Brussels, 04/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - In addition to the results already announced (EUROPE of 2 March, pages 9 and 10), the Internal Market Council adopted conclusions on standardisation in Europe, and took stock of the situation on the European utility model, public procurement and the setting in place of the future computerised transit system.
Standardisation in Europe: In its conclusions, the Council invited the European standardisation bodies to continue in their effort to adjust to market needs and to improve their effectiveness. It again calls on national and European standardisation bodies and on the public authorities to examine how viability can best be guaranteed. It also calls on the Commission to analyse the costs and advantages of Community financial support to European standardisation and how this support could best be targeted. In its latest report on standardisation, the Commission noted that the financing of normalisation in Europe (EUR 700 million) is covered at 93% by the market operators. The Commission will present a further report in June 2003.
Utility model: Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein presented the results of consultation launched in July 2001 at the request of Spain, which hoped this utility model would be created. According to the Commission, most responses are against the creation of this model, for three reasons: 1) the fear that the market will be drowned by the thousands of new monopolistic rights, while the utility models do not call for a high level of inventiveness; 2) the threat that this model would represent for the Community Patent; and 3) the excessive bureaucracy, whereas utility models are essentially used for protection at national or even local level. Nonetheless, states the Commission, the advantage of the utility model is highlighted for the protection of products that have a short market life span and as a complement to the Community patent for SMEs. The Council "noted" this information. The debate should be gone into in greater detail during the Council in May, said the Presidency.
Customs transit: Commissioner Bolkestein alerted the Council to the fact that most Member States have not taken the necessary measures for enforcing the new transit system provided for 30 June 2003. This system should replace the some twenty million customs documents produced each year in paper version with a computerised exchange system. Only Spain has so far taken all the steps necessary. In Germany, the Netherlands and Italy, the system is still incomplete and it is still being developed in all Member States.
Statute of cooperatives: The Council noted the state of progress of work and is hoping an agreement will be reached during the Council on 21 May. Suspended since 1996, work resumed on the basis of the agreement found for the statute of the European company concerning worker participation.
Public procurement: The Council is to "make an effort" to adopt, in May, the package devoted to coordination of public procurement procedures in the EU, said the Presidency.