The frequencies, which are released by the conversion from analogue to digital television, will be used for innovative services, informed the Commission in a press release. Interactive television or mobile phones with advanced functions could now be made possible by the freed frequencies.

This week, the Commission in Brussels published two Communications, which deal with regulating the financial markets. On the one hand, this concerns future measures to restrain the derivative markets, which played a central role in the financial crisis. On the other hand, the Commission has also adopted a Communication on an EU Framework for Cross-Border Crisis Management in the Banking Sector.

A new microfinance instrument for employment; more money for energy projects, for promoting small and medium-sized business and for milk farmers: that is what suggestions of the European Parliament included for the EU budget, which was adopted on Thursday in its first reading.

This week, the European Commission presented two legislative instruments for changing the Common European Asylum System: the Directive on qualification and status of persons in need of international protection and the Asylum Procedures Directive.

This week, the European Commission presented progress reports on the accession negotiations with Croatia, Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. No EU accession negotiations have been opened yet with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and the Kosovo.

This week, a second debate took place in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) of the European Parliament in Brussels on the planned intention of the European Commission to regulate hedge funds and private equity firms for the first time at European level. The proposal of the Commission has to be decided in the so-called codecision procedure by both the European Parliament and the Member States. Both organs have already begun to examine the content of the Commission proposal.

This week, the European Parliament has decided to set up a special committee on the financial and economic crisis (CRIS). During the coming twelve months, the 45 members of the committee will examine the extent and the impact of the crisis in the Member States and propose measures for restructuring stable financial markets.

For the first time, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs discussed the impact of the Treaty of Lisbon within the scope of freedom, security and justice. With the Treaty of Lisbon coming into force, the European Parliament automatically assumes an important role with regard to protecting the Fundamental Rights. The codecision procedure becomes a “normal” procedure. That way, Parliament gains in importance towards the Council.

Europe’s ageing population will have a profound social impact on the future. It is therefore important that all participating players will become aware of the challenges and opportunities that this entails.

A proposal on redrafting the Food Labelling Directive was introduced by the EU at the end of January 2008. The AK is sceptical. Examinations by the AK in the past have shown that consumers often regard food labelling as insufficient. Against this background, AK has assessed the submitted draft proposal.