Accomplished steps

Also in 2011 the EU "will continue addressing its citizens’ concerns". It is the commitment of the Barroso Commission on behalf of all Community institutions, as expounded in the publication titled "Europe and you. A snapshot of EU achievements". Ten targets. The new edition of the booklet (available online in all official languages at www.europa.eu) updates the continental public opinion "on a series of concrete steps made by the EU in 2010 to improve and simplify the life" of 500 million people living within its borders. The list is limited to symbolic achievements, occasionally overestimated in their concrete outcomes, but nonetheless emblematic of the legislative measures, initiatives and financial interventions carried out by Europe over the past 12 months despite recurring difficulties. The document delves into ten topics: Securing a sound economy and stronger financial markets; Boosting small businesses and creating new jobs; New rights for passengers; A common charger for mobile phones; Fairer trials; Making energy supplies more secure; Putting electronic waste to new use; Cutting out illegal timber; Protecting children; Lending a hand when disaster strikes.Rules and… perplexities. According to the Commission the EU leaders "demonstrated just how effectively they can act together when they came up with a series of solutions to tackle the turbulence in public finances during the year". The EU’s intervention, described as "rapid" – which is rather perplexing -, "preserved the stability and credibility of the euro. It generated confidence in the markets. It helped member states in difficulty to restore their finances. And it put in place new mechanisms to protect against future shocks". Financial intervention in favour of Greece and Ireland along with the new permanent mechanism to ensure the stability of the euro area are to be viewed in this direction. "In parallel, the EU established strict new rules for member states, for banks and bankers. They are to make financial markets more transparent and to curtail excessive risk-taking, for example via new rules for hedge funds and for bonus systems for bankers". There are also new European-wide supervision bodies to keep a watchful eye on the financial players that have become operative on January 1st 2011. On the same subject, EU27 "alongside the defensive action", launched an "economic strategy — Europe 2020 — which will not only boost growth and jobs, but will also ensure that everyone shares in its benefits". To this regard expectations are high.Aid to enterprises. In the economic framework, the document devotes a chapter to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). "Between 2002 and 2008, smaller firms created 9.4 million jobs in the EU. This is more than all the big companies combined". But the economic downturn "showed that even the best small firms and brightest entrepreneurs can be vulnerable to everything from late payments to lack of access to loans or training. So the EU has taken decisive action to help them develop". For example, new EU rule requires public authorities to pay up within 30 days when they buy goods and services. This makes a real improvement in the cash flow that keeps small businesses alive. Furthermore, "A new European-level exchange scheme, modelled on the Erasmus programme that has been so successful for students, now gives young entrepreneurs the chance to acquire management skills from working with experienced entrepreneurs". The document makes known that the EU has set aside €100 million in start-up loans for redundant workers who want to start their own business.Protecting children. The pages devoted to child protection are obviously important. "Some 10 to 20 % of children in Europe fall victim to some form of sexual abuse during their childhood. At the same time, the number of websites devoted to child pornography is growing, with an estimated 200 new images put into circulation every day", it states. For these and other reasons the Commission proposed more severe punishment for child sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and child pornography. "The new rules also target ‘grooming’ (befriending children via web chats with the intention of sexually abusing them) and so- called ‘sex tourism’", even when this crime has taken place outside the EU. The Commission highlights the importance of granting better protection for children coming to the EU without being accompanied by an adult.