Brussels, 24/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 23 January, German economy minister Michel Glos presented the German presidency's priorities on the internal market to the members of the relevant Parliamentary committee. Among these priorities are the “Better legislation” initiative, postal services, public procurement, the draft regulation on roaming charges and the future legislative package on the free movement of goods.
At the present time, “companies and citizens have seen nothing from lightening the administrative burden,” Mr Glos said. The German presidency hoped thus to make progress in this area so that the spring European summit could discuss a specific “action plan”. Wishing to “take advantage of national examples” to help draw up a European strategy, Mr Glos spoke of the examples of the Netherlands and Denmark, and he indicated that his own country was going to put in place an independent body, at national level, to be responsible for cutting red tape. German Social Democratic MEP Evelyne Gebhardt, who was also in favour of “clearer, simpler legislation”, nonetheless warned against “the dismantling of citizens' rights”
Germany, which will have completely liberalised its postal services by the end of 2008, wants to press on with the completion of the internal postal market, with full liberalisation by 2009. “The German presidency considers that the opening of the market, as set out in the Commission proposal, must be continued,” Mr Glos said. Several French MEPs seized the opportunity to point out the sensitive nature of this issue in France. Liberal Janelly Fourtou said it was a legislative proposal that was very difficult to take on during an election period. Socialist Béatrice Patrie said there was a majority, bridging political divisions, within the EP that was against full liberalisation. Alexander Stubb (EPP-ED, Finland), however, hoped that “the German presidency (has) ambitious objectives for the internal market in postal services”. Speaking for Mr Glos, who had been obliged to retire because of a nose bleed, Secretary of State for the Economy Joachim Wuermeling said he could not imagine that the discussions on the postal directive could be of the same magnitude as those on the services directive, as Ms Patrie had predicted. Early experiences of the liberalisation of postal services showed that there was “an increase in employment,” he said. “The Commission plan is acceptable on the social level,” particularly because member states would have several options for funding the universal postal service, he went on.
The draft directive on appeals procedures following the award of public contracts was another of Germany's priorities (see EUROPE 9190). “I would like this issue to be dealt with speedily”, said Mr Glos, and he set the target of finding a political agreement at May's Competitiveness Council. Mr Wuermeling urged MEPs to put a spurt on: “If the EP takes a decision in June, it will no longer be possible to have an agreement under German presidency”. He also spoke about Germany's action in the European Court of Justice against the Commission's communication on lower-value public contracts (see EUROPE 9266). In this, “it would be good that the (European) legislator” - the EP and the Council - “re-affirms its rights and presents a united front at the Court,” he said.
On roaming, Mr Glos said that €147 million in excessive charges was been paid by citizens, around 40 million of whom were tourists and 110 million were business people on business trips. He said the Commission's draft regulation had already produced its “first effects” because “companies have lowered their prices” even though it still was not enough. Mr Wuermeling felt that a political agreement on this issue could be envisaged for the Telecommunications Council of June. (mb)