Brussels, 02/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 2 March, the Council of the EU, meeting in its Competitiveness configuration, adopted conclusions on the single market. This document will inform the Commission in its preparation of its single market strategy, expected in the second half of this year.
The Council notes that, 20 years after the creation of the single market, barriers and gaps continue to impede full completion. It therefore calls on the European Commission to act urgently and resolutely. It highlights a number of avenues that could be pursued, including improving mutual recognition, cutting red tape and better application of the services directive. The Council also calls for procedures for evaluating regulated professions, followed, if necessary, by reforms to open them up.
According to a Council source, the issue of regulated professions was particularly strongly backed by Sweden and the United Kingdom, and development of the services directive by Spain and Germany. Finland and Germany also highlighted the digital single market. Another source reveals that all member states want to make progress on the issue of services but the most liberal countries want to go faster. The Latvian Presidency welcomed the conclusions which are, it said, consistent with the needs of Europe.
The final part of the conclusions is devoted to the digital single market, on which the Commission is due to present a separate strategy in May 2015. The Council wants a digital market that encourages trade while ensuring that privacy is protected. (Jean Comte)