Secondly, Schengen needs solidarity and solidarity is also about sharing the responsibility – burden-sharing – and sharing responsibility is also relative to the size of the Member State.

In particular, LBBW has accepted to meet the Commission's criteria on burden sharing by enabling loss-participation by the holders of hybrid capital through the non release of reserves (for details of the rules applied regarding proper burden sharing, see MEMO/09/441 ).

In the context of the framework programme Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows 2007-2013, what progress has there been with regard to the concept of 'burden sharing'?

The intention is to put forward a proposal for a Council Directive providing for a sharing of the burden of proof between plaintiff and defendant.

Those Member States are thereby making a practical contribution to burden-sharing in the context of the Community's collective fulfilment of its climate objective; - it is clear from those Member States' programmes that these practical contributions to implementation of the burden-sharing principle are based on the assumption that a combined CO2-energy tax will be introduced at Community level; - the Council welcomes the US administration's proposals for new energy taxes as an essential contribution to the worldwide measures against climate change - and as an initiative which, together with other OECD ...[+++]countries' tax level in the energy field, contributes substantially to the Community's demand that the effects on competition of corresponding tax initiatives in the Community be reduced; - against this background the Presidency will initiate a dialogue with the USA on joint global initiatives within the framework of the UN Climate Convention and relevant international fora like the OECD to further prevent climate change; - at the forthcoming joint Council of Environment and Energy Ministers the Presidency will look at all possibilities for reducing CO2 emissions, such as greater energy efficiency, the promotion of alternative forms of energy and the use of fiscal incentives; - that the Presidency will do its utmost in ECOFIN to secure a solution to the outstanding problems concerning a possible combined CO2/energy tax at Community level".

Commission Vice-President Joaquín Almunia, in charge of competition policy, said: "The administrators of Quinn Insurance have worked out a plan that provides for a viable future for the healthy parts, ensured an adequate burden sharing by the shareholders and limited the distortions of competition".