Euro currency stability and amendments to the Treaty”Member States whose currency is the euro can set up a stability mechanism to be established in case of need, in order to protect the stability of the euro area as a whole and which would provide that the granting of any financial assistance required under the mechanism is to be made subject to strict conditionality”. The paragraph represents the amendment to article 136 of the Lisbon Treaty enabling the establishment of a permanent European stability mechanism, due to be activated in 2013, once the function of current provisional mechanism has expired. It was clarified a few days ago by the EU Commission, and for this, President José Manuel Barroso, presented the Commission’s proposal to the European Parliament on February 15. “The decision is essential in order to confirm our determination to defend our common currency and to guarantee sound financial stability given economic unbalances registered in some Member States, which need to be addressed”, Barroso said. The draft amendment, he added, “is limited, and it complies with our intention to prevent alterations to the EU’s specific responsibilities. I hope the Treaty’s amendment will be adopted by next month’s European Council so that the European stability mechanism may be activated in 2013”.Commission, 11 “actions” for the rights of the childReinforcing the rights of the child is the major objective of the Program presented by the Commission a few days ago. It includes 11 concrete actions that will put the principles of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights into practice. “Children’s rights are fundamental rights,” said Vice-President Viviane Reding, the EU’s Justice Commissioner. “The EU and its 27 Member States need to make sure they are protected and that the best interests of the child are our guiding principles. “Notably, child-friendly justice should make sure that the rights of the child are taken into account whenever children are involved with justice systems, either as victims, suspects or when their parents divorce and disagree over custody”. The measures place special emphasis on the legal protection of minors. “Children can face severe obstacles when they are involved with justice systems. Their rights may even be violated if they face non child-friendly justice systems. In addition, particularly vulnerable children – either growing up in poverty, social exclusion or disabled – require special protection”, Reding continued. Furthermore, in order to make the Internet safer for kids, the Commission “will actively counter cyber-bullying, grooming, exposure to harmful content, and other uncomfortable experiences of using online technologies”. In order “to raise awareness and promote active citizenship among children”, the Commission will establish a single entry point for children on the EUROPA portal with easily accessible information on children’s rights and EU policies”.MEPs: counterfeit drugs and patents”Falsified medicines are silent killers because they could contain toxic substances that can seriously harm patients and even be lethal”. Portuguese MEP Marisa Matias clarified the content of the new regulation adopted by the EU Assembly February 16 aimed at “preventing the dangerous medicinal products from reaching the patient”. The provision adds to the rules regulating the sale of pharmaceuticals via the Internet, and steps up safety rules and sanctions on counterfeiters. The MEP explained: “This criminal activity has spread at skyrocketing levels with a 400% increase of counterfeit medicines since 2005. Protecting the patient’s safety is the main objective of the directive”. The rapporteur said it is estimated that 1% of medicinal products currently sold to the European public through the legal supply chain are fake. In the same sitting of February 16 MEPs approved the reinforced cooperation procedure to set up a unified patent system. The request was submitted by 12 EU States as an agreement failed to be reached by EU27. Now all Member States, except for Italy and Spain, have decided to adopt the procedure. The two Countries, which oppose the chosen language system that leaves out Italian and Spanish, may adopt the procedure at a later stage. The competitiveness Council is called to adopt the reinforced cooperation procedure next March 8-9, after which the Commission will present two legislative proposals: one on the creation of the new Community patent system and the other regarding the language system.
