Commission: Hungary: political concerns”It is essential for the European Commission to make sure that EU law, both in letter and in spirit, is fully respected by Hungary, as by any other Member State”. On January 24 José Manuel Barroso, president of the EU Commission, drew a balance of Brussels’ relations with Budapest regarding infringement procedures relating to a number of new provisions in Hungarian legislation, namely the independence of the country’s central bank, data protection authority and certain measures affecting its judiciary. Barroso said the meeting with the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban, was “comprehensive and constructive”, that it outlined “the work ahead that is needed to speedily address the Commission’s legal concerns”. The Commission is ready to fully assess the formal answers from the Hungarian side as soon as they are submitted to Brussels. Barroso reiterated: “There are wider political concerns that the Hungarian Government needs to address”. Such concerns also relate to the economic and financial position of the Country, over which, during the debate at the European Parliament (January 17) Orban failed to provide satisfying or reassuring answers.Fifty years of Common Agricultural Policy”Back in 1962, Europeans were predominantly worried about having enough food on their plates. Today food security remains important, but we have also new concerns such as climate change and the sustainable use of natural resources. What has changed over the past 50 years? And which lessons should be drawn for the future?” These are the questions raised by Dacian Ciolos, EU Commissioner for Agriculture, during the inauguration of a set of initiatives for the 50th anniversary of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). According to the commissioner this policy is “a cornerstone of European integration”, that has provided European citizens with “half a century of food security and a living countryside”. Throughout 2012 events will be organised at national and EU level, such as conferences and public competitions. Ciolos underlined that the initiatives are meant not only to commemorate the anniversary but also to “to reflect on the ongoing CAP reform process”. “The fiftieth anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to create a common project capable of involving farmers and citizens alike, to prompt reflection and discussion on the important role of agriculture in our lives”. The one-year communication campaign includes “a series of events in Brussels and the Member States. From Spring 2012 an itinerant exhibition across Europe” will provide information on the practical effects of the CAP, the role of community funding, the future of the agricultural sector and breeding.Internet and the new protection of personal data”17 years ago less than 1% of Europeans used the internet. Today, vast amounts of personal data are transferred and exchanged, across continents and around the globe in fractions of seconds”, said EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding, the Commission’s Vice-President, outlining the guidelines of the “comprehensive reform” of the EU’s 1995 data protection rules (from the name on a photo, as also email addresses, banking information, posts in social networks, medical data…) proposed by the Commission on January 25 in order to to strengthen online privacy rights and boost Europe’s digital economy”. “The protection of personal data is a fundamental right for all Europeans”, recognized by the Charter of Fundamental Rights, “but citizens do not always feel in full control of their personal data. My proposals will help build trust in online services because people will be better informed about their rights and in more control of their information”, Reding said. “Technological progress and globalisation have profoundly changed the way our data is collected, accessed and used. In addition, the 27 EU Member States have implemented the 1995 rules differently, resulting in divergences in enforcement”. A single law “will do away with the current fragmentation and costly administrative burdens, leading to savings for businesses of around 2.3 billion a year”. Key changes in the reform include: a single set of rules on data protection, valid across the EU; removal of unnecessary administrative requirements; A ‘right to be forgotten’ will help people better manage data protection risks online: people will be able to delete their data if there are no legitimate grounds for retaining it”; Independent national data protection authorities will be strengthened so they can better enforce the EU rules at home; general data protection principles and rules for police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.
