During an informal ministerial exchange on Tuesday afternoon 18 July in Tallinn, ministerial representatives from different member states will examine how to best improve the services sector in the internal market, particularly in the context of free access to data and data exchange.
During this informal meeting, emphasis will focus on digital issues (see EUROPE 11830), with one issue focusing on services in the internal market and the other on competitiveness. We have been informed that in this regard, national experts will be examining the challenges relating to the free flow of data and not on the possibility of a legislative proposal.
One diplomatic source explained to us that the question of the free flow of data is important because it has a particular impact on the electronic “services” card – the particularly controversial dossier launched by the European Commission at the beginning of the year (see EUROPE 11700) which has created significant ructions among member states.
It has divided member states to such an extent that it was put to the side by the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the Union. The latter preferred to focus on the proportionality test for the regulated professions and the modernisation of reporting procedures relating to the “services” directive (see EUROPE 11797). (Pascal Hansens)