Brussels, 16/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Portuguese Presidency of the European Commission insisted, after the Internal Market Council, on the vital role of this Council at the European Summit of Lisbon. "Our work is an essential part of what is behind the spirit of Lisbon", said the Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, Mr Seixas da Costa.
Commissioner Bolkestein placed emphasis on some major imperatives, which were: 1) set priority actions together with a timetable; 2) set up a fully integrated financial market by 2005; 3) reduce the cost or administrative rules and formalities (that currently represent from 3 to 5% of the EU's GDP); 4) reform public procurement so that it can all be done on the Internet within three years; 5) create a Community patent to stimulate innovation.
The Commissioner nevertheless expressed his concern at the fact that a large number of issues were lagging behind. "There is a difference between what Member states say and their readiness to act in a concrete manner", he complained referring to their "reticence at taking decisions on projects where there is a qualified majority, like the right to sell-on and public acquisition tenders" (two issues broached by the Council of Thursday, without formally getting anywhere).
Mr. Seixas da Costa did not seem to see it that way: "Certain questions are particularly sensitive. The introduction of qualified majority voting does not mean that we do not have to do our best to take account of all the sensitivities expressed. Placing someone in a minority is a last resort".
Other than the debate, the Council reached a political agreement on two issues under discussion for a long time now: the modernisation of the customs code, decision welcomed by the Commission, as well as the composition, manufacture and labeling of jam, jelly, marmalade crème de marrons (we shall return). Other issues were the subject of an assessment: copyright in the information society, legal protection of industrial designs and models, legislative simplification.