European Union

The European Commission has asked Italy to adopt national legislation implementing the new European safety rules and standards for passenger ships. The Commission's request takes the form of a reasoned opinion under EU infringement procedures. If Italy fails to inform the Commission within two months of the measures it has taken to ensure full compliance with EU law, the Commission could refer the case to the European Court of Justice.

The European Union and the United States have initialled a new agreement on the transfer of air passengers' data for flights from the EU to the US. If adopted by the European Parliament and EU Member States in the Council of Ministers, the new agreement on Passenger Name Records (PNR) will replace the current agreement from 2007, improving data protection whilst providing an efficient tool to fight serious transnational crime and terrorism.

The new Directive 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and the Council of Oct. 25, 2011, on consumer rights, amending Council Directive 93/13/EEC and Directive 1999/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directive 85/577/EEC and Directive 97/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council has been published in today's edition of the Official Journal of the European Union.

On October 24, 2011, the United States House of Representatives approved H.R. 2594, the “European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act". If passed by the Senate and signed by the President, the bill would force the Department of Transportation to bar U.S. airline operators from complying with the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).