Economy: the worst has yet to come “Encouraging data” regarding the stabilization of financial markets are but the corollary of an overall situation marked by economic downturn. The tri-monthly Euro-zone report issued by the Commission June 29 confirms the ongoing recession across the 16 single-currency Countries. Experts in Brussels have drawn a picture of “lights and shadows”, given that “economic activity is supported by EU vigorous and coordinated policy”, which paves the way to less uncertain future developments. The report presents a preliminary balance of the measures adopted by European States in support of production and consumption systems, of the banking system and of financial markets. The second chapter is devoted to “problems in the economy and in the budget also in view of population ageing”. Broad space is dedicated to private consumption, price level and international trade. It is acknowledged that “the economic crisis risks triggering weaker growth potential in view of the downsizing of employment and productivity”, accompanied by decreased investments for research and technological innovation. Housing: two every three Europeans are householders Two thirds of European families own the home they live in, 21% are tenants at market prices and the remaining pay reduced rental fees or live in state-owned homes. These are the findings of “Consumers in Europe”, the publication issued by Eurostat in conjunction with the EU Commission. The fourth edition of the volume lists figures and comments of European housing market, highlighting initiatives aimed at consumer protection. Twelve chapters address an equal number of sectors that include foodstuffs, textiles, housing, health, transportation, free time and cultural activities. Accordingly, “46% of families in EU27 live in apartments and 30% in individual lodgings” while others live in two or multi-family homes. Apartment-buildings are typical in Latvia, Estonia, Spain and Germany, while one-family homes are mostly located across Slovenia and Hungary. The chapter on energy states that 40% of family consumption “derives from natural gas, 24% from electricity and 15% from oil products”, while only 12% derives from renewable energy sources like sun and wind. Energy: the Commission’s consumer protectionThe Commission has taken “firm action” against 25 Member Countries, which “prevent European consumers benefiting from the advantages of a competitive and open Energy Market by not complying with EU legislation. Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom will be receiving letters of formal notice for not complying with applicable gas and electricity regulations. The Commission has also sent letters of formal notice to Greece, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Lithuania for maintaining a system of regulated prices in violation of the EU directives on electricity and gas. Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said, “In this time of economic and financial crisis, it is simply unacceptable that the European consumers and companies suffer the burden of an ill-functioning energy market”. Thus the Commission focused primarily on those regulations ensuring “fair competition in the interest of consumers”. A common charger for mobile phonesMeasures were taken to harmonise mobile phone chargers. The Commission requested industry “to come forward with a voluntary commitment to solve this problem so as to avoid legislation”. The apparently trivial issue, which however has concrete implications, gained the attention of the Euro-Chamber. Major producers of mobile phones have in fact agreed to harmonise chargers in the E.U. In a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”), which was submitted to the Commission today, the industry “commits to provide chargers compatibility on the basis of the Micro-USB connector”. Hence, the first generation of new inter-chargeable mobile phones should reach the EU market from 2010 onwards”. Günter Verheugen, responsible for enterprise and industrial policy, said: “I am very pleased that industry has found an agreement, which will make life much simpler for consumers. They will be able to charge mobile phones anywhere from the new common charger”. And this also means “considerably less electronic waste”.
