On Friday 24 May, EU27 industry and internal market ministers are set to clarify the thinking of their leaders on the subject of competitiveness. They are due to adopt three sets of conclusions on the future of industry, the future of the internal market and public procurement. The meeting of ministers will also provide an opportunity to formally adopt the directive on corporate due diligence (see EUROPE 13372/9).
Industry
Ministers wish to stress the need to make industrial policy an integral part of the European Commission’s agenda during its next term of office. In their conclusions, they are expected to emphasise the driving role of the ‘Green Deal’ in making Europe more competitive on the international stage.
Several delegations have supported their request to mention the importance of an open Europe from a commercial point of view. In this context, discussions have taken place on the EU’s firm stance on unfair international competition and how this should or should not be mentioned in the text.
Over the last few weeks, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union has been tasked with finding language that suits all the delegations, while ensuring consistency with the conclusions of the European Council without simply repeating them.
These conclusions, like those on the internal market, have not been approved in advance by the Permanent Representatives of the EU27, but will be submitted directly to the ministers for adoption on Friday 24 May.
Internal market
The conclusions on the future of the internal market have been the subject of even more debate, according to our information. Still at issue are the place of the ‘Green Deal’, the EU’s degree of trade openness, but also the social aspect of internal market policies and the language on financing for industry.
According to a number of EU diplomats, it would be difficult to be more precise on this last point without encroaching on the discussions that will take place on the multiannual financial framework. The Member States are also divided over the scale of the European public funds that need to be deployed, and in what form.
Public procurement
Ministers are expected to respond to the European Court of Auditors’ report in December 2023 on the situation of European public procurement markets in a third set of conclusions. The Court of Auditors had found that the rules governing the awarding of public procurement were poorly respected (see EUROPE 13306/13).
Other topics
During their lunch, Member States will discuss competitiveness, particularly for energy intensive industries. They will be joined by the Director General of the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), Marco Mensink, and the General Secretary of the European trade union IndustriAll, Judith Kirton-Darling.
A number of ‘other business’ items have been added to the agenda by the Presidency and several delegations. Ministers will discuss biotechnology, the use of carbon in the chemical industry, posted workers and the recent increase in US tariffs on certain Chinese products.
An information note from the Spanish, Greek and Portuguese delegations on financing for European industry will also be discussed (see EUROPE 13414/5).
The Belgian Presidency of the Council will review the legislative dossiers still in progress, in particular the regulation on late payments and those on compulsory licencing and toy safety.
The Hungarian delegation will also present its programme for the Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council, which begins in July. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)