HORIZONTAL ISSUES

• The Lisbon Strategy
  EU Heads of State and Government agreed on the objective of making the EU the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010 at the EU Spring Summit in Lisbon (March 2000). They meet annually in March to review the progress on this objective and to decide upon future strategies.
• Better Regulation
  The ongoing debate as to how EU institutions can make laws that achieve their aims effectively and efficiently.
• European Social Model(s) and Globalisation
  The European Social Model(s) is currently being discussed in the context of how to make the EU globally competitive. Differences in opinion exist on whether such a social model actually exists and how it can be linked with discussions on globalisation, if, at all, it should.

SMALL BUSINESS ACT

Ongoing

• European Small Business Act
  The European Commission is seeking the views of SMEs and their representatives to help design a "Small Business Act" for Europe with a view to making a wide range of proposals to support SMEs by the end of 2008.
• European Private Company Statute
  A potential new European legal form of company, aimed at facilitating the cross-border activities of SMEs in the EU.
• Reduced rates of VAT on certain labour-intensive services
  Experiment to test the impact of a reduction of VAT on certain labour-intensive services.
• VAT invoicing
  A proposal aimed at further modernising, simplifying, and harmonising the existing rules on VAT invoicing in order to alleviate the burden on businesses.
• Late Payment Directive
  Amendment to the Late Payments Directive with a view to ensuring that SMEs are paid on time for any commercial transactions

INTERNAL MARKET

Ongoing

• Single Market Review
  A strategy to improve the EU internal market and to create a true single market
• Internal market for goods
  A package of proposals to improve the functioning of the internal market for goods, including improvements to the "new approach" (framework governing products already covered by EU level technical rules) and the mutual recognition principle (covering all other products)
• Public procurement
  Following the adoption of two directives in 2004 to open up the internal market in public procurement, member states are now in the implementation phase.
• Community Patent
  A long running debate over how best to provide the opportunity for new developments to be protected by a single patent covering the whole of the EU.
• Sales Promotions in the Internal Market
  The proposed regulation aims to harmonise sales promotion rules across the EU. It covers the use of sales promotion tools such as free gifts and promotional contests.

Completed

• Directive on Services in the Internal Market
• Directive on Patentibility of Computer-implemented inventions
• European Order for Payment Procedure
• Payments Services Directive
• Small Claims Procedure

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL AFFAIRS

Ongoing

• Modernisation of Labour Law and flexicurity
  The European Commission, in its 2006 Work Programme, announced publication of a Green Paper on the Evolution of Labour Law, to consult stakeholders on various labour law issues.
• Working Time Directive Review
  The Working Time Directive is a piece of European Health and Safety legislation that was passed in 1993 and came into effect in UK law in 1998. The directive sets minimum requirements for annual leave and rest periods and also a maximum working week of, on average, 48 hours a week. This average is calculated over a 17-week period (reference period).
• Temporary Agency Workers
  A proposal to grant temporary agency workers the same basic working conditions, including pay, as comparable permanent workers in the same company.
• Corporate Social Responsibility
  The broad definition of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) highlights the voluntary role of business in contributing to a better society and a cleaner environment beyond its financial and capital commitments.
• Electromagnetic Fields
  Third proposal on the protection of workers from the risks arising from exposure to physical agents, concerning electromagnetic fields.

Completed

• Optical Radiation
• Vibrations
• Worker Information and Consultation

ENERGY

Ongoing

• Climate change, emissions and economic instruments
  Wide-ranging debate on how to deal with climate change, including reduction of CO2 emissions and use of economic/market-based instruments (tax, emissions trading, subsidies)
• Energy efficiency
  Improvements in energy efficiency will help to deal with an increasing energy demand in the EU and to make energy supplies sustainable.
• Renewable energy and developing technologies
  An increase in the use of renewable energies and development of technologies will help to deal with an increasing energy demand in the EU and to make energy supplies sustainable.
• Creation of an internal market in gas and electricity
  Liberalisation of energy and gas markets, towards more competitive energy market. This should in turn lead to greater efficiency and a more secure supply for Europe.

ENTERPRISE

Ongoing

• European Charter for Small Enterprises
  The European Charter for Small Enterprises was agreed by member states at the 2000 Lisbon Council, as a measure toward realising the goal of making the EU the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world.
• Modern SME Policy for growth and employment
  Commission communication outlining an EU policy for SMEs, streamlining current policies and integrating the 'think small first' principle.
• Competitiveness and Innovation Programme & Multiannual Programme for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
  The Multi-annual programme for enterprise and entrepreneurship (MAP) 2001 - 2006 aimed to assist SMEs through financial instruments and provide support through Euro Info Centres, towards enhancing the growth and competitiveness of business in a knowledge-based internationalised economy. It was replaced in 2007 with the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP), which is much broader in scope and also integrates parts of the framework programme on research.
• Business life cycle
  Round-up of issues relating to setting up and running a business; including start-up, access to finance, business transfer and business failure.

Completed

• Time to move up a gear - Creating a Europe of entrepreneurship and growth(European Parliament own-initiative report)
• Entrepreneurship Green Paper and Action Plan

ENVIRONMENT

Ongoing

• Globally Harmonised System (GHS) for classification and labelling of substances
  Proposal for a regulation aligning the EU system for classification and labelling of substances with the UN system
• Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE)
  Review of existing legislation laying down obligations on producers of WEEE and public authorities for collection and recycling

Completed

• REACH
• Environmental Liability

CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Completed

• Unsolicited Commerical Email Directive
• Unfair Commercial Practices Directive

JUSTICE & HOME AFFAIRS

Ongoing

• Rome I
  Rome (I) Convention harmonised the rules for deciding which jurisdiction should apply in cases concerning contractual obligations.
• Environmental Crime
  Proposal for a directive to improve environmental protection by making certain environmental offences sanctionable through criminal law
• Sanctions against employers of illegal immigrants
  A proposal for a directive aimed at reducing illegal immigration through sanctions on employers of illegal immigrants
• Proposals for legal migration
  A proposal for a Council Directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of highly qualified employment and a proposal for a Council Directive on a single application procedure for a single permit for third-country nationals to reside and work in the territory of a Member State and on a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in a Member State

Completed

• Rome II

ECONOMIC & FINANCE

Completed

• Basel II Capital Adequacy Review

TRANSPORT

Ongoing

• Enhancing Supply Chain Security
  A proposal for a Regulation to enhance security in the supply chain against terrorist threats and work on standards for supply chain security.