Public Affairs Roundup July 09

Dear IAB Europe colleague,

This newsletter brings you, amongst other issues, updates on the newly-elected European Parliament, the Swedish Presidency and changes at the Commission.

You’d be interested to know that Sweden’s Supreme Administrative Court recently passed a judgment confirming the country’s privacy regulator’s view that IP addresses should be treated as personal data. The processing of IP addresses in order to fight online copyright infringement has been however condoned by the Court.

For any questions, do not hesitate to contact us: publicaffairs@iabeurope.eu.
Note that, due to the Parliament’s being in summer recess, there will be no Top Ten in August.

Have a great summer!

Giovanna Fumagalli
Public Affairs IAB Europe   

1.    Update on the Stockholm Programme
2.    The Lisbon Council - The 2009 Ludwig Erhard Lecture
3.    Swedes eager to press on with Telecoms Package
4.    DG JLS launches consultation on the fundamental right to protect personal data
5.    Commission adopts consumer package
6.    Swedish Presidency hosts ministers in alcohol marketing debate
7.    Priorities of the Swedish Presidency of the EU
8.    European Parliament Update
9.    Commission News
10.    MEPs entering “Conversation Age” of the internet

1. Update on the Stockholm Programme

EU Member State Justice and home affairs ministers met informally on 15-17 July to discuss the draft version of the Stockholm Programme, which is expected to be adopted at the Council Summit in December.

Following the Tampere Programme (1999-2004) and The Hague Programme (2005-2010), the Stockholm Programme outlines EU priorities in the area of justice and home affairs. The five-year plan aims at establishing a “Europe of rights” by putting citizenship and other fundamental rights at the core of its agenda.

On 22nd July, Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security (JLS), Jacques Barrot, presented the Commission’s draft Stockholm Programme to the LIBE Committee at the Parliament.

Mr Barrot highlighted the need for a more comprehensive data protection regime in Europe, in order to fight terrorism, cybercrime and child pornography. Should the Lisbon treaty come into force next autumn, the EU will have stronger control over third pillar issues such as cross-border law enforcement and similar justice matters.

The Parliament’s reaction was far from positive and MEPs criticised the proposal which claims to protect citizens’ fundamental right to privacy, but on the other hand aims at introducing invasive measures such as internet monitoring, biometric passports, retention of communications data and monitoring of financial transactions. MR Barrot reassured MEPs that the EU will not become a Big Brother system. LIBE committee should adopt a report on the draft Stockholm Programme by mid-November.

Peter Hustinx, the European Data Protection Supervisor, believes the Programme should contain a stronger focus on protecting citizens' fundamental rights but the Commission has stressed its determination to be leading the world on data protection standards.

For the Commission Communication click here:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52009DC0262:EN:NOT

For the EDPS opinion click here:
http://www.edps.europa.eu/EDPSWEB/webdav/site/mySite/shared/Documents/EDPS/PressNews/Press/2009/EDPS-2009-08_Stockholm_programme_EN.pdf

2. The Lisbon Council - The 2009 Ludwig Erhard Lecture

On 9th July, Commissioner for Telecommunications and Media Viviane Reding outlined her vision for a more active European digital approach to help overcome the current financial and economic crisis and sustain EU growth and prosperity for the future. Speaking at the 2009 Ludwig Erhard Lecture, the Commissioner alluded to the German post-war politician and economist by stating that, by harnessing Europe’s digital economy, Europeans could create their own modern-day ‘Wirtschaftswunder’.

Ms Reding stressed the need for concrete and determined policy action coupled with pragmatism and openness to innovation; all this at no extra cost to the taxpayer. She spoke of the importance of creating the right framework to encourage Europe’s “digital natives” (16-24 year olds) to drive this new digital strategy forward. In order to bring about this radical transformation the Commissioner went on to outline short and long term initiatives.

Ms Reding spoke about 4 concrete steps to focus on over the next few months:

1. Swift reform of the Telecoms package – consistent, EU-wide telecoms regulation could boost GDP by 1.6% to 2% and save Europe’s businesses an estimated 20 billion euros each year. 
2. Encourage Next Generation Networks – investment into fibre networks instead of copper ones.
3. Make 3G mobile phone services more attractive – creating a mobile knowledge based society in Europe.
4. Accelerate analogue to digital TV switchover in Member States.

Four priorities for the next five years:

1. To promote digital content produced in Europe by making it easier and more attractive to access. Ms Reding spoke about the polarised debate between violating intellectual property rights and freedom of access to the internet. She said both sides were right but stressed that a fresh approach to the situation was needed. Now that internet piracy is becoming ‘sexy’, especially among 16 to 24 year olds, it should be a wake-up call for policy makers.
   She suggested two ways the Commission could progress the debate; firstly, to facilitate the licensing of IPR for online services across all 27 Member States and, secondly, to create a modern set of European rules that encourage the digitisation of books to ensure that authors get fair remuneration. She stressed that if European copyright rules on orphan works and libraries are not reformed swiftly then American companies would continue to have the upper hand in this field. 
2. To create EU-wide standards and rules to encourage mobile payments. Using your mobile as an electronic wallet to pay for day to day items. 
3. Opening up Europe’s digital economy to SMEs so that they may profit from using web based services by only paying for what they use. Ms Reding warned, however, that all such services are US owned and called on Europe-hosted “clouds” to be set up. 
4. Her final priority is to make better use of ICT to engender a low carbon economy. Energy savings through more appropriate use of IT systems and greater use of video streaming to reduce the carbon footprint of business trips were two examples of this.

Ms. Reding concluded by saying that it is now time to end institutional talk and harness a digital strategy to put Europe back on the path of sustainable growth.  

For her speech, click here: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/09/336

3. Swedes eager to press on with Telecoms Package

The Swedish EU Presidency is eager to make early progress with the much debated Telecoms Package.

The Council of EU Ministers, yet to publish its position on the Parliament’s second reading vote of the package, is scheduled to meet on the 9th October.

The Presidency gave a presentation to the Committee of Permanent Representatives on 24th July stating that an informal trialogue between all EU institutions would take place at the end of September to pave the way for the conciliation procedure to begin in October.

On 29th July the Commission published three opinions on the Parliament's Second Reading amendments to the Council's Common Position regarding the Telecom Package (one opinion for each Directive).

The Commission adopted its proposal for the Review of the Telecoms Package on 13 November 2007 and submitted it to the Parliament and to the Council on 15 November 2007 for adoption by co-decision procedure. The Economic and Social Committee gave its opinion on 29 May 2008. The Committee of the Regions adopted its opinion on 19 June 2008. On 6 November 2008 the Commission adopted its amended proposal1 incorporating in whole or in part many of the amendments voted by the Parliament in its first reading on 24 September 2008.  The Council, in accordance with Article 251 of the EC Treaty, adopted its common position on the proposal on 16 February 20092. The Commission adopted its Communication on the common position of the Council on 17 February 20093. The Parliament adopted its position in second reading on 6 May 2009.

In its opinion published in July 2009, the Commission accepts the Parliament's amendments as being in line with the overall purpose and the general characteristics of the proposal. The Commission amends its Proposal in line with the amendments voted by the Parliament at its plenary session on 6 May 2009.

4. DG JLS launches consultation on the fundamental right to protect personal data

DG JLS opened a public consultation on the legal framework for the fundamental right of personal data protection in the fields of Freedom, Justice and Security; Internal Market; and Information Society.

The aim is to gather views on the new challenges for personal data protection in order to maintain an effective and comprehensive legal framework to protect individual’s personal data within the EU.

The Consultation is open until 31 December 2009. The participants are invited to address 3 key questions in their submissions.

• Please give us your views on the new challenges for personal data protection, in particular in the light of new technologies and globalisation
• In your views, the current legal framework meets these challenges?
• What future action would be needed to address the identified challenges?

Received contributions will be published online.
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/news/consulting_public/news_consulting_0003_en.htm

5. Commission adopts consumer package

On 2nd July, the Commission adopted a package of measures aimed at strengthening EU-wide enforcement of consumer rules. The “consumer enforcement package” sets out five key areas for action and also provides a biennial report on the application on the first two years of the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Regulation.

The five areas are:

1. developing common interpretation of EU consumer law and on questions on applicable law
2. improving market monitoring
3. Strengthening cooperative frameworks such as the CPC Network and market surveillance systems for dangerous consumer products (RAPEX) and providing training for national authorities. 
4. Improving the transparency of market surveillance investigations 
5. Fostering international cooperation - though agreements with enforcement authorities in third countries (e.g., US, China)

On the basis of this package, Member States and the Parliament will begin discussions as how to find the best way to improve enforcement.

Click here for more information:
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1080&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

6. Swedish Presidency hosts ministers in alcohol marketing debate

On 7th July, the EU ministers at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs meeting in Jönköping discussed how marketing of alcohol influences young people’s drinking habits.

The ministers were informed about the increase of binge drinking among young people in the EU and how the internet is used to spread messages about alcoholic drinks. Under EU rules, marketing targeted at young people is prohibited.

According to a survey carried out by the Swedish Federation of Alcohol and Drug Awareness, “young people’s ‘binge drinking’, defined as five or more drinks at one time, has increased”.

It was agreed that action was needed at both EU and national level to protect young people from marketing of alcohol.

For more information visit:

http://www.se2009.eu/en/meetings_news/2009/7/7/alcohol_and_young_people

7. Priorities of the Swedish Presidency of the EU

The 1st July marked the start of the Swedish Presidency.

Among their priorities are: combating rising unemployment and the financial crisis, tackling climate change, fighting cross-border crime, improving the economy in the Baltic Sea region, EU enlargement and strengthening the EU’s global role as a beacon of peace, development, democracy and human rights. 

Other priorities of the work programme of the Swedish Council Presidency which can specifically affect advertising include:

• Promotion of good health of EU citizens, which will focus on the implementation of the EU alcohol strategy (the Commission will present its first progress report on the implementation of the strategy at national and EU level, in order to establish long-term prevention efforts for alcohol-related harm). The Presidency will host a conference on alcohol on 21-22 September in Stockholm.
• Progress on the pharmaceuticals package. 
• Efficient energy policy in order to ensure that a decision is taken on the proposed revision of the proposed revision of the Energy Labelling Directive and draft Directive on energy labelling of tyres.
• An efficient Single Market, which involve working towards an agreement on a draft directive on consumer rights. EU-wide harmonised consumer protection should improve consumers’ and businesses’ confidence in cross-border trade, with greater competition, a wider choice and lower prices as a result. On 4th November, an event on Consumer Rights in the Internal Market will be hosted by the Presidency.  
• Action to achieve an agreement on a new regulation on food information for consumers, to improve information to consumers on the nutritional content of food. 
• Strengthening gender equality for economic growth and employment. To this end, there will be a high-level conference on the importance of gender equality for economic growth and employment, in Stockholm on 15–16 October. The Equality Summit will also take place in Stockholm, on 16–17 November.
• Telecommunications/IT for economic growth and competitiveness and an accessible knowledge society, thus the Presidency will work to ensure that the revised Telecom Package is approved this autumn. 
• Culture and media – for a creative generation: the Presidency aims at strengthening children and young people as media consumers.

8. European Parliament Update

July saw a hectic few weeks at the European Parliament, as MEPs were divided into their committees for the 7th Parliamentary term and new parties got to grips with their surroundings.

Here is a list of the elected Chairs for each committee:
 
Committee    Chairman/Chairwoman
AFET Foreign Affairs - Gabriele ALBERTINI (Italy; EPP)
DRO Human Rights - Heidi HAUTALA* (Finland; Greens)
SEDE Security and Defence - Arnaud DANJEAN* (France; EPP)
DEVE Development - Eva JOLY* (France; Greens)
INTA International Trade - Vital Moreira (S&D, Portugal)
BUDG Budget - Alain LAMASSOURE (France; EPP)
CONT Budgetary Control - Luigi de MAGISTRIS* (Italy; ALDE)
ECON Economic and Monetary Affairs  - Sharon BOWLES (United Kingdom; ALDE)
EMPL Employment and Social Affairs - Pervenche BERES (France; S&D)
ENVI Environment, Public Health and Food Safety - Jo LEINEN (Germany; S&D)
ITRE Industry, Research and Energy - Herbert REUL (Germany; EPP)
IMCO Internal Market and Consumer Protection - Malcolm HARBOUR (UK; ECR)
TRAN Transport and Tourism - Brian SIMPSON* (United Kingdom; S&D)
REGI Regional Development - Danuta HÜBNER* (Poland; EPP)
AGRI Agriculture and Rural Development - Paolo DE CASTRO* (Italy; S&D)
CULT Culture and Education - Doris PACK *(Germany; EPP)
JURI Legal Affairs - Klaus-Heiner LEHNE (Germany; EPP)
LIBE Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs - Fernando LOPEZ AGUILAR (Spain; S&D)
AFCO Constitutional Affairs - Carlo Casini (Italy; EPP)
FEMM Women's Rights and Gender Equality - Eva-Britt Svensson (GUE/NGL, Sweden)
PETI Petitions - Erminia Mazzoni (Italy, EPP)

In order to avoid division in the EPP, the Italian MEP Mario Mauro has officially decided not to pursue his candidacy as Parliament’s president. On 14th July, Jerzy Buzek, former Prime Minister of Poland, was elected as President of the European Parliament. The EPP member received the overwhelming support of his fellow MEPs (555 votes, 75%) and shall hold the post for two and a half years. Speaking in Strasbourg Mr Buzek cited energy security and a more comprehensible EU as key tasks for his term.

Guy Verhofstadt, the former Belgian Prime Minister, was elected as the new leader of the European liberal party ALDE. Mr Verhofstadt replaces Graham Watson. UK ALDE MEP Diana Wallis was the only other contender to Mr Verhofstadt, but she withdrew her candidature and is now expected to continue as Vice President of the Parliament.

Martin Schulz has been re-elected as leader of the 183-strong Socialist group. Upon re-election, the German politician named three main challenges facing the party: to bring about greater social justice, enhance democracy and to combat growing extremism in Europe.

Josef Daul has been re-elected as leader of the 264-strong EPP party.

Elsewhere the Greens succeeded in welcoming the high-profile Swedish Pirate Party MEP Christian Engström to their ranks.

The newly formed European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group has elected Polish MEP Michal Tomasz Kaminski as its Chairman. The appointment of Mr Kaminski was a last minute decision by the party in reaction to renegade ECR MEP Edward McMillan-Scott unexpectedly claiming one of the fourteen Parliament Vice-President posts, a position intended for Mr Kaminsky. Frontrunner MEP Timothy Kirkhope was forced to stand aside as Chairman for purposes of unity within the ECR.

Malcolm Habour’s appointment as Chairman of Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee has given the UK Tories a vital position to impact EU legislation. Mr Habour stated that he "will be working to ensure that consumers are well informed and well protected and are able to take advantage of a dynamic and competitive market.”

The arrival of two British National Party MEPs has sparked protest from UK labour MEPs. An 88,000 signature petition against the right-wing members was handed to British Labour deputy Michael Cashman.

Britain’s Europe Minister Glenys Kinnock has publicly said that former Prime Minister Tony Blair is Britain’s candidate for president of the European Council. The position would be up for grabs once the Lisbon Treaty is finally ratified, Irish referendum vote permitting, later this year.

9. Commission News

Member States have formally nominated José Manuel Barroso for a second term as European Commission President. On 15 Sepetember the European Parliament will vote on whether to approve Barroso for a second term.

Commissioner Reding is looking certain to undertake an unprecedented third term as Luxemburg’s Commissioner for Information Society and Media. She has cited privacy, intellectual property and copyright as her main goals.

On 6th July, Boyko Borissov, who won the parliamentary elections in Bulgaria and is likely to be the next Prime Minister, announced that he will not put forward Kuneva’s candidature as Commissioner and she will be an MEP instead. Mr Borissov will most likely nominate MEP Rumiana Jeleva as Commissioner, specialized in regional development.  Ms. Kuneva has decided to complete her term as Commissioner and not take up her seat as an MEP. With important reports due in the coming months Ms Kuneva believes seeing out her term will be in the better interests of Bulgaria.

Polish Commissioner Danuta Hübner (Regional Policy) and Belgian Commissioner Louis Michel (Development Aid) have taken their seats as MEPs, their replacements at the Commission shall be decided in September. Poland have named Paweł Samecki to serve as interim replacement for Hübner while centre-right MEP Janusz Lewandowski will likely be Poland's candidate for the Commission's next mandate.

Lithuanian Commissioner Dalia Grybauskaite has been elected President of the Baltic country, Finance Minister Algirdas Šemeta will be his replacement as Commissioner.

A new and revamped Europa website shall be launched in the coming weeks. The site, one of the most information heavy sites in the world, has not been properly restructured since its conception in 1995. EU officials hope the new-look site will help improve the transparency of the European institutions and shake off its “lethargic and overly bureaucratic mindset.”

Click here to read more and for a preview of the new site:
http://www.euractiv.com/en/pa/europa-website-set-major-facelift/article-184063
http://www.euractiv.com/25/images/NewEuropahomepage.jpg

10. MEPs entering “Conversation Age” of the internet

The Parliament elections have highlighted the increasing role of social media in politics and signalled the dawn of the “Conversation Age”. MEPs and their staff are using blogs and social media more and more to interact with their constituents and create online discussions involving all stakeholders.

Although the role of the internet in European politics is still not comparable to the US, MEPs are using the web more to research and communicate topics. But public affairs firms are keen to stress that a blend of on- and offline media is needed to convey the best message to the public.