EU Ministers for Industry and the Single Market unanimously welcomed the European Commission’s plan to present a Single Market Emergency Instrument in 2022, as put forward on Thursday 27 May at the Competitiveness Council as part of an update of the industrial strategy (see EUROPE 12728/3, 12713/6).
In general, the industrial strategy update has been more positively received than that of the strategy presentation last year, we are told. The European Commission’s plan to present an emergency instrument for the single market by 2022 in the event of a health (or any other) crisis was therefore unanimously welcomed.
Many Member States, mainly from Central and Eastern Europe, have emphasised how important the single market is in supporting European industry. Some Member States, however, such as the Netherlands, wanted even greater ambition to be shown in deepening the internal market. In relation to this, some mentioned the importance of tackling the thorny issue of free movement of services.
Regarding the issues surrounding dependency on raw materials, the Ministers particularly emphasised a strengthening of the exploitation of domestic resources and European action in relation to the steel sector, as requested by Luxembourg. The need to diversify raw material supply chains, but also to show innovation, was also mentioned in connection with the circular economy.
The European Commission’s approach to multiplying alliances and to important projects of common European interest (IPCEI) was again welcomed. However, some Nordic countries have again emphasised the exceptional nature of how such instruments are used.
The importance of better taking SMEs into account was also raised by several Member States, including Germany, Belgium and Ireland.
Overall, the same points of divergence emerged between those in favour of greater EU autonomy, such as France, Italy, Spain and Poland, and a number of (Nordic) ministers who are more in favour of maintaining the EU’s own economic openness, notably the Netherlands.
When asked by EUROPE at a press conference, the Commissioner stated that the European Commission will not, for the time being, make public the list of critical industrial components particularly dependent on third countries (see EUROPE 12728/3). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)