Brussels 21 February 2008:
The European Parliament has today endorsed the next step to improve the functioning of the internal market of goods, much to the delight of Orgalime, the European engineering industries association. The decision on the package* is very positive for industry and has potential to serve as a clear and transparent basis for product regulation of the future.

The Commission is currently examining so-called claims about state aids and uncompetitive practices against cooperatives and regrettably parts of the Commission continue to display their inclinations to see one business form only. The logic of the co-operative system will not be so easily put aside. Any common approach adopted by the Commission must ensure that competition is NOT reduced through limiting the diversity of entrepreneurial objectives and forms.

It proposes a stable and flexible EU framework in which Member States keep control of their renewable energy policies through successful national support systems. In addition, cross-border transfer of guarantees of origin can only take place where Member States have met or exceeded their interim targets. For the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), these two elements are crucial for maintaining investor confidence and encouraging substantial investments in green electricity.

After the announcement of the setting up of a “mission for flexicurity” by Vladimir Spidla, Commissioner of DG Employment and Social Affairs during the Informal EPSCO Council in Brdo last Friday, CEEP spoke on behalf of public employers and expressed its willingness to give the mission all chances to succeed.

EPF and CPME: a Health services Directive is needed.
The European Patients’ Forum (EPF)and the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME) would like to reiterate their position to the still awaited health
services directive.