The Proposal by the Commission serves to recast the Directive on the energy performance of buildings. In future, when undergoing major renovations all buildings will have to comply with national minimum requirements for the energy performance of buildings. Member States are to set minimum requirements as to ensure that the total costs for the investment, maintenance and operation (incl. energy costs) of a building are minimised during its life-cycle. In addition, the energy performance of a building must be stated in all advertisements for sale or rent and the energy performance certificate must be shown to all prospective buyers or tenants.

With its Proposal for a Directive the EU Commission mainly wishes to improve the social protection of self-employed women and their spouses/life partners engaged in their businesses. Accordingly, spouses assisting self-employed women are to have the same access to social security schemes as self-employed persons and self-employed women are to be provided with maternity protection. Moreover, access to self-employment must be practicable irrespective of gender or family status.

On 7 October 2008 the Council called for an increase of the coverage level for deposit guarantee schemes. Depositor confidence which was severely damaged through the bank crisis should be restored by such measures. The proposal submitted by the Commission first provides for an increase in the coverage level of EUR 20,000 to EUR 50,000 retroactively as of 15 October 2008 and then for an increase to EUR 100,000 effective as of 1 January 2010.

The EU Commission wishes to promote the circulation of electronic money by simplifying the legal requirements for the institutions concerned. The issuance of money is to be supervised according to its actual economic risk potential. Hence, the Directive treats institutions licensed to issue e-money different from credit institutions. Moreover, e-money institutions will be entitled to engage in further business activities. 

The EU-Commission proposes to revise the Directve as to doorstep selling, unfair contract terms, distant selling, as well as to the purchase of consumer goods and subsume it under a new directive. The main target of the Directive is the transition from minimum harmonisation of consumer contractual rights to a full harmonisation.

The EU Commission proposes to change the Directive on maternity protection in order to improve health protection at work and equal opportunities for pregnant and breastfeeding workers. The key points of the Proposal are the extension of the duration of paid maternity leave and of the protection from dismissal as well as a generally increased legal protection.

The EU Commission proposes to change the Directive on maternity protection in order to improve health protection at work and equal opportunities for pregnant and breastfeeding workers. The key points of the Proposal are the extension of the duration of paid maternity leave and of the protection from dismissal as well as a generally increased legal protection.

The rapid development of the internet creates new services and applications. Not only the EU Commission, but also many national politicians call for "broadband access for all" and a quick expansion of high-speed networks in urban areas. The growing use of smart radio tags (RFID technology) storing and transmitting data, enables new applications on the one hand, but, at the same time, raises critical issues as to data protetion on the other hand.