European ministers with responsibility for competitiveness reached political agreement in principle (general approach) on the draft regulation setting up a single digital gateway on Thursday 30 November but not without objectives on the part of a number of member states.
In May of this year, the European Commission proposed, as part of a package to increase compliance with the rules and improve the functioning of the EU single market, to set up a digital single gateway to make it easier for citizens and businesses to access a range of administrative procedures (see EUROPE 11779).
While the Commission proposed to make 13 administrative procedures available online, the member states opted for 14 (see EUROPE 11915). To the satisfaction of France, they ruled out the renewal of identity cards and passports, and they added two new procedures: one on changes of citizens’ circumstances (personal or professional) and the other on the European Health Insurance Card.
Member states will be able to withdraw from the gateway in the event of confirmed fraud or cyberattack. The cross-border automated exchange system was also clarified. The regulation is likely to come into effect 24 months after publication in the Official Journal of the EU. Some of the regulation’s provisions will only come into force after five years, however.
Belgian language regime. In a public debate, Belgium indicated that it would abstain because of potential difficulties in the need to introduce an additional European language. In an explanatory note seen by EUROPE, Belgium highlights the constitutional nature of its three-language regime and the division of the country into four distinct linguistic areas. Belgium argues that member states’ independence on the language regime in the public legal sphere must be guaranteed.
Warning from Germany. While backing the compromise despite reservations, Germany made a declaration that was seen by EUROPE in which it calls for the removal of the administrative procedure for registering business activities from the scope of the regulation. Germany fears that this provision might hamper efforts to counter money laundering and perhaps even terrorism.
Slovak objections. Slovakia laid emphasis on respect for the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. In a 3-page memo, dated 6 September, it expressed its concerns that the data in the Commission impact study were not reliable. In particular, it believes that the introduction of the requirement to put certain public services online encroaches on areas of national responsibility and principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. In its view, the requirement can only be made when a member state has already put the said administrative procedures online.
Internal Market and Industry Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska welcomed the agreement as a “step forward” in making the single market more accessible and modernising European public services.
The European Parliament still has to agree its position. This will probably happen in February. The rapporteur is Marlene Mizzi (S&D, Malta). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)