On Wednesday 22 September, the ambassadors of the Member States to the EU approved the agenda of the Competitiveness Council to be held on 28 September (research) and 29 September (internal market and industry) at the Committee of Permanent Representatives I (Coreper I).
On 29 September, there will be a policy debate between the competent ministers on the link between the adjustments made by the adjustment package to the 55% emission reduction target (the ‘Fit for 55’ package) (see EUROPE 12762) and the update of the industrial strategy (see EUROPE 12713/6). Here, the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council will seek to determine how this package will further strengthen the competitiveness of EU industry, particularly on the international scene.
In addition, the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council intends to organise a second debate on the development of European policies to improve the EU’s competitiveness on the one hand, and to further promote the single market on the other, in connection with the European Commission’s communication in 2021 to promote better regulation at European level (see EUROPE 12709/16). Both debates will be public.
The agenda was welcomed by several delegations, notably from Spain and Germany, among others, for its section on industry, as it was considered particularly relevant given the major impact of the new climate package presented by the European Commission.
In a debate in September in Coreper, several national delegations reportedly regretted the lack of attention paid to the SMET Task Force on Strengthening the Functioning of the Single Market (see EUROPE 12786/8).
See the Presidency’s note framing the first debate: https://bit.ly/3EJZhvk
See the Presidency’s background note on the second debate: https://bit.ly/3o15wVN (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)