The European Commission has adopted its 2010 work programme - setting out its major policy commitments for 2010 and the coming years. The programme sets out a list of 34 strategic priorities to be implemented by the end of the year and a further 280 (more tentative) major proposals for consideration during 2010 and beyond.
One such firm commitment is to issue a communication in the second quarter of the year to prepare for the 'relaunch' of the Single Market (which will take place in 2012 - the twentieth anniversary of the Single Market). There are concerns that EU still has a patchwork of national and regional markets and that achieving a barrier-free single market is still some way off. The communication will therefore seek to diagnose the problem areas and propose solutions to enable the Single Market to deliver its full potential.
In the field of collective redress, the Commission commits to conduct an in-depth analysis of policy coherence in the EU starting in 2010. It will publicly consult on common legal principles and concrete issues which should guide any future EU proposals. This work will feed into the work already carried out in relation to private antitrust actions for damages and consumer collective redress. The commitment to undertake further detailed work in this area underlines the Commission's concerns that any EU legislation is coherent and balanced and does not lead to the excesses of US style class action litigation.
In the competition field, the Commission refers to the following initiatives for 2010 and beyond:
- the review of the policy framework for horizontal co-operation agreements. The current block exemptions for specialisation and R&D agreements expire in December 2010 and the Commission will assess these along with the related guidelines. The new guidelines are expected to include additional provisions on standard setting and information exchanges; and
- the review of the motor vehicle policy framework. A new block exemption and guidelines are due to be implemented as of 1 June 2010 in relation to the aftermarkets for servicing and repairs and 1 June 2013 as regards the primary motor vehicle market.
Other strategic initiatives scheduled for 2010 include a communication on a European Digital Agenda to be published in the second quarter of 2010 and an Energy Infrastructure Package in the fourth quarter.
This is the first time that the Commission has included in its Work Programme a non-exhaustive list of initiatives for consideration in years to come - a development which is aimed at improving transparency with stakeholders and the other EU institutions.
To view Community Week, Issue 466 - 9 April 2010 in full, click here.
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