Brussels, 22/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - Completion of banking union, the single market, the digital agenda, implementation of the EU multiannual financial framework 2014-2020, including action to address youth unemployment - these are the priorities of the European Commission work programme for 2014 adopted in Strasbourg by the College of Commissioners on Tuesday 22 October.
Growth and jobs remain the Commission's top priority in 2014, with a particular focus on combatting youth unemployment and facilitating SME access to financing. The Commission will continue work on completing banking union, reinforcing economic governance and exploring further deepening of the EMU (economic and monetary union). The adoption of the single resolution mechanism is a priority, and the single supervisory mechanism will become operational in 2014 (Ed: in autumn), the Commission says. It will also take a longer-term perspective in a variety of key sectors: energy and climate change, modern industrial policy, and justice and home affairs policies, and the rule of law.
For the first time, the Commission work programme includes a list of already-adopted legislative proposals which the Commission believes deserve special attention, given their importance and given that they have a realistic chance of adoption in the coming months. The 26 areas listed in Annex 1 of the work programme give a clear indication of the sectors in which the Commission will focus its attention during the six months preceding the European Parliament elections. Among the other priorities are: - deposit guarantee schemes, Markets in Financial Services Directive (MIFID); - long-term investment funds; - the fight against money laundering, the posting of workers, the telecoms package, the 4th railway package, actions for damages in competition law, establishment of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, and the tobacco products directive. (LC/transl.fl)