MEPs look at what can be done to protect consumers with the re-launched Single Market and questions remain over FYROM's name and accession criteria.

The News: Single Market Proposals - FYROM Progress

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15531358/N001-110406-EN.srt

In a bid to reconcile EU citizens  with the Single Market,

MEPs start by reassuring  online shoppers.

The Former Yugoslavian Republic of  Macedonia aspires EU-accession,

And the rest of the news  in brief and in images.

You've ordered an electrical appliance  and you're not satisfied.

We're at the European Consumer Centre  in Kehl in Germany.

Here they deal with disputes  between consumers and businesses.

Most problems concern  online purchases.

Consumers buying from abroad  encounter problems,

especially regarding  undelivered products,

Despite the obstacles, Europeans spent  more than €165 billion online in 2010.

In the coming years, this market could be  a gold mine for companies.

To this end, MEPs want to boost  citizens' confidence.

The aim is to create  a true European Single Market.

To gain citizens' trust, mechanisms that  guarantee their rights are essential.

Common taxation,  a reduction in bank transaction fees

or better worker mobility are  other ways to improve the internal market.

Member States will also have  a share of the responsibility.

EU leaders have to understand  that all protection measures

in their national markets  are counter-productive,

12 top-priority proposals  to relaunch the Single Market.

Many of these should coincide  with the MEPs' own proposals.

The Former Yugoslav Republic of  Macedonia is far from joining the EU.

It has officially been  a candidate since 2005,

but it has a serious difference  with Greece over the name Macedonia.

Greeks do not want the republic to have  the same name as one of their regions.

Athens and Skopje  have still not resolved the problem.

We want a solution  and we're working for one,

but until we arrive at a solution,  we cannot start accession negotiations.

If the FYROM is to truly have  a physical place in Europe,

it must fulfil all the accession criteria,  particularly concerning civil liberties.

There are problems, for example,  with the opposition,

and which is boycotting  the national parliament.

These are all issues which aren't  conducive to national stability,

or political, economic,  financial, monetary and social stability.

Despite those uncertainties,  in a report debated on Wednesday,

MEPs asked for the accession  negotiations with the FYROM to begin.

One minute of silence  for a new immigration drama.

130 refugees have gone missing  off the coast of Lampedusa

after a boat with Somali  and Eritrean refugees capsized.

Following  strong migration pressure in Italy,

MEPs have urged  the EU-27 to show solidarity.

Milk powder manufacturers can soon  cite the benefits of the fatty acid DHA,

DHA can aid visual development,  but scientific opinions diverge.

In spite of fearful consumer organisations  MEPs have authorised the health claim.

182 million euros will be allocated  to six Central European countries.

Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic,  Hungary, Romania and Croatia

suffered severe water floods  last summer.

The damages are  estimated at 5.5 billion euros.