BusinessEurope Headlines No. 2017-19

High Level Meeting with VP Ansip and Commissioner Jourova on Privacy Shield and data protection

A balanced and reliable framework for processing personal data in Europe and transferring them to the US is essential for any business, highlighted Guido Lobrano at the 24 May meeting with European Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip and European Commissioner Vera Jourova. BusinessEurope is following closely the national implementation of the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in order to ensure a harmonised set of data privacy rules for Europe. The joint work of national data protection authorities and the European Commission to provide guidance on their concrete application is crucial in this regard. In parallel, the first annual review of the Privacy Shield – which is delivering an essential and reliable framework for transatlantic data transfers – is approaching. BusinessEurope calls on the EU and US Institutions to work closely to make it successful.

Contact: Guido Lobrano

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BusinessEurope's position on anti-dumping

On 9 November 2016, the European Commission presented a legislative proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the European Council amending the basic EU anti-dumping and anti-subsidy regulations. The Commission’s document proposes to change the methodology used to calculate the dumping margin to capture market distortions linked to state intervention in third countries that conceal the true extent of dumping practices. For BusinessEurope, the EU legislation should respect the following key principles: Compliance with WTO and EU rules; objectivity of methodology, with market distortions determination based on technical criteria; effectiveness of TDI-Trade Defence Instruments in restoring a level playing field; workability for the industry, which means that no additional workload must be imposed on EU economic operators as compared to the current legislation. Moreover the level of protection for EU economic operators should not fall below the level of protection of the current methodology. While the Commission proposal abandons the presumption that certain countries are non-market economies, EU companies must be able to rely on the country or sector reports to provide prima facie evidence while filing a complaint for alleged dumping practices. Having few resources to provide the necessary evidence, SMEs are particularly vulnerable.

  Contact: Luisa Santos

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Joint industry statement on the harmonisation of supply of digital content rules

Differences between national rules for the supply of digital content should be tackled using full harmonisation at a reasonable level. The proposed rules should also avoid overlaps and contradictions with the existing European data protection framework and ensure legal certainty on data related aspects. These priorities are part of a joint-statement issued by BusinessEurope, EuroCommerce, DigitalEurope, EcommerceEurope, EMOTA and FEDMA in the view of the upcoming Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting of 9-10 June on the European Commission proposal on the supply of digital content.

  Contact: Pedro Oliveira

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European services e-card must bring concrete benefits for companies

The idea behind a European services e-card is a good one. If the services e-card system is well developed, businesses will benefit from the support of their own Member State when wanting to provide their services in another country. The card should also help to reduce administrative burden. However, for its take-up and success it is fundamental that the concrete added value of the e-card is clear. Therefore, the proposals need to be improved to ensure that the updating obligations and potential fee for the card do not outweigh its advantages. This was stressed by Jeroen Hardenbol at a workshop on the e-card organised by the EFTA Secretariat in the presence of the European Commission, EU Member States and other key stakeholders. Moreover, the views of the specific targeted sectors - namely business services and construction - need to be taken well into account. It is also important that the European services e-card remains voluntary and does not de facto create an extra layer of bureaucracy in addition to existing EU, national, regional, local and sector-specific regulation on services. The card should be an optional tool for companies that need it.

BusinessEurope to launch Circular Economy Industry Platform on 31 May

During the 4^th meeting of the EU-Ukraine Civil Society Platform – established under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement – that took place on 18 May in Brussels, BusinessEurope presented a report on the 1^st year of implementation of the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free trade Area (DCFTA), into provisional application since 1 January 2016. The report focuses on the evolution of bilateral trade and investment flows in the past year as well as on the progress achieved under different chapters of the Agreement, including on the implementation of tariffs and tariff rate quotas, the provisions on services, sanitary and phytosanitary issues (SPS), public procurement, competition and, of course, the trade and sustainable development chapter. Although steady progress has been observed so far, it is important to note that challenges in the implementation of the DCFTA remain, especially in the area of sustainable development. The report urges the EU and Ukraine to resolve all remaining institutional constrains that obstruct the effective implementation of the DCFTA and emphasises the active role of the EU and Ukrainian Civil Society in this respect. The EU-Ukraine Civil Society Platform will continue to assess the implementation of the DCFTA and will further address this subject in future meetings.