The European Commission announced on Wednesday 8 April the first meeting of the new working group on the implementation of Single Market rules (SMET).
This first meeting with Member States' experts thus kicked off the work of the new working group, which focused on restrictions on intra-Community exports of vital medical and protective supplies (such as face masks), border controls and the need to increase production of essential equipment, says the institution.
The working group also aims to implement the European leaders' guidelines laid down by the European Council on 26 March, the main purpose of which is to remove all internal prohibitions or restrictions on the free movement of goods. Further meetings are being planned soon, but no upcoming dates have been communicated at this time.
This SMET working group was announced as part of the action plan on the implementation and enforcement of Single Market rules on Tuesday 10 March, shortly before the start of national containment in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (see EUROPE 12443/7). The working group was envisaged as a platform for Member States and the Commission to work together to ensure better compliance with Single Market rules. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)