Institutional Framework
Once all 27 EU member states had ratified the Lisbon treaty on institutional reform, it entered into force on 1 December 2009.
Thanks to a series of new elements, the Lisbon treaty improves the capacity for action of a European Union which now encompasses 27 member states. The changes include better demarcation of competences between the European Union and the member states, e.g. through introduction of new competence categories and a right for national parliaments to lodge complaints. Moreover, the Council of Ministers will in future decide more often on the basis of a qualified majority. Co-decision has become the standard legislative procedure. Despite criticism of many details, German industry supports the Lisbon treaty. It decisively improves the European Union’s capacity for action and hence creates more reliable framework conditions for the further development of business in the European single market.
The subject of CSR is growing in importance for business, especially for internationally active companies. Customers, investors, non-government organizations (NGOs), and finally the state are tuning in to activities of German companies abroad.
On 17 October 2011 the European Commission published a revised version of its »Best Practices« papers on cartel investigations. The package includes a notice on Best Practices in antitrust proceedings, Best Practices on the submission of economic evidence, as well as a decision on the role of Hearing Officers in antitrust investigations. The first draft of the three papers was made public by the Commission in January 2010 and then opened up for consultation.
On 20 September 2011, the European Commission published the »Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe« under the direction of the Directorate-General for Environment. In comes under the umbrella of the flagship initiative of the European Commission »Resource Efficient Europe – A Flagship Initiative under the Europe 2020 Strategy«, which was adopted on 26 January 2011.
On 29 June 2011, the European Commission published its proposals for the Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014 – 2020. German business welcomes the envisaged greater focus of EU expenditure on competitiveness and growth contained within the proposals. Project bonds and the »Connecting Europe« facility could be valuable instruments in the necessary expansion of a trans-European infrastructure.
On 4 October 2011, the EU Council of Finance Ministers adopted a package of legislation to strengthen budgetary and economic coordination and the monitoring of macroeconomic imbalances, the so-called »six pack«. The European Parliament had already approved the compromise reached in trilogue negotiations in a plenary session on 28 September 2011.
»No proposal from the European Commission is adopted in the legislative procedure without any amendment«, says Henning vom Stein, Head of the EU Liaison Office at Commerzbank. Therefore the most effective way is to participate in the debate with objective and constructive ideas and suggestions for amendments right from the beginning. Whereas overly emotional public criticism at an early stage could destroy trust and ultimately reduce influence in the decision-making process.
In future, the European Commission will assess the potential impact on industrial competitiveness of economically relevant legislative proposals and political initiatives. At least, this is what the Commission announced in its communication »An Integrated Industrial Policy for the Globalisation Era – Putting Competitiveness and Sustainability at Centre Stage« in October 2010.
Restore confidence by consistently developing the European institutions.
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The European Commission and the European Parliament have started a common public transparency register for interest representatives.
With the adoption of the new regulations on the implementing powers of the Commission (182/2011) on 1 March 2011, the reform of the co-called comitology system came into effect.
The Hungarian government took over the Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers in January 2011.
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Contact
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BDI - Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V.
Tel: +49 (0) 30 2028-0
Fax: +49 (0)30 2028-2450
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Contact person
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Dr Tim Peters
Tel: +32 (0)2 792-1003
Fax: +32 (0)2 792-1010
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Address
Street address
Breite Straße 29
10178 Berlin
GermanyPostal address
BDI – Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e. V.
11053 Berlin
Germany
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