Annex I – Forthcoming initiatives

Forthcoming initiatives 2012

* indicates that the Commission commits to deliver this initiative in the course of 2012

Nr Title Type of initiative Description of scope of objectives

1. Annual Growth Survey 2013* Non-legislative The Commission will present an Annual Growth Survey accompanied by a Communication which will be the main input for discussions at the Spring European Council. The survey will include both a review, reporting on progress, and a forward-looking part proposing strategic policy guidance horizontally across Member States. (4th quarter 2012)

Agriculture

2. Promotion and information for agricultural products Legislative Recast and simplify the legislation on promotion and information to propose measures with higher EU added value and designed to address the needs of the different markets (e.g.: need of more information on internal market or need to facilitate access to external markets). This proposal will be a follow-up to the Communication on promotion and information for agricultural products.

3. Smooth phasing out the milk quota system Non- legislative Article 184(6) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 provides for the Commission to present a report before 31 .12.2012 regarding the evolution of the market situation and the consequent conditions for smoothly phasing out the milk quota system.

Climate Action

4. CO2 from cars and vans 2020 targets* Legislative The Regulations (EC No 443/2009 and EU No 510/2011) need to be reviewed to look at the 2020 targets with the aim of assessing the feasibility of the 2020 target for vans and how to reach the 2020 targets for cars and vans. (4th quarter 2012)

5. Including maritime transport emissions in the EU's greenhouse gas reduction commitment Legislative According to the EU's climate and energy legislation, measures should be taken to include maritime transport emissions in the EU's greenhouse gas reduction commitment if these emissions are not included in an international agreement's reduction targets by 2011.

6. Fluorinated greenhouse gases reduction Legislative The aim is to ensure cost-efficient reductions of greenhouse emissions from fluorinated gases in the context of the overall EU objective to cut emissions by 80-95% by 2050. The proposal is a follow-up to an evaluation report mandated by the Regulation (EC) No 842/2006.

Competition

7. Actions for damages for breaches of antitrust law Legislative The objective of this legislative initiative would be to ensure effective damages actions before national courts for breaches of EU antitrust rules and to clarify the interrelation of such private actions with public enforcement by the Commission and the national competition authorities, notably as regards the protection of leniency programmes, in order to preserve the central role of public enforcement in the EU. The right of victims of antitrust infringements to such damages has already been established by the Court.

8. Review of the Reference rate Communication Non-legislative Revision following market developments.

9. Review of the Guarantees Notice Non-legislative Revision following market developments.

10. Review of the State aid guidelines for broadband networks Non-legislative The current Guidelines are to be reviewed by 30.09.2012 at the latest.

11. Council regulation on Strategic initiative in the field of substantive State aid rules Legislative Modification of Council Enabling Regulation 994/98 to allow for the enlargement of the scope of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) in 2013.

12. Review of the State aid rescue and restructuring guidelines Non-legislative The current Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines are applicable until October 2012. Although the financial crisis led to a prolongation of the current R&R guidelines, preparatory work for their revision had already started in 2007.

13. Review of the cinema Communication Non-legislative The current Communication is applicable until 31.12.2012 at the latest.

14. Revision of the Communication on short term export credit insurance Non-legislative The current Communication is applicable until 31.12.2012 at the latest.

15. Revision of guidelines on national regional aid Non-legislative The Current Guidelines are in force until 31.12.2013. The revision will cover rules on demarcation of regions, aid intensities allowed and large investment projects. This project will be coordinated with proposals for the future Multiannual Financial Framework post 2013, specifically proposals for Structural Funds.

Consumer, Industry and Entrepreneurship

16. Product safety package: (1) General Product Safety* Legislative The revision of the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD, 2011/95/EC)) aims to strengthen confidence of consumers and businesses in the internal market of safe products by providing businesses with clearer rules, lower compliance costs, and more generally a genuinely level-playing field for legitimate businesses. It will enable Member States' authorities to better coordinate and prioritize their enforcement actions and provides consumers a more homogeneous internal market of safe goods and better protection of health and safety. (4th quarter 2012)

(2) New horizontal single legislative instrument for market surveillance Legislative The overall objective is to safeguard to a high degree various public interests which may be affected while securing the free movement of goods within the EU. These include ensuring the health and safety of all users of products, protecting the environment and promoting energy efficiency. This requires all necessary mechanisms to be put in place to enable the effective and uniform implementation and enforcement of the EU market surveillance framework.

(3) Multi-annual action plan for market surveillance Non -legislative The aim of the multi-annual plan is to address the current challenges faced by market surveillance in the EU. It will explore appropriate coordination mechanisms, means, actions and ways to enhance the implementation and enforcement of the EU market surveillance framework in order to reduce the number of unsafe and non-compliant products on the market. The goal is to protect citizens, while maintaining the high level of safety required by the sectoral legislation.

Consumer and Justice

17. European Consumer Agenda* Legislative/Non-legislative This Agenda will set out a strategic vision for consumer policy based on the principle of empowerment through safety, information and education, rights, redress and access to justice, and enforcement, in line with the principles of the social market economy. This Agenda will cover all consumer-related initiatives presented by this Commission. (2nd quarter 2012)

Development

18. Overseas Association Decision Legislative Council Decision 2001/822/EC of 27.11.2001 on the association of the Overseas Countries and Territories with the EC expires on 31.12. 2013 and will need to be replaced by a new Decision.

19. Social Protection in development policy Non-legislative The combined effects of the global financial and economic crisis and the persistence of non-inclusive growth have heightened awareness of the need for development policy to include social protection. Social Protection is essential to inclusive growth and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. This Communication will aim at developing a comprehensive policy framework to support effective social protection systems in partner countries.

20. Communication on Civil Society and Local Authorities Non-legislative The Communication will be built primarily upon the results of the "Structured Dialogue for an effective partnership in development". The consultation was an opportunity for dialogue with a broad variety of traditional and emerging development actors. The objective is to create an updated framework of reference for EU support to Civil Society and Local Authorities in development. The policy Communication will define the nature of the partnership between these development actors and the EU in light of the EU's new strategy.

Digital Agenda

21. Pan European framework for electronic identification, authentication and signature* Legislative The proposal will present legislation to boost trust and facilitate electronic transactions notably by ensuring the mutual recognition of electronic identification and authentication across the EU, and of Electronic Signatures. (2nd quarter 2012)

22. Shared use of spectrum Non-legislative The Communication will describe the shared spectrum management model and its role in the balance of various models. It will give an overview of the current use of shared use of spectrum, the similarities and differences to other management approaches, the advantages and benefits of the model as well as the challenges which need to be addressed.

23. European Strategy for Internet Security Legislative/Non-legislative The initiative will aim to: describe the main risks and challenges as well as the economic and geopolitical opportunities; compare with "preparedness" or political attention given to the topic in other third countries; describe the major issues at stake or problems to be addressed; assess the on-going or planned actions where and when they exist, but also highlight the areas where more EU action.

24. Spectrum for more efficient energy production and distribution Non-legislative Smart energy grids and smart metering systems are potentially an area where an EU wide harmonisation of spectrum use could bring essential benefits to European consumers. The initiative considers an EU wide spectrum harmonisation for smart energy grids and smart metering on the basis of studies to deepen the knowledge in this field to determine what measures should be taken to satisfy the demands, and whether dedicated spectrum would be necessary or if sharing spectrum would be sufficient.

25. Digital Agenda for Europe – Next steps Non-legislative Following the second Digital Agenda Assembly and the 2012 Scoreboard, the mid-term review should look at strategic priorities for the remaining two years of the Digital Agenda for Europe lifecycle.

Economic and Monetary Affaires

26. Public Finances in EMU 2012 Non-legislative The Communication on Public Finances in EMU-2012 distils the policy implications/challenges of the annual Public Finance Report (PFR). The PFR reviews fiscal developments in the EU Member States and discusses topical issues in the field of fiscal policy making and fiscal surveillance in the EU.

Education, Culture and Youth

27. Rethinking skills in the context of Europe 2020 Non-legislative The Communication will provide policy recommendations for Member States in the areas of basic skills, entrepreneurship, digital e-literacy, media literacy and multilingualism to achieve the EU benchmark to increase performance in reading, mathematics and science. It will promote employability, competitiveness and intercultural dialogue in fostering transversal key competences in lifelong learning policies.

Employment, Social Affaires and Inclusion

28. Employment package: (1) Towards a jobs-rich recovery Non-legislative Umbrella communication of the Employment package setting out the Commission contribution to a growth- and job-rich economy, building on the flagship initiatives adopted as part of Europe 2020 (and in particular "An agenda for new skills and jobs" and "Youth on the Move") and linking in with the orientations of the 2012 Annual Growth Survey.

29. (2) Specific Flexicurity package Non-legislative The Communication will highlight the key role of flexicurity policies in the current economic climate. It will set out concrete proposals to strengthen the different components of flexicurity to address the economic challenges that Europe is facing, with a view to reducing labour market segmentation and supporting labour market transitions.

30. (3) Reforming the European Employment Services EURES and its legal basis Legislative/Non-legislative The proposal will aim to: 1) improve access to employment opportunities and facilitate job creation by establishing EURES as matching placement and recruitment tool for labour mobility across Europe; 2) expand EURES to support the new "Your First EURES Job" scheme; 3) reflect the ECJ jurisprudence on placement services which will need to be opened up to private employment services while widening the range of EURES partners. This may involve revision of Regulation 1612/1968.

31. Green Paper on Restructuring and Economic Adjustment Non-legislative The Green Paper will identify successful practices and policies in the field of restructuring and adaptation to change in order to promote employment, growth and competitiveness. It takes into account recent work by the European Commission, the social partners, Member States and many other stakeholders. The goal is to look afresh at this policy debate in the light of the lessons learned from the economic downturn.

32. Health and safety Non-legislative The Communication will build on the current strategy and build on the final evaluation of the current strategy, in particular in terms of a) enhancing occupational health and safety (OSH) governance at EU level, in particular as regards the establishment of national OSH strategies and the coordination of Member States' policies b) improving implementation of the EU legal framework c) promoting health and safety at the workplace, by supporting the Member States' efforts through European campaigns and awareness raising initiatives.

33. Include seafaring workers of vessels in the scope of several labour law EU Directives Legislative The proposal aims to provide seafarers with the same or equivalent level of employment rights as on-shore workers. Several Directives in the field of labour law currently exclude seafarers from their scope. The amendments, which cover several Directives, will aim at ensuring an equivalent level of protection while taking into account the particular circumstances and the economic environment of this sector.

34. Protection of supplementary pension rights of people who change jobs Legislative The aim is to conclude the negotiations on the 2005 Commission proposal modified in 2007. In particular, the proposal would aim to address the issue of vesting periods (duration of employment before pension rights are irrevocably granted).

35. Setting up the Tripartite Social Summit Legislative This initiative aims at revising the Council Decision 2003/174/EC in the light of the Lisbon Treaty and the Europe 2020 Strategy.

36. Freedom of movement for workers within the Union Legislative/Non-legislative This initiative is aimed at improving the enforceability of Council Regulation 1612/1968 (as codified by Regulation 492/2011) on freedom of movement for workers within the Union. It will remove existing barriers to mobility of EU workers by enhancing the enforcement of rights conferred by EU law and providing information and legal support to migrants facing discrimination based on nationality.

37. Child poverty (soft law) Legislative A Recommendation will support the EU and Member States' efforts to tackle child poverty. It will set out common principles for effective policy intervention in the following key areas: support to families (access to labour market for parents, income support), services (childcare, education, healthcare, housing, social services), participation in society.

Energy

38. Nuclear safety* Legislative As requested by the European Council and following a thorough review of existing rules with all stakeholders, proposal will be made in order to improve the regulatory framework on nuclear safety. (3rd quarter 2012)

39. Renewable energy strategy (RES) Non-legislative This initiative will build on the Energy Roadmap 2050and present policy measures to accelerate the development of renewable energy. It would be integrated with electricity market design discussion and ongoing infrastructure policy, including external policy aspects.

40. Internal energy market Non-legislative This initiative will consider the state of play of the process towards the completion of the internal energy market by 2014 and encourage Member States to step up efforts by underlining benefits of the IEM for the citizens and business, identifying a possible need for further action in order to ensure that this objective is realised.

41. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) Non-legislative Analysis of the current status shows that the CCS demonstration program has been delayed despite considerable efforts. The policy document will analyse possible pathways to phase out unabated fossil fuel plants.

Enlargement, Development and Neighbourhood Policies

42. Annual Enlargement Package 2012 Non-legislative The Commission has been invited by the Council to regularly report on the candidate countries and potential candidates. The Commission Strategy Paper allows the European Council to define main strategic orientations on enlargement at the end of each year. The Enlargement Package will also include monitoring of Croatia in advance of its accession.

43. Supporting sustainable change in transition societies Non-legislative Building on experience gained in the enlargement process, this Communication will look at how the EU can help to create the conditions for sustainable stability in societies that have undergone major economical, social and political reforms. The focus will be on neighbourhood countries and other relevant developing countries and in particular on issues linked to the development of an inclusive political process, a vibrant civil society and strengthening of all political actors, as well as economic policies needed for sustainable growth including employment.

44. European Neighbourhood Policy Package and the Eastern Partnership Non- legislative The High Representative and the Commission have been invited by the Council to report in 2012 on the implementation of the proposals set out in the European Neighbourhood Policy review communication of 25.05.2011. The ENP package will include: a Communication setting out the main developments and the strategic orientations for the following year; a separate Communication setting out a Roadmap for the Eastern Partnership; and a number of annexes, including country reports on those partners that have agreed an ENP Action Plan.

Environment

45. Safeguarding Europe's Water Resources* Legislative/Non-legislative To assess the implementation and achievements of current freshwater policy, to identify gaps and shortcomings, and to ensure that water policy makes a good contribution to achieving the objectives of the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe. (4th quarter 2012)

46. Nagoya Protocol on Biodiversity: (international regime on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing - ABS): Implementing the ABS protocol Legislative/Non-legislative These initiatives are part of the preparatory process leading to the signature and ratification by the EU of an international Treaty on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing. Signature and ratification of the ABS Protocol will be accompanied by a Communication on how the Commission would seek to implement the ABS Protocol within the Union through legislative and other measures.

47. Review of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive Legislative The global objective of the review is to improve environmental protection at national level by ensuring a more consistent and effective application of the principles of environmental assessment and ensure consistency with the relevant international obligations.

48. Invasive alien species (IAS) Legislative The new dedicated legislative instrument should address the policy gap on invasive alien species and ensure that there is a comprehensive EU framework to effectively tackle the problem. The main objective is to minimise the negative impact of IAS on EU biodiversity.

49. 7th Environmental Action Programme Legislative/Non-legislative This initiative aims to set priorities within the context of the EU 2020 Strategy in the face of the increasingly systemic nature of the environmental challenge, and to address the continuing environmental degradation as set out in the European Environment Agency 2010 and the SOER (European environment – state and outlook) reports.

50. Strategy on endocrine disruptors Non-legislative To provide an adequate policy framework to ensure that within the EU humans and the environment can enjoy a satisfactorily high level of protection from the risks associated with endocrine disruptors (exogenous substances or mixture that alters function(s) of the endocrine system and consequently causes adverse health effects).

Environment and Industry

51. Review of REACH Non-legislative The review will reach conclusions a) on the Member States' experience, information on the operation of the REACH Regulation, the status of implementation and use of non-animal test methods and testing strategies, and funding for the development and evaluation of alternative test methods, b) the lessons learnt with a special attention to the costs and administrative burden and other impacts on innovation. It will include a review of the scope and potential overlaps with other EU legislation on chemicals as well as a review of the European Chemicals Agency.

European Statistics

52. European statistics on demography Legislative The purpose of this proposal for a Regulation is to establish a common framework for the development, production and dissemination of European statistics on population, vital events and net migration.

Foreign Policy Instruments

53. Regulating trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or certain cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment Legislative This initiative proposes to amend Regulation 1236/2005 further to a review in response to Member States', the EP's and NGOs' requests.

Health and Consumer

54. Revision of the Tobacco Products Directive concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale Legislative Recent developments in tobacco products will be addressed by an update of the Directive (2001/37/EC), to cover Internal Market issues and look at new products and labelling.

55. Package on innovation in health: (1) Promotion of innovation in medical devices for the benefit of patients, consumers and healthcare professionals Non-legislative The Communication explains the need for further improving the regulatory environment to foster innovation in medical devices in the light of new developments (such as ageing, ICT etc.). It would also respond to relevant recent Council conclusions.

(2) Medical devices Legislative The aim of the proposal is to ensure that the regulatory framework continues to promote innovation in the sector while guaranteeing patient safety. The regulatory framework will be adapted to technical and scientific progress, include clearer and simpler rules and provide for the necessary instruments for management at EU level. This has become a necessity due to the increasing demand in the market for drug-device combination products. The objectives are to enhance the level of health protection for all European patients and users, reinforce Europe's position in the forefront of innovation in the field and to achieve a smoother functioning of the internal market and international trade.

(3) In vitro diagnostic medical devices Legislative See above.

56. Clinical trials to foster clinical research and innovation in the pharmaceutical sector Legislative The objective of the proposal for a revision on the Directive on clinical trials (2001/20/EC) is to strengthen knowledge and innovation in clinical research. Issues likely to be addressed are: reduction of administrative delays, overcoming divergent decisions throughout the EU and streamlining of reporting procedures.

57. Animal and plant health package: (1) Reinforcing the food chain – a modernized and simpler legal framework Non-legislative The Communication highlights the main elements of the new package of legislation on animal health, plant health and plant reproductive material and controls related to these sectors, intended to modernise, simplify and streamline rules to better achieve the objectives of the legislation and reinforce innovation and competitiveness of the relevant economic sectors.

(2) Animal Health Law Legislative The proposal aims to provide a more risk-based approach to animal health requirements and removal of administrative burdens in animal movements, a simpler and more flexible regulatory structure for animal health in the EU, and better safety with more focus on disease prevention resulting in fewer economic losses due to disease outbreaks.

(3) Official controls along the food chain Legislative The aim of the proposal for a revision of Regulation 882/2004 is to simplify and streamline the existing legal framework, in order to improve the efficiency of official controls performed by the Member States along the food chain while minimizing burden for operators. A more efficient use of control resources will contribute to preventing crisis, whilst limiting the costs thereof for compliant economic operators and ensuring a level-playing field. Directives 96/23/EC, 97/78/EC and 91/496/EEC are also concerned.

(4) EU Plant Health Law Legislative The proposal aims at simplifying, streamlining and increasing transparency and cost effectiveness. The plant passports for internal movements of plants will be simplified, creating a more transparent and stable system for the growers. Better import control will reinforce the protection against the entry of new pests and diseases from third countries, which resulted in the past in additional burden for pest control by EU growers or damage to the natural environment.

(5) Marketing of seed and propagating materials to foster innovation in seeds Legislative The initiative aims to foster innovation and seeks to reduce overall administrative burden and introduce flexibility within the regulatory framework with a view to globalisation, specialisation and development of new uses of agricultural commodities, together with changes in the societal expectations on the interplay of agriculture and the natural environment. It will modernise and simplify the legislation by replacing 12 Directives on seed and plant propagating material with one single act.

58. Fees and efficiency of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Legislative The Regulation 178/2002 will be revised in order to improve EFSA's efficiency and efficacy. This may include the possibility to establish fees for processing authorisation dossiers submitted by industry (for services not considered as of public interest).

Home Affairs

59. Next Generation of Border Checks: (1) Entry/Exit System (EES)* Legislative To define the purpose, the functionalities and responsibilities of the EES, and to establish the conditions and procedures for the register, storage and consultation of entry/exit data of third country nationals crossing the EU external borders. (2nd quarter 2012)

(2) Registered Traveller Programme (RTP)* Legislative To define the purpose, the functionalities and responsibilities of the RTP and a Registered Traveller System (RTS), to give to the Commission and the Agency for the management of large-scale IT systems the mandate to set up and maintain the RTP and the RTS and to establish the procedures and conditions for examining a RTP application and the exchange of data between Member States on Registered Travellers. (2nd quarter 2012)

(3) Amendment to the Schengen Borders Code* Legislative To amend the Schengen Border Code to be aligned with the Registered Traveller Programme Regulation and the Entry/Exit System Regulation. (2nd quarter 2012)

60. Development of a policy on a European Training Scheme for law enforcement officials Non-legislative The purpose of furthering EU police training is to foster a genuine European law enforcement culture by means of offering European Training Schemes to all involved.

61. Framework of administrative measures such as the freezing of funds of persons suspected of terrorist activities inside the EU (art.75) Legislative To establish a framework for administrative measures with regard to capital movements and payments, such as for the freezing of funds, financial assets or economic gains belonging to, or owned or held by, natural or legal persons, groups and non-State entities related to terrorist activities inside the EU. This framework would serve as a basis on which the Council could take decisions, upon proposal by the Commission.

62. Fighting European

Cybercrime Non-legislative This initiative aims to increase EU capacity to fight against cybercrime. It will update Union citizens, Member States and the European Parliament on the prerequisites needed to ensure an effective response to cybercrime.

63. EU Strategy against trafficking in human beings Non-legislative The overarching objective of this initiative is to formulate a comprehensive policy framework, through which the main goals of significantly preventing and reducing the phenomenon trafficking in human beings, of prosecuting criminals and of better protecting victims will be pursued.

64. Legal and technical framework for a European Terrorist Finance Tracking System (TFTS) Legislative The initiative will provide for a novel European approach to combat terrorism and its financing through centralised collection and analysis of financial messaging data, and to create the possibility to provide more targeted data to US authorities under the EU-US TFTP Agreement.

65. Revising the EU framework for data retention Legislative This review is a result of the evaluation of the Data Retention Directive. It will ensure that appropriate authorities have swift access to the telecommunications information which is strictly necessary for combating crime; will provide appropriate limitations on data retention and safeguards against unnecessary infringements of right to privacy and the protection of personal data, will remove unnecessary obstacles to the smooth functioning of the internal market and ensure consistent reimbursement of the telecommunications industry across the EU of the costs of applying data retention.

66. Establishing the European Police Office – EUROPOL Legislative Article 88 of the TFEU provides for a new legal basis for Europol.

67. EU critical infrastructures package: (1) Review of the European Programme on Critical Infrastructure (EPCIP), and proposal to establish an updated Programme Legislative/Non-legislative The EPCIP was first proposed by the Commission in its communication on this topic of 2006. The EPCIP is subject to an ongoing review, which will lead to the presentation of an updated EPCIP.

(2) Identification and designation of European critical infrastructures Legislative Amendment of Directive 2008/114 on the identification and designation of European critical infrastructures and the assessment of the need to improve their protection.

68. Draft negotiating Directives for visa facilitation and readmission agreements with some South Mediterranean Countries, in the framework of the dialogue for migration, mobility and security to be established with those countries Legislative This initiative will support and encourage reforms that the partner countries may engage in, giving their citizens a possibility of enhanced mobility towards the EU Member States, whilst addressing the root causes of migratory flows.

69. Admission of third country nationals for the purposes of scientific research, studies, pupil exchange, unremunerated training or voluntary service Legislative This initiative aims to increase the attractiveness of the EU as a whole as a centre for research, studies, pupil exchanges, training and voluntary service. It will aim at further facilitating scientific, educational, training and cultural exchanges with third-country nationals and making the conditions of their entry, residence and intra-EU mobility more transparent and effective. This initiative will amend Council Directives 2004/114/EC and 2005/71/EC.

Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response

70. Setting-up of the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps (EVHAC) Legislative The objective is to establish a framework for joint contributions from young Europeans to the humanitarian aid operations of the Union. Preparatory actions from 2011 onwards will help identify possible options.

Industry and Entrepreneurship

71. Registration of motor vehicles previously registered in another Member State Legislative The main policy objective is to improve the functioning of the internal market through the elimination of barriers to the free movement of goods, services and workers, caused by the different administrative formalities and requirements for the registration of motor vehicles previously registered in another Member State.

72. Industrial Policy for the security industry Non-legislative Establishing a strong internal market for security by: overcoming the market fragmentation, strengthening of the industrial basis, enhancing the competitiveness of the EU security industry in the world. These divergent approaches in Member States have led to the creation of different security markets.

73. Conclusions of the CARS 21 High Level Group Non-legislative To assess the policy recommendations made by the CARS 21 High Level Group in their Final Report and announce how the Commission intends to react on these.

74. Update and review of progress on the integrated industrial policy for the globalization era Non-legislative The Commission will review the implementation of the Europe 2020 flagship on industrial policy and update key initiatives to ensure a timely transition to a more sustainable, inclusive and resource-efficient economy and a vibrant industrial base. The mid-term update will take account of the economic recovery, emerging challenges and the MFF.

75. Industrial policy for the space industry Non-legislative Considering the strategic importance of the space industry, its dependence on public funding (both for R&D and sales) and the increasing global competition on the commercial market, the Communication sets out actions to improve the framework conditions for Europe's space industry with a view to strengthening the industry’s competitiveness and contribute to a balanced involvement of capacities in Europe.

76. Key Enabling Technologies(KET) Non-legislative In response to the recommendation of the High Level Group, this initiative will propose a coordinated framework for KETs to ensure continuity across Research & Development & Innovation, including technology transfer for deployment and fostering globally competitive eco-systems.

77. European label in tourism sector Legislative A European label would seek to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of European tourism by bringing transparency and consistency into the quality evaluation of tourism services, to gain consumer confidence and recognise high-quality tourism.

Institutional Affairs

78. Political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding Legislative The objective of the revision of Regulation 2004/2003 is to create a European legal status for political parties at European level.

79. Towards a proposal on the Solidarity Clause Non-legislative This initiative will follow up on the provision for a "Solidarity Clause" (Article 222(3)) establishing that the Union and its Member States shall act jointly in a spirit of solidarity if a Member State is the object of a terrorist attack or the victim of a natural or man-made disaster. The TFEU provides for a joint proposal by the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Internal Market and Services

80. Protection of investors: Amendment of the UCITS Directive as regards rules on UCITS depositary functions, on manager remuneration policy, and on administrative sanctions.* Legislative The aim is to amend the UCITS Directive (Undertakings in collective investments in transferable securities – 'UCITS V' 2009/65/EC) to (i) create a regulatory regime with robust investor protection, (ii) further strengthen the EU internal market efficiency in the investment fund sector and (iii) ensure that the UCITS legislative framework does not impair financial stability on the market. More concretely, on the operational level, it will aim at providing appropriate solutions for UCITS depositaries as well as for UCITS remuneration policy. (2nd quarter 2012)

81. Shadow banking Non-legislative A communication will be adopted in the second half of the year to complement and implement the G20 workstream.

82. Protection of investors: PRIPs (pre-contractual disclosures of complex investment products)* Legislative The purpose of this instrument is to ensure a high and consistent level of investor protection embodied in Community law, with a level playing field for the originators and distributors of retail investment products and increased efficiency in cross-border business. (1st quarter 2012)

83. Follow-up to the Performance Check for services: Deepening the single market for services* Non -legislative Following the carrying out of "performance checks" and other various strands of work (i.e. the assessment on reserved activities, requirement as regards capital ownership and legal form and insurance obligations), this initiative aims at identifying and proposing the measures/actions that are necessary to remove remaining obstacles to the functioning of the Single Market for Services. (2nd quarter 2012)

84. Collective rights management: Music rights – music online* Legislative The proposed instrument will have a double focus: first, a general level of governance and transparency to apply to all collecting societies; and second, specific rules aimed at licensing of online music in order to foster the digital single market and provide more cross-border services to customers across the EU. (1st quarter 2012)

85. Single market and pension funds: Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision (IORP)* Legislative The aim of the review of the Directive concerning Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision (IORP) is to maintain a level playing field with Solvency II and promote more cross-border activity in this field. This will help address the challenges of demographic ageing and public debt. (3rd quarter 2012)

86. Revision of the Insurance Mediation Directive (IMD) Legislative The aim of the revision is to improve harmonisation, legal certainty, and precision in definitions and at the same time avoidance of existing difficulties in the application of the current IMD at national level.

87. Revision of the Community Trade Mark Regulation and of the Directive approximating national trade mark laws Legislative The aim is to upgrade, streamline and modernise both the EU Regulation and Directive, where appropriate, and to establish an enhanced cooperation between the Office for Harmonization for the Internal Market (OHIM) and National Trade Mark Offices with the purpose of making the trade mark system in Europe, as a whole, more effective, efficient and consistent.

88. Initiative on disclosure of non-financial information by companies Legislative/Non-legislative The proposal aims at improving transparency of non-financial information by companies, while avoiding unduly increasing the administrative burden.

89. On-line gambling in the Internal Market Non-legislative The Communication is a follow-up to the Green paper on on-line gambling, providing a substantial evaluation of the responses to the consultation, and subsequently identifying 1) key challenges for the co-existence of national regulatory models within the Internal Market and 2) initiatives to be taken at national and EU level.

90. Enforcement of intellectual property rights Legislative The main objective would be to adapt the Directive (2004/48/EC) to today’s challenges in order to make sure that intellectual property rights can be protected effectively and uniformly in the EU, in particular in a digital environment. Several provisions of the Directive should be clarified in order to achieve consistent interpretation and enforcement.

91. Securities Law Directive Legislative The main objective of the measure is to reduce the divergence between national substantive laws on book-entry securities and therefore to make a substantive contribution to the simplification of financial markets operations and to their legal safety.

92. Close-out netting Legislative Close-out netting is an important risk mitigation tool to reduce counterparty credit risk because it gives priority over unsecured creditors to the non-defaulting counterparty in case of insolvency. The objective is to increase legal certainty and safety of bi- and multilateral netting agreements, but also, as part of an EU framework for crisis management in the financial sector (see COM (2010) 579), to empower national authorities to impose a temporary stay on the rights to close-out netting.

93. Initiative on notice and takedown procedures The main policy objectives are: contribute to a good functioning of Digital Single Market, contribute to combating illegality on the internet, ensure the transparency, effectiveness, proportionality and compliance with fundamental rights of notice and takedown procedures, ensure a balanced and workable approach towards NTD procedures, with focus on fundamental rights and the impact for innovation, growth.

94. Insurance Guarantee Schemes Legislative The aim is to ensure that IGS exist in all Member States and that they comply with a minimum set of design features.

95. Third Anti Money Laundering Directive Legislative Revision of international standards is underway and scheduled for completion by February 2012. COM's own review has also begun and a report is planned in early 2012. It will be necessary to rapidly implement international standards once adopted into EU legislation.

96. Amending the Financial Conglomerates Directive (FICOD II) (2002/87/EC) Legislative Following the Financial Stability Board's (G20) decision of January 2010 to explore regulating the parent entities of financial conglomerates, the Commission commits to agreements and recommendations at the G20 level to enforce supervisors' grip on the parents of complex financial groups, today mostly non-regulated holding companies. The effectiveness of CRD and Solvency 2, as well as related regulations in the financial sector such as those for UCITS and AIFM, and most importantly the crisis management framework, could be much stronger if the parent entity would explicitly be held responsible and accountable for meeting all requirements in a consistent manner at a conglomerate wide level and across the mass of regulated entities in the group.

Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship

97. Advancing Roma integration – First report of the European Commission Non-legislative The first annual report will assess the national Roma integration strategies that Member States must submit to the Commission by 31.12.2011.

98. Special Safeguards in criminal procedures for Suspected or Accused Persons who are vulnerable Legislative This initiative aims at ensuring that special attention is shown in criminal procedures throughout the EU to suspected or accused persons who cannot understand or follow the content or the meaning of the proceedings, owing, for example, to their age, mental or physical condition.

99. Minimum provisions on the constituent elements of criminal acts and penalties in the field of illicit drug trafficking Legislative To enable Member States to tackle illicit drug trafficking more efficiently and foster a common EU approach to drug trafficking through approximation of offences and sanctions, addressing shortcomings identified during the assessment carried out in 2009 of Framework Decision 2004/757/JHA, and replacing this instrument.

100. Information exchange, risk-assessment and control of new psychoactive substances Legislative The objective of the proposal to amend Council Decision 2005/387/JHA of 10 May 2005 is to improve the assessment process and some of the procedural steps, taking into account the experiences gathered and limitations encountered with this legislative instrument in the past three years.

101. European Accessibility Act: improving accessibility of goods and services in the Internal Market Legislative Proposal for a Directive to improve the market of goods and services that are accessible for persons with disabilities and elderly persons, based on a “design for all” approach. This business friendly initiative will include binding measures to promote procurement and harmonisation of accessibility standards.

102. Improving the gender balance in the boards of companies listed on stock exchanges (soft law) Legislative Following the gender equality strategy, a Recommendation would aim to improve gender balance in company boards. As well as being a fundamental right, gender equality is crucial for the EU’s growth and competitiveness.

103. Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Legislative The aim of the proposal is to revise the Council Directive 90/314/EEC and modernise the current rules for the protection of consumers buying package travel, notably over internet, and facilitate the purchase of package travel from other Member States.

104. Reforming Eurojust's structure Legislative This initiative aims at developing and reinforcing Eurojust's functioning and determining arrangements for involving the European Parliament and national Parliaments in the evaluation of Eurojust's activities.

105. Compensation of crime victims Legislative The Commission's proposal for the revision of Directive 2004/80 will ensure that victims of crime receive fair and appropriate compensation in all Member States, thereby helping to promote mutual trust between Member States. The proposal will be based on a comprehensive study on all aspects of compensation to identify existing obstacles, their origin, and possible solutions.

106. Limitation and prescription periods for cross-border road traffic accidents Legislative/Non-legislative This initiative aims at creating more legal certainty for citizens on limitation periods in the context of cross-border road traffic accidents.

107. E-Justice Legislative This initiative will strengthen the e-Justice project as a tool to promote growth and legal certainty in the internal market. The e-justice project aims to underpin justice policy by using information and communications technology to improve and streamline information on justice in the EU, facilitate access to justice throughout all MS and facilitate judicial cooperation and procedures.

108. Alternative Dispute Resolution instrument for Business to Business (B2B) disputes Legislative This measure will complement the Commission’s legislative proposal on Alternative Dispute Resolution for consumers with a mechanism adapted to business-to-business disputes. Promoting ADR will improve confidence among SMEs to engage in cross-border trade and will enhance the functioning of the Internal Market.

109. Insolvency proceedings Legislative Revision of the Insolvency Regulation ((EC) 1346/2000), including the question of insolvency of groups and enterprises, in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of cross-border insolvency proceedings.

110. Mutual recognition of civil documents: (1) Mutual recognition of the effects of certain civil status documents Legislative The proposal should cover mutual recognition of effects of certain civil status documents (e.g. relating to birth, affiliation, adoption, name, death).

111. (2) Dispensing with the formalities for the legalisation of documents between Member States Legislative Follow-up to Green Paper on the free circulation of documents, civil status documents, authentic acts and the simplification of legislation. The proposal should cover the dispensing with the formalities of legalisation of documents between Member States.

Justice, Consumer Affairs and Competition Policy

112. An EU framework for collective redress To be determined This initiative would follow up on the full range of previous Commission work on collective redress at the EU level

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

113. Setting a framework for Maritime Spatial Planning Legislative Ensure that Member States provide a stable, reliable and future-oriented integrated planning framework to optimize the use of marine space to benefit economic development and the marine environment and that in doing so they apply a common approach in order to facilitate cross-border maritime spatial planning. The type of this initiative - possibly a Directive - remains to be confirmed.

114. Blue Growth: sustainable growth from the oceans, seas and coasts. Non-legislative The Communication will build on the findings of an on-going study exploring sustainable growth and employment in established, emerging and prospective maritime sectors based on the innovative use of marine and coastal resources as drivers for innovation and competitiveness.

Protection of the Financial Interests of the EU

115. Protection of the financial interest of the European Union, including by criminal law (PFI)* Legislative This initiative is the legislative follow-up on the Communication on the protection of financial interests of the European Union, including by substantive criminal law, under art 325, § 4 TFEU. (3rd quarter 2012)

116. Reinforcing the protection of the euro against counterfeiting with criminal law sanctions Legislative The initiative could build on and replace the Framework Decision 2000/383JAI. It will aim to increase protection of the euro by providing more efficient criminal legislation and procedures; and to a stronger monitoring of the EU rules in Member States. The citizens should be sufficiently protected against euro-fraud and counterfeiting by means of criminal sanctions.

117. Mutual assistance between the administrative authorities of the Member States and cooperation between the latter and the Commission to ensure the correct application of the law on customs and agricultural matters Legislative Simplify and clarify the legislation, improving accessibility and achieving budget savings, as Regulation 515/97 and Council Decision 2009/917/JHA of 30 November 2009 on the use of information technology for customs purposes partially deal with the same issues.

Regional Policy

118. Future strategy for the Outermost Regions Non-legislative Communication on the future strategy for the Outermost Regions (OR) following the joint Memoranda of regions and the Member States "The OR at the horizon 2020" and their other contributions.

Research and Innovation

119. Framework for the European Research Area (ERA) Legislative/Non-legislative The ERA framework will be the basis for achieving strategic policy coherence and coordination between EU and Member States, with the aim to increase the efficiency of the European research system through better exploiting the potential for cross-border synergies and complementarities (e.g. researcher mobility and careers, cross-border operations of research performing and funding organizations, research infrastructures, knowledge circulation and cooperation with third countries).

120. State of the Innovation Union 2012 – accelerating change Non-legislative This Communication will mark the next steps to drive growth and jobs through innovation. It will include the following policy proposals: detailed definition of the new indicator on fast-growing, innovative companies with a comparative assessment of the innovation performance of Member States, follow-up actions on Innovation Union commitments where no progress has been made, a proposal to mainstream innovation to EU policies.

121. Enhancing and focusing international cooperation in Research and Innovation Non-legislative Europe needs to engage more strategically in science, technology and innovation cooperation with its main partners, in order to: enhance excellence and promote industrial competitiveness; address global societal challenges; and support external policies. The Communication will set out detailed objectives, criteria and operational principles for implementing, enhancing and focusing EU international cooperation actions under the CSF for Research and Innovation.

Taxation and Customs Union

122. Good governance in relation to tax havens* Non-legislative This initiative will develop a reinforced strategy to protect the EU against the challenges of uncooperative jurisdictions outside the EU (including tax havens and aggressive tax planning). (4th quarter 2012)

123. Drug precursors Legislative The Commission Report (COM (2009) 709) highlighted the risk of diversion of medicinal products containing drug precursors. The Council in May 2010 invited the Commission to propose legislative amendments. The initiative will amend regulation (EC) 273/2004

124. Eliminating double taxation on cross-border dividend payments to portfolio investors Legislative/Non-legislative Solutions to the double taxation problems raised by the levying of withholding taxes on cross-border dividends paid to portfolio investors.

125. The state of the Customs Union Non-legislative Overall assessment of the functioning of the Customs Union, its challenges and opportunities in safeguarding the Single Market and protecting its citizens. In response to gaps and needs identified in this analysis, the assessment will point to future customs initiatives with the aim of further increasing the value- the that the Customs Union adds to the Single Market.

126. Car taxation Non-legislative To address double taxation and other tax obstacles in cross border situations

127. A Quick Reaction Mechanism against VAT fraud Legislative Recent experience has demonstrated that the Union's capacity to react is not quick enough when confronted with sudden and massive VAT fraud phenomena in certain Member States. Until now, derogations have been granted to individual Member States to stop this type of fraud in the affected sectors, but the procedure for granting derogations is not flexible enough to ensure a prompt and suitable reaction. The proposed new mechanism for adopting derogatory measures - quick reaction mechanism - would considerably increase the speed to deal with these problems. Its ultimate objective is to counter massive fraud schemes before they start having a considerable impact on national budgets.

Trade

128. Trade and Investment Barriers Report Non-legislative Report for the European Council to identify important market access barriers for European exporters and investors in third countries and to set out strategies to remove the barriers

Transport

129. Rail package: (1) Rail market access* Legislative Further market opening in the rail sector (for domestic passenger market) implies adaptation of the existing acquis on rail market access (1st railway package and its subsequent amendments) and appropriate changes to the Regulation on public service contracts in the rail sector (EC 1370/2007), including mandatory award of public service contracts under competitive tendering. This initiative will also ensure non-discriminatory access to rail infrastructure, including rail-related services, in particular through structural separation between infrastructure management and service provision (unbundling). It will be accompanied by a Communication on Review rail market organisation and assess non-discriminatory access to rail infrastructure.

(2) European Railway Agency (ERA)* Legislative This initiative will enhance the role of ERA in the field of rail safety, in particular its supervision of national safety measures taken by national safety authorities and their progressive harmonisation. It will also aim at achieving a single vehicle type authorisation and a single railway undertaking safety certification. Safety and interoperability directives (2004/49 and 2008/57) might be adjusted as necessary. (4th quarter 2012)

130. Clean power for transport: An alternative fuel strategy Legislative/Non-legislative The White Paper on transport emphasises the need to break the transport system's dependency on oil. This initiative intends to accelerate the EU market uptake of alternative transport including necessary standards for equipment and storage systems. It will identify possible EU actions to stimulate the use of EU alternative fuels and provide the industry, public sector and consumers with a clear and coherent vision on the market developments of alternative fuel transport systems.