A provisional deal on updated watercraft rules to make them safer and greener was struck by MEPs and Irish EU presidency negotiators on Wednesday. It also scraps the misleading names of boat design categories in order to give consumers clearer information.

A provisional deal updating the EU customs code to keep pace with IT development was struck by MEPs and Irish EU presidency negotiators on Tuesday. It paves the way for paper-free customs transactions, including fast-track processing for trusted companies.

Here is a summary of the priorities of Ireland's Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, as presented by Irish ministers to European Parliament committees. These presentations were all made in the week of 21-25 January, except for agriculture (31 January).

A deal with the Council to give customs officials at EU borders better tools to confiscate, store and destoy goods that infringe intellectual property rights was endorsed by Internal Market Committee MEPs on Thursday.

Public authorities choosing among bids to supply them with water, energy, postal or transport services must be free to take account of environmental or social needs, and not just the cost, said Internal Market MEPs voting on an update of EU public procurement rules on Thursday.

Public procurement "concession" contracts, which enable public authorities to transfer the economic risk of projects such as building roads bridges or sports arenas to the private sector, will be subject to uniform EU-wide rules voted by the Internal Market Committee on Thursday.

Professionals will find it easier to work in another EU country thanks to an electronic card detailing their qualifications and experience, said the Internal Market Committee on Wednesday, amending a new draft law on recognition of professional qualifications. MEPs also backed plans for an EU- wide alert system to prevent doctors or nurses who are barred from their profession in one EU country from exercising it in another.

The EU customs union must not become a "two-speed" one, in which some member states enable businesses to complete customs formalities electronically, but others require them to do so on paper, said the Internal Market Committee on Tuesday. The committee also amended a proposed customs "action plan" to help member states to acquire high-tech equipment such as scanners.

Public procurement contracts should go to the most "advantageous" bidder, assessed on environmental or social criteria, not just the lowest one, said Internal Market MEPs voting on new EU rules on Tuesday. MEPs also improved an optional "innovation" provision, to enable bidders to suggest how best to meet specifications set out in the contract.

EU shoppers who have disputes with traders over goods and services may no longer need to go to court to settle them, thanks to a deal struck by Parliament and Council negotiators. The deal, on two laws to protect online and cross-border shoppers, aims to give easy access to fast, cheap and fair ways of settling disputes.