The Week in Europe 14-20/04/01

03.05.2001 | Euroskop

EU news in brief

Commission calls for EU Institutions and Member States to work together to improve Internal Market performance

The European Commissions second annual Review of the Internal Market Strategy shows that progress in improving the performance of the Internal Market has been disappointing. Of the 36 actions scheduled to be achieved by June 2001, only 20 (or 55%) are expected to be completed on time. The responsibility for this poor record has to be shared by the Commission, the other EU institutions and Member States. The Review, entitled "Working Together to Maintain Momentum", stresses the need for closer co-operation between all parties to improve performance. As well as assessing progress since last year, the Review sets the direction of Internal Market policy for the next 18 months. The Internal Market is at the heart of the Lisbon strategy to make the EU the most dynamic and competitive economy in the world by 2010, and the updated Strategy reflects this ambition. The Commission is seeking firm endorsement of this year's priorities and proposed actions from both the European Parliament and the Council and a commitment that deadlines will be met by all. The full text of the Communication Plan is available on the Europa Internet site:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/en/index.htm

Background text: IP/01/564

Microsoft agrees not to influence technology decisions of European digital cable operators

The European Commission has carried out an investigation into the investments of US software company Microsoft Corp in the European digital cable television industry. This was to ensure that the technology decisions of cable operators are made on merit and that suppliers of set-top box technology can compete with Microsoft on equal terms. The investigation will be closed now that Microsoft and its strategic allies have agreed to abolish or change their so-called "Technology Boards" so that the latter's recommendations are no longer binding.

Background text: IP/01/569

Commission to tackle tax obstacles to cross-border provision of occupational pensions

The European Commission has proposed a comprehensive strategy to address the tax obstacles that currently can act as a major disincentive to individuals wishing to contribute to pension schemes outside their home Member State and pension institutions that wish to provide pensions across borders. The Commission will monitor Member States national rules in this field and take the necessary steps to ensure their compliance with the Treaty, in particular with the rules on non-discrimination. Where necessary, the Commission will initiate legal action against Member States. In addition, the Commission suggests measures to safeguard Member States tax revenues in cases of cross-border pension provision. The Commission also suggests a co-ordinated approach to eliminate the tax obstacles, particularly double taxation, which arise from the diversity of Member States occupational pension taxation systems. The initiative was promised by the Commission at the 23-24 March Stockholm European Council and forms part of the Commissions new strategy to open up pan-European labour markets by 2005 adopted on 28 February (see IP/01/276). The new tax initiative complements the Commissions October 2000 proposal for a Directive on occupational retirement provision that would facilitate cross-border pension provision and investment (see IP/00/1141). The full text of the Communication on the elimination of tax obstacles to the cross-border provision of occupational pensions is available on the Europa internet site:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/index_en.htm

Background text: IP/01/575

Commission clears UEFA's new Broadcasting Regulations

The Commission has decided that UEFAs new rules on the broadcasting of football matches as amended in July 2000 fall outside the scope of European competition rules. The rules allow national football associations to block the broadcasting on television of football during 2˝ hours either on Saturday or Sunday to protect stadium attendance and amateur participation in the sport and are a good example of how to reconcile competition rules and the special characteristics of sport.

The issue of the broadcasting rules of European football governing body UEFA goes back several years and met with the strong opposition of commercial broadcasting companies, which complained they were being unduly restricted in their freedom to show the matches they had paid for. The new Broadcasting Regulations represent a significant improvement compared to the Broadcasting Regulations that were originally presented to the Commission in terms of scope and procedure, which has permitted the Commission to declare the rules outside of the scope of the competition rules.

Background text: IP/01/583