Brussels, 23/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 20 October at the end of a meeting with Charlie McGreevy, the European Commissioner for the internal market, Christine Lagarde the French minister for external trade declared “I have pleaded my case, he does not share my point of view, he is happy to continue the discussions”. The minister claims that France, supported by “a majority of Member States” has been actively campaigning since the spring for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to benefit from better access to public procurement (EUROPE 9246, 9171). Commissioner McGreevy is opposed to a measure that he judges protectionist, contrary to market philosophy and which could lead to abuses.
Ms Lagarde, accompanied by a sizeable delegation of innovative SMEs stated, “this is not about any Franco-French protectionist measures but a measure for all SMEs, it is sectionist and likely to lead to improved competition”. In the next few weeks, actions by the French authorities will consist in updating available statistics to convince the Commission of the difficulties encountered by SMEs on the ground.
Ms Lagarde also stated, “we need to break through the bars of the WTO!” Any amendment to EU legislation has to be made in agreement with the Agreement on public procurement at a World Trade Organisation (WTO level. Currently being re-negotiated up to the end of 2006, this agreement is expected to be amended so that the EU can take specific measures supporting SMEs. As the “USA, Japan, Canada and South Korea” are already doing, the French minister also called for equal treatment for European SMEs. (mb)