Brussels, 08/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 7 April, the members of the European Parliament's internal market and consumer protection (IMCO) committee took fairly enthusiastic leave of European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services Michel Barnier as regards their work over the last five years. The IMCO committee was meeting for the last time under the current parliament.
There was indeed little criticism from the MEPs, but rather recommendations on the path to be followed for the next European Commission and the next European Parliament. In general, the IMCO MEPs argue for more simplification and legislative stability in completing the internal market, as European citizens and businesses expect.
Barnier highlighted the progress made over the term of the current parliament - especially as regards the Single Market Act I and II and the 70 initiatives picked up in them. He spoke about paperless invoices and public procurement procedures as the first large area of work.
With regard to services, Barnier particularly highlighted that he had not wanted to re-open the services directive but to rely above all on transposition - “Let's begin by applying it and making it useful”, he told MEPs, recalling that the Commission adopted a zero-tolerance stance on member states that delayed transposition. He also recalled the ongoing exercise of assessing national legislation on regulated professions, so as to determine ultimately how to improve the regulatory framework.
Another area of work that remains open is the support to businesses, and particularly to SMEs - with new arrangements on loans and access to banks. He stressed the long-term financing agenda too, which has recently been presented, and the interest of participative financing and social enterprises.
Lastly, Barnier recalled the importance of adapting the single market to the digital challenge. Noting that “the time for innovation is quicker than the time for laws”, he nevertheless hailed the work on this issue - particularly on online trade and parcel delivery - and he noted the importance of setting up legislative controls for online gaming in the future.
Barnier's biggest success for the single market remains the average shortfall in transposing European legislation, which has been brought down to 0.6% - not far from the 0.5% that the Commission set as its objective. This last meeting of the IMCO committee, which finished on a good note, was also the last meeting for its chair, Malcolm Harbour (ECR, UK). The next meeting, under the new European Parliament, is planned for 7 July with the election of a new chair. (MD)