Brussels, 07/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Commissioner-designate for the internal market, Charlie McCreevy, will have seduced MEPs more by his sense of humour than by his clear-cut responses. On several occasions during his hearing on Thursday, MEPs protested saying he had not answered the question, especially when it came to complex issues such as the principle of 'State of origin' or the patentability of software. The Irish Finance Minister was nonetheless very clear when explaining what he describes as his "creed" or doctrine - that market liberalisation is in the interest of consumers. He also repeated that, in his view, taxation comes under Member State competence.
For the internal market as for financial services, he said, his priority is not to keep increasing the amount of legislation but to ensure existing legislation is applied and that there is international cooperation, mainly with the United States. While regretting his "evasive" answers, the Socialists said immediately after the hearing that they would support Charlie McCreevy's nomination.
Parliament rapporteur on this subject, Evelyne Gebhardt (PES, D), opened fire on the subject of the Services Directive, which liberalises the services market by generalising the principle of recognition of agreements granted in the State of origin of the service provider. Charlie McCreevy said he was aware that this subject is a controversial one. He gave his assurance that he is willing to hear what everyone has to say before continuing negotiations. He suggested taking part at the hearing being organised by Ms Gebhardt for 12 November on this issue. The Directive is "visionary, and as such must be supported", he said. On the other hand, he remained evasive when MEPs wished to know whether he was in favour of generalising the principle of State of origin for developing the internal market, as insisted by Sahra Wagenknecht-Niemeyer (GUE, D) supposing that "25 norms exist at the same time". The Directive does not liberalise services which are not already open to competition, Mr McCreevy answered in response to the many MEPs who expressed concern about the impact that the Directive would have on health systems and social insurance. "I'll check", he reassured Jacques Toubon (EPP, France), who was concerned about audiovisual services and respect of the Television Without Borders Directive.
The Commission is also ready to listen to what all parties have to say on the patentability of software. He said in response to German Green member Heide Rühle that he knows the Parliament thinks its position at first reading was not heard and that the Community which defends free access to software is worried. It is not a matter of "fixing legislation that is impossible to respect, but of guaranteeing legal security", he insisted.
He showed himself to be just as "open" when it came to the creation of a framework directive on the organisation and financing of services of general interest. He explained that he remains wide open and will listen to arguments for and against.
The Commissioner-designate pointed out he would support his predecessor's proposal for liberalising the market for car spare parts, hoping to dispel any doubts of Member States that are opposed to this in the name of safety.
When asked by German Christian Democrats Hartmut Nassauer and Andreas Schwab about the advertising ban for products that circulate freely elsewhere, the Commissioner-designate admitted being completely lost and said he would study the issue.
On the subject of taxation, Charlie McCreevy's line is clear when he says taxation depends on Member States. This was in answer to Pierre Jonckheer (Greens, Belgium) who wished to know whether he was in favour of internalising costs, that is, integrating environmental taxation into the price of products. He explained that this is one of the fundamental aspects of representative democracy, that governments must be able to decide their own social spending and expenditure on education and defence.
A qualified chartered accountant, the Commissioner-designate appeared more at ease during the second part of the hearing devoted to financial services. He insisted that transatlantic relations should be developed, but also relations with Japan, China and India. A political process must be set in place allowing for universal standards, he insisted. There must, he stressed, be a global movement and our enterprises must not be placed at a disadvantage compared to the rest of the world.
Mr McCreevy spoke only in general terms about what he plans to do to help the retail banking market along. Asked by Jean-Paul Gauzès (EPP, France), former Legal and Tax Director for Dexia Crédit Local, about his plans for the duration of contract withdrawal or consumer information, Charlie McCreevy said such suggestions were "interesting" and postponed his position on the question until 2005.