Brussels, 08/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 8 June, the European Commission adopted a communication on mechanisms for improving governance of the single market. It pointed out that infringement procedures should not on average last any longer than 18 months while the average deadline currently exceeds two years. Member states should apply a zero tolerance policy with regard to transposition delays of European legislation and comply with the European Court of Justice's ruling that procedures should be completed in a period of 12 months. If this is not the case, the Commission will not hesitate to launch procedures to impose financial penalties. On the other hand, the European institution has not taken on board the European Parliament internal market committee's idea of appointing a specific prosecutor responsible for speeding up infringement procedures in the field of the internal market. It should also be noted that an annual report on internal market integration will now be published at the same time as the annual examination on growth, which will give the go-ahead to the “European Semester” budgetary process. (MB/transl.fl)