The future regulations concerning food labelling are currently hotly lobbied and debated in the European Parliament. Which details should be stated on food packages, how large should the font be for sugar, fat and salt content etc. and how many calories one consumes. The MEPs, who are currently trying to answer these questions, want to introduce new relevant regulations.

A number of new developments in Brussels concerning the subject of regulating the financial markets - not only AK EUROPA and the European Office of the Austrian Trade Union Federation ÖGB dealt at their event with hedge funds and private equity; the European Parliament, too discussed the new report presented by the French MEP Jean-Paul Gauzès. Also on the agenda of the European Parliament was an expert hearing on the financial transaction tax.

For the first time in the new legislative period of the European Parliament, MEPs and national MPs met in Brussels to jointly debate the Stockholm Programme. The Stockholm Programme of the EU, which is due to be adopted by the European Council, serves as a basis for the European Domestic and Security Policy of the next five years.

A Conference in Brussels this week dealt with the Global Europe Strategy, the Free Trade Agreement of the EU with third countries associated with it and their impact on the employment situation in the countries concerned. The discussion was organised by SOLIDAR, a non-governmental organisation, which advocates social justice both in Europe and worldwide.

In an 18-month investigation - the “Mobile Service Sweep” -, national consumer protection authorities in the 27 EU states, Norway and Iceland examined a total of 554 websites for ringtones and wallpapers for mobile phones. In a press conference this Tuesday the Commission presented the results of this investigation. Of the websites examined, half were found to be in breach of existing consumer laws.

Vladimir Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, announced during a discussion at the Women’s Committee of the European Parliament that work had begun to create a new strategic framework to promote the gender equality of women and men. This will replace the current Roadmap for equality between women and men (2006 - 2010).

Five years ago, the Regulation for Improving Enforcement of Consumer Protection Legislation came into force. Its objective is to improve the cooperation between national authorities. A range of measures and instruments shall help to preserve consumer rights.

The autumn prognosis, which was presented by Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquín Almunia this Tuesday, for the first time again forecasts slightly positive growth rates for the coming two years. At an unemployment rate of over 10 %, however, the situation on the labour market will continue to deteriorate over the coming two years.

A well functioning food supply chain is of paramount importance to consumers, the food industry and the food trade. High food prices are a particular burden for low-income households. Although, compared to the peak prices for raw agricultural products prior to the crisis, prices have come down, the effect for consumers was either delayed or did not benefit them at all.

This week, the Commission presented a new Eurobarometer survey on poverty and social exclusion and held a conference under the motto “Poverty: between perception and reality - a communication challenge”. The survey and the conference are associated with the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, whose aim it is to reach a broad public and to shed light on the different perceptions of poverty and social exclusion.