The EU27 industry ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday 29 September to discuss a number of burning issues: the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), legislative simplification and the Single Market strategy. They will also launch discussions on the role of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) in supporting competitiveness through a specific €410 billion fund (see EUROPE 13682/6).
The European Commission will present its intentions for the fund and ministers will be invited to share their views on two specific issues: - What do companies and investors consider to be the main criteria for the success of the ECF in terms of simplification?; - What would be the efficiency criterion for the ECF’s financial instruments to mobilise private capital?
Simplification. The Danish Presidency of the EU Council wants to maintain the political focus on simplification during its mandate. It would like to have a status report on the work in progress from the Commission and to be sure that the exercise is producing real results. According to one European diplomat, this will inevitably involve the ministers.
According to a preliminary note from the Danish Presidency, participants at the meeting will be asked to discuss the balance between new legislation and the administrative burden it places on businesses, and the role of the ‘Competitiveness’ Council in achieving this balance.
Also on the subject of simplification, the ministers will adopt the ‘omnibus’ simplification regulation/text on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (see EUROPE 13662/22).
Single Market. The ministers will welcome Enrico Letta, author of the report on the future of the Internal Market, for lunch.
The Danish Presidency of the EU Council has proposed focusing the discussion on the digital internal market.
Territorial constraints. Among the ‘miscellaneous’ items at the EU Council meeting, Austria asked to discuss the problems of territorial supply constraints imposed by certain companies on the Internal Market. The subject has been identified as one of the biggest obstacles in the Single Market. This is particularly true in the agri-food sector, where some manufacturers impose limits that make it almost impossible to resell their products in another Member State.
Semiconductors. The Dutch delegation asked that the subject of semi-conductors be addressed. This is a way of bringing the subject back into the spotlight, five years after the ‘Declaration on Semiconductors’ signed by all the Member States, which called for national efforts to secure supply chains and technological sovereignty.
Automotive. On Monday, the European Commission asked the Member States to report back on the third strategic dialogue it held with representatives of the automotive sector on 12 September (see EUROPE 13708/2).
2040 target. France has called for a ‘miscellaneous’ item on the 2040 target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while the ‘Environment’ Council has referred the matter to EU leaders (see EUROPE 13712/3). (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)