Diplomatic Economic Club^{® Since 1997}

New European Commission’s action plan for doubling the volume of e-commerce in the EU by 2015 is aimed at stimulating growth and employment. The Commission said that if 15 % of retail sales were e-commerce and the obstacles to the internal market were removed, the gains for consumers might total ? 204 billion, or 1,7% of EU GDP. The Baltic States cannot miss the opportunities envisaged in the plan.

It was hardly any doubt that the agreement, called „financial compact“, would be accepted by the EU member states’ majority at the summit during last January days in 2012. A slight surprise was the Czech’s government decision to join the UK in opposing the drastic financial measures for the member states. There are however some lessons to learn for the Baltic States.

As Moody’s verdict is perfectly unfounded, the Hungarian government cannot but interpret it as part of the financial offensive against Hungary.
It is unfounded, as in the past one-and-a-half years there has been a markedly favourable change in most sectors of the Hungarian economy in spite of all external turbulences.

Turkish Minister for European Affairs, Mr. Egemen Bağış during his visit to the Baltic States answered  questions. «Turkish economy has been Europe’s fastest growing economy in the last decade and in terms of gross domestic product. Turkey has become the world’s 16th largest economy as of 2010. The OECD estimates that if Turkey sustains this economic performance in the next decades, it will be one of the ten largest economies in the world and will be the second-largest economy in Europe by 2050», said the minister.

The EU legislation clearly states that the Union laws –both primary and secondary- must be respected and implemented. The Commission makes monthly analysis of the member states’ state-of-art concerning implementation of the EU directives, mainly in line with their transposition’s deadline. Recent Commission analysis follows below with examples of formal complaints to the Court of Justice.

EU’ Eastern Direction is exploring new opportunities and possibilities in transport. This issue has been the target of the recent Commission’s efforts to streamline the region’s transport policy. Efforts in transport cooperation with several Eastern European countries can provide an excellent opportunity for the Baltic States to take part. Now it is the question of political will and actions.