Monitoring Service fulfils a double expectation, that is, to provide an effective advance warning system for recent EU developments, but also comprehensive and analytical information services on developments towards the completion of the Internal Market or different sectorial EU issues.
Proposed approach
Given the enormous scope of the EU Commission's programs and the increasing importance of EU law and policy in all spheres of business, there are a large number of areas which will have an impact on the activities of companies and will compel them to meet a certain number of technical, tax and social requirements.
This need of updating can effectively be divided into areas relating to internal market and the EU policies.
a. Internal market
- Harmonisation of technical standards (e.g. mutual recognition of type approval, CEN and CENELEC standards etc.), free movement of goods, services and capitals, opening-up of public procurement (e.g. Community content provisions), indirect taxation (VAT. provisions).
- Developments having regard to foodstuff, pharmaceutical products, audio-visual and multimedia services, textile industry, car manufacturing industry, chemical, telecommunications, industrial co-operation and other sectorial issues.
b. EU policy
- Common agricultural policy with regard to both vertical (common organisation of market for all agricultural products) and horizontal questions (export refunds, aid to the farmers or prices of agricultural products).
- Transport policy, with a view to liberalisation of the transport sector, cabotage, tariffs and competition implications.
- Environment, energy, social and consumer policy, various research and development programs and new technologies (e.g. High Definition Television).
- Information society, with a view to telematics services in the fields of training, information dissemination, SME's support.
- Education, youth and human resources, by participating in wide range programs such as LEONARDO, SOCRATES, etc.
- Regional policies: preparation of proposals and periodical reports concerning Structural Interventions, support of infrastructure and investment projects and economic activities, participation in DG XVI's activities such as DIRECTORIA for searching of potential partners.
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