Main news from Brussels this week
date: 20/12/2019
European Semester Autumn Package: creating an economy that works for people and the planet
On 17 December, the European Commission presented an ambitious growth strategy, focussed on promoting competitive sustainability to build an economy that works for people and the planet. The new cycle of economic policy recommendations, known as the European Semester cycle, is the first of the new mandate of the EU’s executive arm under President Ursula von der Leyen.
The annual sustainable growth strategy delivers on the vision set out in President von der Leyen's political guidelines. It sets out the economic and employment policy strategy for the EU, placing sustainability and social inclusion at the heart of the EU's economic policymaking, in line with the priorities enshrined in the European Green Deal, the Commission's new growth strategy. It aims to ensure that Europe remains the home of the world's most advanced welfare systems, becomes the first climate-neutral continent and is a vibrant hub of innovation and competitive entrepreneurship. It will give Europe the tools to strive for more when it comes to social fairness and prosperity. The sustainable growth strategy will also help the EU and its member states achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which the Commission is integrating into the European Semester for the first time.
Citizen’s initiative leads to better access and improved drinking water quality in EU
On 19 December, the Commission welcomed the provisional agreement by the European Parliament and the Council on the recast Drinking Water Directive which will improve the quality of drinking water, access to it, as well as providing better information to the public. The agreement is a direct follow-up to the Right2Water European Citizens' initiative. The new EU rules reflect state of the art technological innovation, going beyond World Health Organisation recommendations and are expected to become a global standard. The provisional agreement is now subject to formal approval by the European Parliament and the Council and once approved, the Directive will be published in the EU's Official Journal and enter into force 20 days later.
Consumers and businesses save money thanks to new EU cross-border payments rules
From 16 December, consumers and businesses in non-eurozone countries will benefit from cheaper cross-border payments in euro. New EU rules will ensure all cross-border payments in euro in non-eurozone countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Hungary, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden – will be priced the same as domestic payments.
Booking.com commits to align practices presenting offers and prices with EU law
Booking.com, the online hotel booking website, has committed to make changes to the way it presents offers, discounts and prices to consumers following talks with the European Commission and national consumer authorities. Once these new changes are fully applied, consumers will be able to make better informed comparisons in line with the requirements of EU consumer law.
Stop Finning Citizen’s initiative
On 17 December, the European Commission decided to register a European Citizens' initiative entitled ‘Stop Finning – Stop the Trade' related to sharks and rays. The aim is to ‘end the trade of fins in the EU including the import, export and transit of fins other than if naturally attached to the animal's body.' The registration of this initiative will take place on 2 January 2020, allowing the organisers to start the collection of signatures. Should the initiative receive one million statements of support within one year, from at least seven different member states, the Commission will have six months to decide how to act.
All this week's key European Commission announcements can be found here