Brussels, 16/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Internal Market Council this week adopted conclusions on the priorities of the internal market to be transmitted to the Stockholm Summit on 23 and 24 March (see EUROPE of 12 and 13 March, p.9). Adopted in the context of the "Cardiff economic reform process", these conclusions place emphasis on the following aspects:
"Ensuring benefits of economic reform for citizens/consumers". With regard to product safety, the "Council confirms the high priority it attaches to the rapid agreement on the proposal for a Regulation to lay down the general principles and basic requirements of food law and the establishment of the European Food Authority".
In order to allow consumers to make comparisons, the "Commission is invited to continue to publish regular price comparison data" and "is invited to develop analytical tools", mainly regarding factors that influence competition in the key sectors of the market: price developments, barriers, access to infrastructures, abuse of dominant position, and information for consumers.
The Council confirms that a complete report of the transpositions of European legislation into Member State legislation should be drawn up for the Summit in spring 2002 in order to achieve the "interim target of a 1.5% transposition deficit contained in its Internal Market Strategy". In this context, it invites the Commission to carry out "prompt and effective pursuit of infringements".
The Council finally stresses that it will present to the Gothenburg Summit in June this year a strategy for the integration of environmental protection and sustainable development.
"Promoting entrepreneurship and the transition to a knowledge-based economy". The Council confirms its determination to improve the legal framework in order to encourage the development of innovative companies, in the "field of intellectual property rights, in accordance with the timetable established by the Lisbon European Council". It also confirms the aim of achieving complete implementation of the action plan relating to venture capital in 2003, and the financial services action plan "by 2005 at the latest". The Council notes it is necessary to develop the internal market in the field of biotechnologies in order to "exploit the potential of this key sector for innovation, entrepreneurship, growth and employment". "This requires a coherent and effective legal framework" while continuing to "take account of the precautionary principle and the need to secure consumer support by addressing public concerns through broad debate". The e-EUROPE 2002 action plan must be implemented rapidly, mainly through measures "to assure internal security and data protection".
Enhancing competition for an integrated internal market. The Council recognises that obstacles to free competition in the services sector must be eliminated, "including through improved conditions for the mutual recognition of professional qualifications". It supports the strategy proposed by the Commission for the internal services market. It welcomes the Commission's proposal to establish a "High-Level Skills and Mobility Task Force".
The Council notes that there is still considerable progress to be made regarding standardisation, mainly in the construction and mechanical engineering products sectors. Generally, it urges for greater consultation of end-users on matters of standardisation.
"The commitment to liberalisation, modernisation and interconnection of public utilities should be reinforced, while respecting the remit of services of general economic interest, by developing and refining the established objectives and timetables in the light of experience to date", assures the Council citing the cases of gas, electricity, postal services and transport. It specifies that "this process should be supported by a comprehensive analysis of the key characteristics of the services concerned: inter alia price, safety, accessibility, quality and interoperability".
Regarding competition, "work to pursue the rules for implementing Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty should be pursued as a matter of priority". "The Council looks forward to the Commission's forthcoming review" of this block exemption system for certain distribution and servicing agreements for automobiles, which expires in September 2002.
"State aid should be reduced, in particular ad hoc aid, and redirected towards horizontal objectives of common interest, such as regional development, environmental protection, R&D and innovation", states the Council. The Commission is invited to present at regular intervals a State Aids Register and a Scoreboard. The Member States are called on to make "timely, correct and uniform application of existing rules in the public procurement area", and the conclusions call for rapid agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on legislative measures on public procurement so that new rules may come into effect in 2002.
"Enlargement and the external dimension of economic reform". The Council insists on "administrative cooperation on internal market issues, such as twinning arrangements" in order to help candidates implement acquis communautaire. Finally, the Council considers that "among the important instruments that could be defended in a global context are the transparency of new regulations and the precautionary principle, standardisaton, conformity-assessment procedures and market surveillance.