Brussels, 11/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 11 October, in Luxembourg, European competitiveness ministers gave a warm welcome to the European Commission's early presentation of the 27 October communication on the single market act. The communication is to be accompanied by 50 proposals for action.
The competitiveness council retained several priorities during the debate such as the services economy, the digital agenda (electronic trade, electronic public procurement, electronic signature), climate change and the reduction of red tape. “We agree with these priorities which are to be found in the two main chapters of the single market act”, said Michel Barnier, the European internal market commissioner.
“The internal market is vital for our growth”, the French minister said, adding that the lack of fiscal convergence is a “growing impediment to the smooth functioning of the internal market”. It is also necessary to adapt the internal market to the world of today (digital economy) and open our markets (globalisation) in a spirit of reciprocity, for example for public procurement. The Italian delegation underlined the need to combat counterfeiting and Michel Barnier, European Commissioner, promised he would present a plan to combat piracy and counterfeiting covering various aspects (new technologies for detecting forged products, the training of agents, and cooperation with third countries, especially African countries, etc.).
Finland and even France stressed the need to reduce fragmentation on the internal market. Romania, in particular, highlighted the need for a sustainable industrial policy.
Estonia expressed the wish for a context that is more favourable for SMEs and spoke of the creation of the internal digital market. Latvia commented on the need to lighten the administrative burden weighing on companies and said cohesion policy must strengthen infrastructure investment. The Netherlands wanted a single market act that is both ambitious and realistic and set out the following priorities: - development of the digital market, continued integration of the services market, rapid establishment of a European patent, and effective rules concerning public procurement.
Spain and the Netherlands welcomed Michel Barnier's presentation, especially on the two growth points that the EU could gain simply by adjusting to internal market norms.
Denmark said it is necessary to “kill the myth whereby the single market threatens certain vulnerable categories of our citizens”. The Danish priorities are as follows: - to make investment in Europe more attractive, attract venture capital to the EU and reach a sustainable European economy. The single market is “the base, the platform for the European economy”, Michel Barnier said. It is also necessary to draw lessons from the crisis, he concluded, so that “order is brought to the financial markets we need” so that these markets are to the service of the real economy. (L.C./transl.jl)