Brussels, 24/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - The Competitiveness Council will prepare the ground for the European summits devoted to innovation and small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in October, defence in December, and industry in February 2014.
The first formal meeting of European industry ministers to be held under the Lithuanian Presidency on 26 September will be the first stage in preparing their contribution to the subsequent meetings of a European Council which has promised to take things in hand to defend EU competitiveness. Three points are on the agenda: support for SMEs, framework conditions for industry, and the defence industry.
Ministers will first hold an exchange of views on the main SME-support initiatives, which will provide the opportunity to take stock of the most recent developments on the Small Business Act (SBA), adopted in 2008. The review of the SBA in 2011 set out four priorities: access to finance, access to markets, smart regulation and entrepreneurship.
Ministers will also discuss the framework conditions for and the future prospects of European industry along with key aspects of EU policy on energy, climate and environment, research, and trade. The debate will focus on a number of strategic aspects. The Presidency is seeking to condense the opinions of the delegations to inform the conclusions to be adopted in December. These conclusions will be submitted to the European summit in February the flagship issue of which will be industry.
Discussion is also planned on the specific situation of the steel sector. Reactions are expected from the countries most keenly affected: Belgium, France and Luxembourg. The Commission tabled a Community action plan in mid-June (see EUROPE 10864).
Ministers will debate the Commission communication on the security and defence sector which was presented at the end of July (see EUROPE 10894) and which proposes enhanced cooperation in the sector as a way of obviating the effects of reductions in national budgets and maximising resources. The outcome of this discussion will feed into preparations for the European Council in December, at which defence will be the principal subject. (EH/JK/transl.fl)