Brussels, 10/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - The single market should be more social and of immediate use to European citizens. That is the conviction shared by Single Market and Services Commissioner Michel Barnier and European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) President Staffan Nilsson following their meeting in Brussels on 6 January, the main topic of which was the re-launch of the internal market. The commissioner called on the EESC to participate in the Internal Market Forum created by the European Commission, which needs to work on the 20 main blockages identified in the functioning of the internal market.
Barnier asked the EESC to enliven the debate on the re-launch of the internal market, focusing on elements that are also a priority for the Committee, such as the social clause, the clarification of the scope of services of public interest and different proposals on social entrepreneurship. Both the commissioner and the EESC president shared the view that Europe has a choice “between being a global player or a sub-contractor of globalisation”. (Com-G.B./transl.rt)