New measures on services, data economy and health and safety - Hoofdinhoud
The Commission i today adopted measures for a services economy that works for Europeans, proposed a digital, data economy and privacy package, and took steps to protect workers' health and safety.
A services economy that works for Europeans
The ambitious and balanced package of measures adopted today by the Commission will make it easier for companies and professionals to provide services to a potential customer base of 500 million people in the EU. This fresh boost to the services sector - which represents two thirds of the EU economy and generates 90% of all new jobs - will benefit consumers, jobseekers and businesses, and will generate economic growth across Europe. Today's proposals deliver on President Juncker’s political commitment to unleash the full potential of the Single Market and make it the launchpad for European companies to thrive in the global economy.
The proposals would make it easier for services providers to navigate administrative formalities, and help Member States identify overly burdensome or outdated requirements on professionals operating domestically or across borders. Rather than amending existing rules, the Commission is focused on ensuring they are applied better, as evidence shows this would provide a significant boost to the EU economy.
The four concrete initiatives adopted by the Commission today are: A new European Services e-card to make it easier for providers of business and construction services to provide services abroad; A proportionality assessment of national rules on professional services, to streamline and clarify how Member States should adopt or amend national rules on professional services; Guidance for national reforms in regulation of professions; Improved notification of draft national laws on services.
Commission strengthens trust in the Digital Single Market and gives a boost to the data economy
Updated legislation has been proposed today to ensure stronger privacy rules in electronic communications as well as policy and legal solutions to unleash the EU's data economy. A proposed ePrivacy Regulation aligns the rules for electronic communications with the new standards in the EU's General Data Protection Regulation. Today's Communication on achieving the European data economy addresses unjustified restrictions to the free movement of data across borders. The Commission has also tabled new data protection rules for the EU institutions and set out a strategic approach to the issue of international transfers of personal data, improving law enforcement cooperation, facilitating trade and developing high personal data protection standards globally.
Improving the health and safety of workers in the 21st century workplace
The Commission also took action today to promote Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in the EU, aiming to better protect workers against work-related cancer, to help businesses, in particular SME's and micro-enterprises, in their efforts to comply with the existing legislative framework, and to put a bigger focus on results and less on paperwork. It is estimated that about 160,000 Europeans die from illnesses related to their work every year.
Marking 30 Years of the Erasmus Programme
The Commissioners also launched celebrations of the 30th anniversary of Erasmus, the EU programme for education and training, and were informed about the planned events this year around what is now known as Erasmus+. During its first year in 1987, just 3,244 students from 11 European countries studied abroad with the programme. Since then, Erasmus+ and its predecessors have enriched the lives and opened the minds of 9 million people from 33 countries. Erasmus+ has many new features which have opened up the programme to new groups such as students in vocational training and apprentices, volunteers and youth workers, teachers, youth trainers and other education staff.
Other issues
The College also agreed to accept the registration today of a new European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) calling for a ban on glyphosate. From the date of its official registration, on 25 January, the organisers will have one year to collect one million signatures in support of their proposal. If they succeed, the College will discuss and respond to the proposal.
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