Brussels, 22/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - European ministers of the economy will given their approval on Monday 25 February to the initiatives proposed in the revision of the internal market strategy presented by the European Commission last October (EUROPE 9547 and 9531). This revision suggests that its action focuses on the services sector and the retail financial sector. The draft conclusions underline the “crucial role” of the single market for the global economy and Lisbon strategy, and explain that there should be emphasis on knowledge and innovation. The Competitiveness Council will proceed every year, in view of the Spring European Council, to the examination of the progress achieved in implementation of the internal market strategy.
Ministers are pleased with the, “attention paid to the social dimension and services of general interest” being included in the re-examination of the single market. They will have to explain how, “public interest objectives should be safeguarded” and how this can be done in an “open and competitive” internal market. In this context, it is important to foster competition in the network industries.
The Competitiveness Council will underline the importance of the single market's external dimension. According to the text, the effective functioning of the internal market constitutes an advantage to Europe when confronting the problems of globalisation. It will also help it benefit when it strengthens the ability of European companies to be competitive on global markets and improve the attractiveness of Europe for setting up businesses”. Efforts aimed to implement regulation in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) will continue.
Ministers are also likely to stress the importance of all stakeholders taking ownership of the internal market: - the Commission will follow up on developments in some priority sectors (retail financial services, telecommunications, the professions) and will assess the impact of these measures on the four freedoms (free movement of persons, goods, services and capital) of the European Treaty; member states should apply, “without delay”, European legislation such as the services directive from the end of 2009 and improve administrative cooperation; - consumers will be consulted and better informed in order to bolster confidence in the dingle market. Also expected with interest are future Commission initiatives following its assessment of the acquis communautaire with regard to consumer protection. (M.B.)