Brussels, 29/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - A flood of reactions followed the European Commission communication on Wednesday 28 October, on the single market strategy for the next two years. These reactions were positive overall from civil society, politicians and the member states.
BusinessEurope, the European employers' organisation considers that the strategy presented on Wednesday is a step in the right direction. The organisation's director general, Markus J. Beyrer, alluded to the Commission's determination to strengthen the legislative provisions that already existed (see EUROPE 11420) and said that “ The single market strategy rightly focuses on better application and stronger enforcement of EU legislation on the ground”. The approach was also welcomed by EUROCHAMBRES, which represents the Chambers of Commerce and Industry at a European level. Arnaldo Abruzzini, the secretary-general of the organisation, asserted: “The Commission is rightly positioning itself as the champion of internal market implementation instead of the champion of new legislation”. The European Small Businesses Alliance (ESBA) welcomed the Commission's attempts to prioritise small-scale businesses and start-ups in an effort to help their cross-border expansion. The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) represents European level accountants and also welcomed the strategy, which it considered got to grips with themes that were “particularly close to ACCA's heart”. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said that it supported “ sensible rules that protect workers and consumers. The recognition in this Communication of the need to protect workers' rights is a start”.
Reactions from the European Parliament were positive albeit sometimes cautionary. The EPP therefore unequivocally praised the strategy and Lara Comi (EPP, Italy) described it as a revolution they needed and which had been appropriately devised by Commissioner Bienkowska, “for motivating entrepreneurs so that they launched their activities at a pan-European level: operating in the single market must become the norm and not the exception”. Virginie Rozière (S&D, France), rapporteur on the extension of geographic indications to non-agricultural products highlighted the Commission's determination to help optimise traditional European know-how. Vicky Ford (ECR, United Kingdom) remained cautious and expressed a wish to wait until there had been a thoroughgoing examination of the strategy given that the “devil is in the detail”.
The United Kingdom was cited on several occasions by Commissioner Bienkowska on Wednesday 28 October during the press conference for its explicit support for this strategy. The Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Enterprise and Innovation, Lucy Neville-Rolfe, explained that “We have been calling for the EU to open up the single market and it's encouraging to see this ambitious package that will bring real benefits for working people as well as new opportunities for British businesses”. She also said that her country would continue to exert pressure to ensure that reforms progressed. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)