Brussels, 13/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - During an event organised by the Brewers of Europe, held in Brussels on Tuesday 12 October, the permanent president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy underlined how urgent it was to complete the internal market in order to provide industry and European companies with the best possible framework for staying competitive on the global scene. “Now, the single market has to enter a new stage. This crisis cannot lead us towards economic nationalism. We have to lift remaining barriers and bottlenecks. Fragmentation is still too high, rules often still too complicated, the international dimension has to be strengthened”, Van Romany said. “First of all, we have to complete the goods market”, the European Council president said, adding that European legislation in this field “has to be adapted taking into account new technologies and changing consumer patterns.” However, “also in the services market, there are still gaps”, he said. Thirdly, one should not forget the “fiscal dimension” of the internal market. “In the coming weeks, the European Commission will present concrete proposals to reform the single market, building on the recommendations made by the former commissioner, Mario Monti”, Van Rompuy concluded. The Commission is due to unveil its 50-point action plan on 27 October aimed at enhancing the way the internal market functions (for the first indications, see EUROPE 10234).
Herman Van Rompuy also stated in his speech that “beer and beer producers are important for Europe. They are cultural ambassadors for Europe”. He even said the European brewery sector “strengthens social cohesion, in a responsible way”. (H.B./transl.jl)