European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Elżbieta Bieńkowska said that in her eyes it was relevant that the social issue and market access in the road sector be addressed in the Competitiveness Council on Monday 20 February.
The point on the road industry was added at the last minute during the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives I (COREPER I) on 15 December, at the request of Slovenia with the support of eight other member states. The request surprised several delegations, starting with France, which regarded this as a point that largely related to the Transport Council (see EUROPE 11727).
Germany and France thus reportedly again expressed their doubt at the political level as to the relevance of this issue within the Competitiveness Council. But in the Commissioner’s view, it is actually completely relevant that she and the ministers responsible for competitiveness should be able to follow the debate on this issue, which seems to be particularly thorny.
Sparks continue to fly between the eastern and western member states on the issue of ‘social dumping’ or obstacles to the single market (according to the point of view defended) in the road sector (see EUROPE 11716, 11680).
European trade unions are speaking out (see EUROPE 11719) and a letter is soon due to be sent from the European Parliament to the European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)