005/36/EC on recognition of professional qualifications (Annex V)

20.12.2012 – Banking

Contributions and summary of responses received to the consultation on the recommendations of the High-level Expert Group on Reforming the structure of the EU banking sector

20.12.2012 – Retail financial services

Commission adopted its report on the application of Directive 2006/48/EC on microcredit activities

20.12.2012 – Financial Services

Summary of responses received to the Commission’s green paper on shadow banking

19.12.2012 – Financial Markets Infrastructure

Commission adopts technical standards for the Regulation on OTC derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories (EMIR) (IP/12/1419)

19.12.2012 – Investment Funds

Commission adopts implementing rules for the Directive on Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFMD) (IP/12/1417)

19.12.2012 – Insurances

Letter from Jonathan Faull, Director General Internal Market and Services, to Gabriel Bernardino, Chair of EIOPA

18.12.2012 – Copyright

Commission urges industry to deliver innovative solutions for greater access to online content

18.12.2012 – Financial Services

The European banking union, a precondition to financial stability and a historical step forward for European integration. Speech by Commissioner Barnier. (SPEECH/12/963)

17.12.2012 – Internal Market

Your Europe, your practical guide to your rights in the Single Market: presentation by Michel Barnier

13.12.2012 – Financial Services

Banking union: Council agrees position on the single supervisory mechanism (MEMO/12/982)

12.12.2012 – Company Law

Commission plans to modernise European company law and corporate governance (IP/12/1340)

11.12.2012 – IPR-Enforcement

Commission launches a consultation on the Misappropriation of trade secrets and confidential business information.

11.12.2012 – Industrial Property

EU unitary patent: European Parliament and Council give green light

07.12.2012 – Securities

Market abuse: Justice Ministers agree Commission proposals on criminal sanctions (MEMO/12/963)

06.12.2012 – Copyright

Copyright in the digital age: the next steps (Speech by Commissioner Barnier) (SPEECH/12/923)

05.12.2012 – Copyright

Commission agrees way forward for modernising copyright in the digital economy (MEMO/12/950)

04.12.2012 – Internal Market

Internal Market Information System (IMI): new rules clear the path for future growth (MEX/12/1204)

04.12.2012 – Financial Markets Infrastructure

Press statement on operating Principles and Areas of Exploration in the Regulation of the Cross-Border OTC Derivatives Market

November

30.11.2012 – IPR-Enforcement

Civil enforcement of intellectual property rights: public consultation on the efficiency of proceedings and accessibility of measures

29.11.2012 – Services

Commission launches a consultation on integrated parcel delivery market to boost e-commerce in the EU (IP/12/1289)

28.11.2012 – Occupational pensions

Call for advice   from EIOPA to develop an EU Single Market for personal pension schemes (July 2012)

28.11.2012 – Internal Market

Report on the State of the Single Market integration (2013) (MEMO/12/913)

21.11.2012 – Financial Services, Infringements

Commission requests Belgium, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Poland and Portugal to implement EU rules (MEMO/12/876)

21.11.2012 – Infringements

Multiple infringements

21.11.2012 – Payment services, Infringements

Commission asks Court of Justice to fine Belgium for not implementing EU rules (IP/12/1248)

21.11.2012 – Public Procurement, Infringements

Commission requests Greece to ensure fair access to public contracts for the provision of software services (IP/12/1249)

21.11.2012 – Investment Funds, Infringements

Commission requests Greece and Poland to comply with EU rules (MEMO/12/876)

21.11.2012 – Services, Infringements

Commission asks Hungary to ensure the freedom of establishment of luncheon voucher issuers (MEMO/12/876)

21.11.2012 – Free movement of professionals, Infringements

Commission acts to enforce freedom of establishment in the Czech Republic and Latvia (MEMO/12/876)

20.11.2012 – Public Procurement

Seminar on Electronic Procurement – An opportunity to provide feedback on Commission projects, 14.12.2012

15.11.2012 – IPR-Enforcement

Survey on Trade Secrets and Confidential Business Information in the Internal Market - until 3 December 2012

14.11.2012 – Company Law

The European Commission has taken action to break the glass ceiling that continues to bar female talent from top positions in Europe’s biggest companies. The Commission has proposed legislation with the aim of attaining a 40% objective of the under-represented sex in non-executive board-member positions in publicly listed companies, with the exception of SMEs.

09.11.2012 – Industrial Property

Commission Decision on setting up a Commission expert group on development and implications of patent law in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering (MEX/12/1109)

08.11.2012 – Insurances

Letter from Commissioner Barnier to Gabriel Bernardino, Chair of EIOPA

07.11.2012 – Copyright

Making European copyright fit for purpose in the age of internet (Speech by Commissioner Barnier) (SPEECH/12/785)

October

24.10.2012 – Public Procurement

Conference on Remedies in Public Procurement - State of Play, Challenges and Opportunities, 26.11.2012

23.10.2012 – Services

Commission sets out an action plan for online gambling (IP/12/1135)

22.10.2012 – Public Procurement

Consultation on e-invoicing in public procurement

18.10.2012 – Public Procurement

Mandatory social security services: Reaction by the Commission to Mr Tarabella’s press release  

16.10.2012 – Securities

Commission publishes rules enabling the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) to impose fines on credit rating agencies (CRAs) (MEX/12/1016)

15.10.2012 – Internal Market

20 prize-winning 20-year olds in a creative competition on the 20th anniversary of the European single market (IP12/1097)

12.10.2012 – Copyright

Commissioner Barnier welcomes final adoption of the Orphan Works Directive by the Council (MEMO/12/744)

11.10.2012 – Public Procurement

Monitoring the application of EU public procurement rules across the EU – Annual Public Procurement Implementation Review   (EXME 12/11.10)

10.10.2012 – Insurances

Reorganisation measure - decision on closing the financial recovery procedure for Forte Asigurări SA  

10.10.2012 – Occupational pensions

Quantitative Impact Study (QIS) on Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision

09.10.2012 – Internal Market

Marking the 20th anniversary of the Single Market: together for new Growth (MEMO/12/755)

08.10.2012 – Internal Market

Scoreboard - Edition 25: Member States have improved their performance (IP/12/1080)

05.10.2012 – Financial Services

Conference on Financial Stability, the Single Market and Growth, 19.11.2012

05.10.2012 – Securities

Commission decision on equivalence of regulatory framework of the US, Canada and Australia (MEX/12/1005)

05.10.2012 – Financial Markets Infrastructure

Consultation on a possible framework for the recovery and resolution of financial institutions other than banks

04.10.2012 – Internal Market

Online debate on the Single Market, 10.10.2012

03.10.2012 – Insurances

Public Hearing on the draft factual Report of the EU-US Insurance Regulatory Dialogue Project, 16.10.2012

03.10.2012 – Social Business

European Social Innovation Competition, 01.10. to 21.12.2012

03.10.2012 – Banking

Consultation on the recommendations of the High-level Expert Group on reforming the structure of the EU banking sector

03.10.2012 – Internal Market

Single Market Act II: twelve priority actions for new growth (IP/12/1054)

02.10.2012 – Banking

High-level Expert group on reforming the structure of the EU banking sector presents its report (IP/12/1048)

September

27.09.2012 – IPR-Enforcement

Report on Measuring IPR infringements in the internal market, from 27.09.2012

27.09.2012 – Public Procurement, Infringements

Commission asks Court of Justice to fine Poland, The Netherlands, Luxembourg and Slovenia for not implementing defence procurement rules (IP/12/1020)

27.09.2012 – Free movement of professionals, Infringements

Commission acts to enforce freedom of establishment for notaries in Hungary (MEMO/12/708)

27.09.2012 – Free movement of professionals, Infringements

Commission acts to enforce freedom of establishment for lawyers in Luxembourg (MEMO/12/708)

27.09.2012 – Public Procurement, Infringements

Commission requests Poland to comply with EU rules (MEMO/12/708)

26.09.2012 – Insurances

Letter from Jonathan Faull, Director General Internal Market and Services, to Gabriel Bernardino, Chair of EIOPA

12.09.2012 – Financial Markets Infrastructure

Commission proposes new ECB powers for banking supervision as part of a banking union (IP/12/953)

07.09.2012 –

Single Market Week Launch Event, 15.10.2012

07.09.2012 – Internal Market

Single Market Week, 15. to 20.10.2012

06.09.2012 – Internal Market

Countdown to Single Market Week under way (IP/12/941)

05.09.2012 – Financial Markets Infrastructure

Consultation on benchmarks and market indices (IP/12/939)

August

29.08.2012 – Insurances

Decision (Orden ECC/1499/2012 of 19 June 2012) to commence winding-up proceedings with respect to M. G. D. Mutualidad General Deportiva de Previsión Social (OJ C238)

24.08.2012 – Free movement of professionals

Consolidated version of the annex V.7.1 of the Directive

22.08.2012 – Retail financial services

Member States' follow-up to the Recommendation of 18 July 2011 on a basic payment account - SWD (2012)0249

14.08.2012 – Free movement of professionals

Communication from the Commission – Notification of evidence of formal qualifications – Directive 2005/36/EC on recognition of professional qualifications (Annex V)

01.08.2012 – Financial Markets Infrastructure

Info-letter issue #4 is online  

July

26.07.2012 – Investment Funds

Commission launches consultation on a future framework for investment funds (IP/12/853)

25.07.2012 – Securities

Libor scandal: Commission proposes EU-wide action to fight rate-fixing (IP/12/846)

23.07.2012 – Insurances

Decision concerning the approval of the resumption of activities by SOCIETĂȚEA DE ASIGURARE-REASIGURARE LIG INSURANCE S.A. (OJ C215)

13.07.2012 – Free movement of professionals

Commission Regulation (EC) No 623/2012 of 11 July 2012 amending Annex II to Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications (JO L 180/9 du 12.07.2012)

11.07.2012 – Social Business

SMEs – Consultation on "Entrepreneurship 2020" action plan, 09.07. to 01.10.2012

11.07.2012 – Copyright

Commission proposes easier music licensing in the Single Market (IP/12/772)

05.07.2012 – Securities

Commission adopts rules on the ban on uncovered sovereign credit default swaps and short sales of shares and sovereign debt (IP/12/746)

03.07.2012 – Financial Services

Commission proposes legislation to improve consumer protection in financial services (IP/12/736)

June

29.06.2012 – Securities

Short selling: Commission adopts technical standards (IP/12/727)

26.06.2012 – Copyright

Commissioner Michel Barnier welcomes the agreement reached on an international treaty for the protection of artists in the audiovisual sector (MEMO/12/490)

21.06.2012 – Media, Infringements

The Commission acts to ensure that European films are distributed in Catalonia (IP/12/663)

21.06.2012 – Public Procurement, Infringements

Commission requests Slovenia to implement EU defence procurement rules (IP/12/664)

21.06.2012 – Social Business

Call for proposals on reliable statistics on social enterprises, until 07.09.2012

21.06.2012 – Social Business

Public Consultation on the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), 20.06. to 12.09.2012

14.06.2012 – Free movement of professionals

Contract notice – services – Study on updating and clarifying the list of activities in Annex IV to the Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC

13.06.2012 –

The future of the Single Market Act (speech by Commissioner Barnier)

08.06.2012 – Services Directive

More growth through better single market governance and boosting services (IP/12/587)

06.06.2012 – Banking

New crisis management measures to avoid future bank bail-outs (IP/12/570)

06.06.2012 – Copyright

Commissioner Michel Barnier welcomes trilogue agreement by Council and Parliament on the Orphan Works Directive (MEMO/12/421 )

04.06.2012 – Services

Consultation on procedures for notifying and acting on illegal content hosted by online intermediaries, 04.06. to 05.09.2012

01.06.2012 – Insurances

Decision approving the transfer of insurance portfolio from Omniasig Vienna Insurance Group SA, as transferor, to BCR Asigurări Vienna Insurance Group SA, as transferee, and the merger by acquisition concluded between BCR Asigurări Vienna Insurance Group SA, as the acquiring company, and Omniasig Vienna Insurance Group SA, as the target company (OJ C155)

May

31.05.2012 – Public Procurement, Infringements

Commission requests Austria and Poland to fully transpose EU rules in the area of defence procurement (IP/12/533)

31.05.2012 – Services Directive, Infringements

Commission closes infringement proceedings against Greece – all Member States have now officially transposed the Services Directive (IP/12/534)

30.05.2012 – IPR-Enforcement

Conference on “Enforcement of intellectual property rights: review of Directive 2004/48/EC”, 26.04.2012

25.05.2012 – Insurances

Proposal for a Directive amending the Solvency II Directive (2009/138/EC) as regards the dates of its transposition and application and the date of repeal of certain Directives.

21.05.2012 – Financial Services

Conference on Financial Conglomerates, 28.06.2012

21.05.2012 – IPR-Enforcement

Conference on trade secrets, 29.06.2012

16.05.2012 – Banking

Commission invitation to an informal exchange of views about future trading book capital requirements  

03.05.2012 – Banking

High-level Expert Group on possible reforms to the structure of the EU banking sector: consultation

02.05.2012 – Internal Market

Single Market News Issue 63 is online

01.05.2012 – Insurances

Decision on temporary prohibition of the activity of Societatea de Asigurare-Reasigurare Lig Insurance SA (OJ C127)

April

27.04.2012 – Insurances

Reorganisation measure – Decision on a portfolio transfer and authorisation withdrawal on-request in respect of Societatea de Asigurări Chartis România SA (OJ C122)

26.04.2012 – Free movement of professionals, Infringements

Nationality condition for access to the notarial profession: the Commission closes the infringement proceedings against Greece, which has ended this discrimination (IP/12/419)

26.04.2012 – Payment services, Infringements

Commission acts to ensure implementation of EU rules in the area of electronic money activities (IP/12/418)

26.04.2012 – Public Procurement, Infringements

Commission requests the United Kingdom to implement EU rules in the area of defence procurement in Gibraltar (IP/12/416)

26.04.2012 – Free movement of capital, Infringements

Commission requests Greece to comply with EU rules on free movement of capital and the right of establishment (IP/12/420)

26.04.2012 – Internal Market

Post-crisis policy measures in the financial sector give way to longer-term growth goals (IP/12/424)

23.04.2012 –

The EU Single Market, 20 years on (speech by Commissioner Barnier)

20.04.2012 – Public Procurement

Conference on Electronic Procurement – Challenges and Opportunities, 26.06.2012

20.04.2012 – Public Procurement

Moving to full e-procurement by 2016 (IP/12/389)

12.04.2012 – Accounting

European Commission prolongs the equivalence mechanism in relation to third-country Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (MEX/12/0412)

11.04.2012 – Company Law

The European Commission adopts a report on the application of the Third Anti Money Laundering Directive

11.04.2012 – Internal Market

What does the single market mean to you? Join the ‘Generation 1992’ competition! (IP/12/358)

11.04.2012 –

'Generation 1992': European Commission reaches out to young people with a creativity competition on the single market (IP/12/358)

02.04.2012 – Securities

Credit rating agencies will start paying fees for their supervision (MEX/12/0402)

02.04.2012 – Copyright

António Vitorino launches mediation process on private copying and reprography levies (MEX/12/0402)

March

28.03.2012 – Auditing

The Monitoring Group issues a Consultation Paper   on the Governance Review of the international standard setting for auditors and the PIOB issues a Consultation Paper   on its work programme  .

22.03.2012 – Public Procurement, Infringements

Commission acts to ensure implementation of EU rules in the area of defence procurement (IP/12/290)

22.03.2012 – Free movement of professionals, Infringements

Nationality condition for notaries: Member States that have brought an end to discrimination see the infringement proceedings against them closed by the Commission (IP/12/291)

21.03.2012 – Public Procurement

European Commission levels the playing field for European business in international procurement markets (IP/12/268)

20.03.2012 – Payment services

Conference on card, internet and mobile payments (MEX/12/0320), 04.05.2012

20.03.2012 – Retail financial services

Consultation on Bank accounts (MEX/12/0320)

19.03.2012 – Banking

Taking action on shadow banking: avoiding new sources of risk in the financial sector (IP/12/253)

14.03.2012 – Public Procurement

Selection procedure for temporary staff in the field of European security and defence

14.03.2012 – Payment services

Adoption of Regulation on SEPA migration end-date

13.03.2012 – Insurances

Decision to lift a reorganisation measure in respect of Apra Leven NV (OJ C55)

07.03.2012 – Financial Markets Infrastructure

Commission acts to increase the safety and efficiency of securities settlement in Europe (IP/12/221)

February

27.02.2012 – Internal Market

Making the Single Market work better: boosting Europe's potential for growth

24.02.2012 – Internal Market

Making the Single Market deliver – Annual governance check-up 2011(3 MB)  

23.02.2012 – Social Business

Call for applications for the expert group on social entrepreneurship (GECES)

22.02.2012 – Banking

Commissioner Barnier appoints members of a High-level Expert Group on possible reforms to the structure of the EU banking sector

21.02.2012 – Accounting

Commissioner Barnier welcomes final agreement to simplify accounting for Europe's smallest companies (MEMO/12/125)

20.02.2012 – Company Law

Consultation on the future of European Company Law

17.02.2012 – Banking

Conference: Towards a better regulation of the shadow banking system, 27.04.2012

17.02.2012 – Retail financial services

Special Eurobarometer on retail financial services

16.02.2012 – Company Law

FATF adopts revised international standards against money laundering and terrorist financing

16.02.2012 – Insurances

Decision concerning a reorganisation measure in respect of FORTE Asigurari SA

14.02.2012 – Free movement of professionals

Study “Providing an inventory of reserves of activities linked to professional qualifications requirements in 13 EU Member States and assessing their economic impact” – Final Report(3 MB)  , Annexe(3 MB)   (detailed legal inventory) and Executive summary(337 KB)  

13.02.2012 – Public Procurement

The European Commission is setting-up a stakeholder expert group on public procurement (MEX/12/0213)

09.02.2012 – Free movement of professionals

Meeting on the Modernisation of the Professional Qualifications Directive, 09.02.2012

09.02.2012 – Financial Markets Infrastructure

Agreement on new European rules to regulate financial derivatives (EMIR)

08.02.2012 – Company Law

Commission proposes a European Foundation Statute (IP/12/112)

06.02.2012 – Financial Services

New booklet: Restoring the Health and Stability of the EU Financial Sector  , 06.02.2012

05.02.2012 – Free movement of professionals

Webcast meeting on the Modernisation of the Professional Qualifications Directive, 05.02.2012

03.02.2012 – Free movement of capital

Commission Services' Paper on Market Monitoring published  

01.02.2012 – IPR-Enforcement

Winners of “Hands off my Design” competition announced (IP/12/93)

January

26.01.2012 – Public Procurement, Infringements

Commission acts to ensure implementation of EU rules in the area of defence procurement (IP/12/76)

26.01.2012 – Public Procurement, Infringements

The Commission acts to safeguard procedural transparency and ensure equal treatment of applicants in connection with a public works contract for the modernisation of road infrastructure in Bucharest (IP/12/73)

26.01.2012 – Insurances, Infringements

Commission acts to protect policy-holders and to ensure level playing field in the Bulgarian health insurance sector (IP/12/72)

26.01.2012 – Company Law, Infringements

Commission acts to ensure implementation of simplified EU rules on mergers and divisions in six countries (IP/12/74)

26.01.2012 – Free movement of professionals

Meeting on the Modernisation of the Professional Qualifications Directive, 02.02.2012

18.01.2012 – Occupational pensions

Public Hearing on the Revision of the Directive on Insti­tutions for Occu­pational Retire­ment Provisions, 01.03.2012

13.01.2012 – IPR-Enforcement

Commission publishes studies on parasitic copying and protection of trade secrets

12.01.2012 – Free movement of professionals

Proposal for modernising the Professional Qualifications Directive

11.01.2012 – Payment services

Consultation: Breaking down barriers to secure and innovative card, internet and mobile payments (IP/12/11)

11.01.2012 – Services

Stimulating growth and employment: an action plan for doubling the volume of e-commerce in Europe by 2015 (IP/12/10)

09.01.2012 – Postal services

The final report of the "Study on Appropriate Methodologies to Better Measure Consumer Preferences for Postal Services (Rand EUROPE 2011) has been posted on our website, see studies

09.01.2012 – Postal services

The final report of the "Study on intra-comunity cross-border parcel delivery" has been posted on our website, see studies