Besproken punten op raadsbijeenkomst ministers voor de interne markt van 28 september 2007 (en)

The Council for Competitiveness convened this morning to discuss Internal Market and Industry. Yesterday, during a working dinner, the theme «Globalization and European Industrial Policy» was debated. 

The main point on today's agenda was a political debate on European competitiveness, in an integrated approach, that is, including industrial policy, policy related to Small and medium-sized enterprises, e-skills and the «greening» of the industry.

We all recognize that the creation of an Internal Market is a great achievement for Europe. The Internal Market is generally on a leading-edge, although some improvements are still needed in areas such as energy or services.

Points on the debate to be highlighted:

Europe is living through a good moment and is registering a better performance than that of the United States, but there are important uncertainty factors:

First, the rise in oil price and the serious issue of climate change. This equation will demand a very determined action on the part of the EU, concerning the creation of the internal market for energy, the strategic relationship with producing countries and even the new energetic model for the future.

Second, the financial instability stemming from the American mortgage market, whose consequences cannot yet be totally measured. This question demands that we look again into the issue of regulation.

To stimulate growth and employment it is essential to help businesses to compete in the global market, which demands an internal market with high quality rules of effective application. That, however, is probably the easiest part, for it depends entirely on us.

Nevertheless, that is not enough: we need something more. We need a global contract to create a level playing field, that is, an equivalent level of competition. The best example has to do with environmental norms which, if not share on a global scale, can create very serious distortions to tariff and non-tariff barriers and to the protection of intellectual property.

We need an external agenda to open markets where European businesses can compete, offering new opportunities for growth and development.

On the other hand, the emergence of new powers such as China, India, Russia and Brazil demand structural changes that allow an efficient answer to the challenges faced by the European industry. The Portuguese Presidency pays great attention to the reinforcement of EU relations with these countries.

Thus, one of the conclusions is that the reinforcement of the interconnection of different policies is essential.

This integrated debate is very important from a perspective of making possible the adoption, in November, of a consistent and strong message on European Competitiveness Policy, to endorse to the European Council in December.

Lastly, the Council broached some issues that are very relevant to the consumers. The consumer protection policy is a fundamental instrument in the construction of a true European internal market for its citizens.

Commissioner Meglena Kuneva presented the results of the public consultation of the Green Paper on the Revision of the Acquis on the Rights of Consumers. The Presidency highlights the prospective vision of the document and it is with great interest and pleasure that the Presidency is associated to the future progress of this issue.

Concerning the general safety of products, we should mention the efforts of the Commission to guarantee that this important issue, essential to consumers' trust in the internal market, becomes a priority.

The Presidency also had the opportunity of presenting the stage of the works on the Revision of the Timeshare Directive.

Click here  to know more about this meeting.