The European Council conclusions adopted, on Friday 25 March, call for further work on implementing the Versailles Declaration on empowering the EU, including reducing strategic dependencies and strengthening the Internal Market.
For example, as we announced ahead of the summit (see EUROPE 12917/4), EU leaders are insisting on the need to reduce the EU’s dependence on so-called “critical” raw materials, as well as on semiconductors, health, digital and food. To do this, they focus on trade policy on the one hand and investment on the other.
In addition, as at every March European Council, traditionally devoted to the economy, the heads of state or government insist on reducing the obstacles to the proper functioning of the Single Market.
They call for better monitoring of economic operators and for ensuring that their activities comply with harmonised standards and EU competition rules. They also commit themselves to implementing the industrial strategy and the SME strategy and to completing the Single Market in services and digital technology. The issue of “unjustified” administrative barriers is again cited.
The theme of self-sufficiency is clearly evident in the issue of ecosystems, which, according to the conclusions, must be better interconnected between the Member States with a secure and diversified supply. Finally, the leaders insist on defending the EU’s international role in the field of standardisation.
To see the conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/z4 (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)