Harbour: Proof of the importance of small businesses
Posted,1/16/2012 7:00:00 PM
A European Commission study showing that 85 percent of net new jobs in the EU are from small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) highlights the imperative role such businesses have in driving our economic recovery, Malcolm Harbour MEP, chairman of the European Parliament's internal market committee, said today.
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EU credit site sweep welcomed
Posted,1/10/2012 6:00:00 PM
The European Commission's publication of a credit website sweep must be followed up by national authorities to ensure that all websites offering credit in the EU are abiding by the EU's Consumer Credit Directive, Malcolm Harbour MEP, chairman of the European Parliament's internal market and consumer protection committee, said today. He was speaking after the commission revealed that 38 out of 47 sites in the EU which were spot-checked were in breach of rules aimed at ensuring that clear information for people considering a credit offer, will avoid nasty shocks later on. Mr Harbour, Conservative MEP for the West Midlands, said: "In these difficult times it is more important than ever that we ensure consumers are fully informed about the cost of credit. The Consumer Credit directive seeks to bring clarity to a sometimes opaque and confusing marketplace and it is right that the commission is seeking to enforce it. "People should never be asked to take out credit without a clear understanding of all the costs and terms. I hope that the national authorities follow up this sweep with vigour and impose strict penalties on the websites that fail to adhere to the rules. It is in the interests of both consumers and lenders that people go into a credit agreement with a full understanding of the commitment they have made. My Committee was already concerned about the lack of safeguards, and we are now collecting evidence for a major review of the EU Directive that will be started shortly."
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Update of public procurement rules "prepares the ground" for a simpler bidding process
Posted,12/21/2011 1:00:00 PM
Proposed new rules on public procurement announced today (Tuesday) are a significant step towards increased competitiveness in Europe and easier bidding, especially for smaller companies, a senior MEP has said. Commenting on plans for a modernisation of EU public procurement rules, announced by Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier, Malcolm Harbour MEP said: "We will continue to work with the commission because we want to see bidding for public contracts made as simple as possible for smaller businesses, while still making sure there is transparency, fairness and value for money. But this is a helpful start." Mr Harbour, European Conservatives and Reformists group spokesman on the Single Market, said the proposals represented "a timely effort to ensure the sound expenditure of taxpayer money and give a much needed boost to European competitiveness by easing access for small and medium-sized enterprises and strengthening innovation.
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More pressure needed to address bikers' legitimate concerns over regulation
Posted,12/6/2011 4:00:00 PM
Further pressure must be applied over proposed EU safety and emissions regulations which motor cyclists fear will do more harm than good, a senior MEP said today.
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Costly farm quad-bike regulation threat deflected
Posted,12/5/2011 6:00:00 PM
A key vote in Brussels today means farmers should now escape unnecessary regulation that would have made their off-road quad bikes much more expensive.
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