Latest posts
Commission proposes a European Foundation Statute
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European Foundations will have legal personality and legal capacity in all Member States. This new status will allow them to carry out activities and channel funding within the EU in an easier and less costly way. It will also allow foundations to be...
Your Europe Advice receives its 100,000th enquiry
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Your Europe Advice is a service offered by the European Commission that allows citizens and businesses to ask questions about their EU rights. The 100,000th enquiry came from a Spanish woman who wanted to know about her right to access medical treat...
Europe, America, and the rise of Asia
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Commissioner Barnier took part in a panel discussion at the 48th Munich Security Conference. Over the past decades the Munich Security Conference has become the major security policy conference worldwide.
Commissioner Barnier in Copenhagen: Young Europeans have a lot to gain from the Single Market
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Commissioner Barnier gave a speech at the Copenhagen University and a speech at the Conference "One Europe – One Market", organised by the Danish Presidency.
Intellectual property rights: Winners of "Hands off my Design" competition announced
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Counterfeiting and piracy are a growing threat for the economy. In order to draw attention to this phenomenon the European Observatory on Counterfeiting and Piracy launched an EU-wide contest named "Hands off my Design". Design students and professio...
Regulatory framework for bonuses: the next steps
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"The framework for remuneration plays an important role in restoring public confidence in European banks." Speech by Commissioner Barnier at the European Parliament workshop on the rules of CRD III in the area of remuneration policies.
"Prevention is better than cure" - Interview
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In an interview with Bloomberg at Davos, Commissioner Barnier talks about the plan for an EU framework for bank resolution and crisis management in the financial sector. He also discusses shadow banking, rules on bank bonuses, the relationship with t...
ECOFIN Council: agreement on derivatives
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Statement by Commissioner Barnier following the agreement at the ECOFIN Council on a revised mandate on derivatives (EMIR).
Financial regulation - a review of 2011 and a forward look to 2012
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"The EU must not hinder the City's energy. But I am sure it is in the City's interest, and the wider British interest, to play the European game." Speech by Commissioner Barnier in London.
Statement by Commissioner Barnier on intellectual property rights and online piracy
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"The Commission is closely monitoring developments in our Member States and other countries in the field of intellectual property rights and online piracy, including the current debate in the US Congress on proposed legislation". ...
Towards new economic and financial governance in Europe
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"The meaning of the decisions taken by the European Commission, heads of state and government, is very clear. At the highest level, there is an unbreakable political determination to take all the necessary measures to overcome the current crisis". Sp...
Restoring confidence in the financial sector – acting regionally and globally
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"The current crisis is not only a 'European crisis'. It affects all countries. Therefore, we should reinforce global governance". Speech by Commissioner Barnier at the Asian Financial Forum, Hong Kong.
Creation of a High-level Expert Group on reforming the structure of the EU banking sector
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In agreement with President Barroso, Commissioner Barnier has today appointed Erkki Liikanen as the Chairman of the future Group.
Downgrades of sovereign credit rating in euro area
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Statement by Commissioner Barnier on the decision by Standard & Poor's to downgrade several countries in the euro area.
Commission publishes studies on parasitic copying and protection of trade secrets
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The European Commission has published a study on the existing national legal protection in the EU Member States against parasitic copying - the practice of marketing products which are designed to look like pre-existing products of well established b...
Consultation: Breaking down barriers to secure and innovative card, internet and mobile payments
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The way European citizens shop and pay is radically changing. A secure and transparent integrated payments environment throughout the EU could create more efficient, modern and safer means of payments. Based on the Green Paper adopted today, the Com...
Commission adopts an action plan for doubling the volume of e-commerce in Europe by 2015
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In the difficult circumstances facing Europe we must seize every source of activity and new jobs as a matter of urgency. The development of electronic commerce and online services offers enormous potential for beneficial economic, social and societal...
European patent: Statement by Commissioner Barnier
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25 Member States and the European Parliament have agreed to create a single European patent. The Council reached agreement on everything, except for where the Court headquarters will be located ...
Commissioner Michel Barnier welcomes agreement by Council and Parliament establishing SEPA migration end-dates
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"Today's agreement by the European Parliament and the Council represents a significant step towards a truly integrated market for electronic retail payments in euro". Statement by Commissioner Barnier. ...
Modernising European public procurement to support growth and employment
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The efficiency of public tendering has become a priority for all Member States, in view of the current budgetary constraints. The revision of the public procurement Directives announced by the Commission today is part of an overall programme to thoro...
