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Economic and Monetary Affairs: money markets funds, European Deposit Insurance Scheme, VAT
“We don’t need more Europe, we don’t need less Europe, we need a better Europe”, Minister of Finance Peter Kazimir, told Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee MEPs on 13 July. Mr Kazimir will chair the Economic and Financial Council (ECOFIN).
Presidency priorities include making progress on money markets funds, the prospectus directive, securitisation, a European Deposit Insurance Scheme (EDIS) and modernising the VAT system, as well as strengthening the implementation of country-specific economic policy recommendations, modernising the internal market and fostering investments, inter alia by prolonging the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) until 2020. [...]
Internal Market: geo-blocking, consumer rights, SMEs
Modernising and deepening the internal market is among the Presidency’s key priorities, Deputy Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini told the Internal Market Committee on 14 July. The Digital Single Market, including proposals on geo-blocking and enforcing consumer rights, is also high on its agenda. On the supply of digital content proposal, the Presidency aims to reach a “partial general approach” in the Council, he added. The modernisation of industry, with a particular attention to energy-efficient sectors, was also mentioned as an important priority by Economy Minister Peter Žiga.
MEPs highlighted the importance of the collaborative economy, cybersecurity and an economy “fit for the digital age”. Some MEPs argued that the geo-blocking proposal is not ambitious enough, and that this issue will have to be addressed. VAT rules, SMEs and the UK referendum/Brexit were also mentioned. [...]
Industry, Research and Energy: telecoms, 5G, China, Horizon 2020
The telecoms packages, including moving to a roaming charge-free system by 2017 and renegotiating use of mobile spectrum for 5G, are among the Presidency priorities, Transport, Construction and Regional Development Minister Roman Brecely told the Industry, Research and Energy Committee on 12 July.
On the issue of China’s market economy status, the Presidency will “proceed very carefully”, but there will be “sufficient protection for European industry”, Minister of Economy Peter Žiga told MEPs.
The Presidency will also aim to foster innovation, use the Horizon 2020 programme to the full and bring the European space programme to fruition, added Minister of Education, Science, Research and Sport Peter Plavčan on 11 July. [...]
Foreign affairs: EU enlargement, EU-NATO, visa requirements
Regaining the credibility of EU enlargement policy, which is the best EU tool to promote reforms in the neighbourhood, while maintaining the conditionality principle and assessing each country’s progress, is a key Presidency priority, Foreign and European affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák, told the Foreign Affairs Committee on 12 July.
MEPs welcomed the Presidency’s focus on enlargement, hoping the current slowdown could be overcome. Several asked Mr Lajčák to ensure the swift implementation of EU-NATO declaration on mutual capabilities and timely lifting of EU visa requirements for Georgia and Ukraine.
Legal Affairs: e-justice, copyright, whistleblower protection
More efficient cross-border judicial cooperation with emphasis on ‘e-justice’ - electronic communication in the justice field - is high the Presidency’s agenda, as are progress in creating a digital single market and copyright reform, Justice Minister Lucia Žitňanská and State Secretary at the Culture Ministry Ivan Sečík, told the Legal Affairs Committee on 12 July.
MEPs highlighted the importance of whistle-blower protection and progress on the shareholders’ rights directive. A priority stressed by both sides was revising the so-called ”Brussels IIa regulation” to help international couples resolve disputes, involving more than one country, over divorce and child custody. [...]