Brussels, 26/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - EU industry ministers will be meeting in Brussels on 1 and 2 March for the first formal sitting of the Competitiveness Council under the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Chaired initially by the Spanish industry minister, Miguel Sebastián and then by the Spanish science and innovation minister, Cristina Garmendia, the Council will examine the main EU priorities in the new EU Strategy for Growth and Jobs for 2020, to be unveiled by the European Commission on 3 March (see related article) for the European summit of 25 and 26 March. According to initial indications from the Commission, the new strategy will be based on a knowledge-based, greener economy with a social dimension.
Industrial policy. On Monday, the EU member states' industry ministers will discuss the need for a new industrial policy and adopt a conclusions document to this effect. They are expected to focus on fundamental targets to determine a new, joined-up approach to ensure industry in the EU does not lose its competitive edge. In preparing for the Competitive Council, EU experts used the conclusions document adopted by the Council in December 2009 and a 2009 report on European competitiveness. Their discussions revealed that industry remains in a parlous state in many areas as a result of the economic crisis. The updating of sections of the EU's industrial policy is needed to boost competitiveness and achieve strong, balanced growth. This will need to involve measures to boost the economy in the long-term in order to move towards a competitive, eco-efficient, economy based on innovation and the ability to make the best use of measures to improve the environment, create new niches and high quality jobs. An example of such changes in the future to the benefit of both industry and consumers is illustrated by the example of designing clean, low-carbon cars (electric cars, for example), which was the focus of discussion at the February 2010 Competitiveness Council in San Sebastían. The Council on Monday will address other important areas to industry, employers and the trade unions like introducing a better environment for business, cutting red tape, the situation facing small business, the Small Business Act, the danger of carbon leakages, the use of IT and communications technology, introducing a genuine common market across the board, exporting to countries outside the EU, rational use of raw materials and access to raw materials, increasing R&D and innovation and better matching of the workforce's skills to job requirements.
Single market. The industry ministers will adopt a resolution to ensuring application of intellectual property rights (IPR) on the single market (see EUROPE 10081). The resolution builds on the 2008 resolution setting out an EU action plan to tackle pirating and counterfeiting (see EUROPE 9742), detailing the mission of the European Monitoring Centre set up by the European Commission, and calls for the swapping of information between the public and private sectors in the member states and at EU level, stressing the importance of keeping the general public informed about the negative side effects of counterfeiting and pirating.
Over lunch, the ministers will discuss the future of the single market with the former EU internal market and competition commissioner, Mario Monti, and the current EU internal market commissioner, Michel Barnier. Monti will publish his final recommendations in April 2010. He has already set out three strands of research - strengthening the internal market by ensuring existing rules are actually enforced on the ground and continuous surveillance of individual industries and markets; - expanding the single market into areas where it does not have enough of a presence or is underused; and - taking account of the social aspects of the market to place Europeans and businesses at the heart of the plan to boost the single market. Monti believes that unbridled fiscal competition damages the single market. To mark the twentieth anniversary of the single market (as set out in the Single European Act), the Commission will launch a new Internal Market Strategy in 2012.
Research. On Tuesday, the EU member states' research ministers will publish a conclusions document on research careers and mobility and the European Research Council's structures and mechanisms. They will take note of progress in talks on an EU Earth Observation Programme (GMES) and initial operations (2011-2013), and a Joint Baltic Sea Research and Development Programme. Over lunch, the research ministers will discuss expanding the European research area, its targets and indicators to measure its impact. (B.C./E.H./M.B./transl.fl)