Main news from Brussels this week
date: 24/03/2017
Sixtieth anniversary of the Treaties of Rome
President Juncker is in Rome until tomorrow (25 March) to participate in events marking the 60thanniversary of the Treaties of Rome – behind the creation of the EU as we know it today. This evening, President Juncker, along with EU Heads of State or Government, will meet with His Holiness Pope Francis in Vatican City. On Saturday, the 27 Heads of State or Government and the Presidents of the EU institutions will sign the Rome Declaration – in the room where exactly 60 years ago the Rome Treaties were signed. The Rome Declaration will feature the Union's past achievements, and present the challenges it faces. All this follows the publication on 1 March of the Commission's White Paper on the Future of Europe, which seeks to kick-start discussions on what kind of future Europeans want for the EU.
Digital EU: from super computers to cross-border consumer loans
Two different initiatives outlined this week the EU's ambition to make its economy fit for the digital age. Seven member states – France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain – committed to support the next generation of computing and data infrastructure, the so-called high-performance computers. Separately, the European Commission is looking into how technology and online services can give consumers new cross-border opportunities to open bank accounts, take out loans and cut the cost of other financial transactions for example car rental.
Commission proposal to make national competition authorities even more effective
On 22 March, the European Commission proposed new rules to enable member states' competition authorities to be more effective enforcers of EU antitrust rules. By ensuring that national competition authorities can act effectively, the Commission's proposal aims to contribute to a more complete Single Market, promoting the overall goal of competitive markets, jobs and growth, while still respecting national specificities.
First Vice-President Timmermans' speech on better regulation
European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans delivered a speech on the Commission's Better Regulation Agenda on 20 March. Underlining the importance of evidence-based policy making in the context of political attacks on evidence and facts, the First Vice-President told the participants: "This is about changing incentives and attitudes. This is about ensuring that the system itself has changed, and doesn't need constant policing. That is why, over the past two years we have worked hard to embed better regulation into the DNA of the European Commission, installing a priority driven, evidence-based, disciplined, transparent and above all inclusive policy process. The aim is to make sure we deliver high quality policy proposals that remove obstacles to growth and foster innovation, proposals that minimise regulatory costs while promoting social and environmental sustainability."
All this week's key European Commission announcements can be found here