Raad Concurrentiebeleid bespreekt strategie voor aanpak economische crisis (en)

Several reports responding to current economic downturn were discussed today in Brussels at the Competitiveness Council chaired by the Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Ríman.

The Council adopted five key recommendations to be conveyed to the Spring European Council, in order to stave off the threat of a lasting recession.

In its 2009 Key Issues Paper, the Council has highlighted the importance of removing barriers and achieving a fully operational internal market; reducing administrative burden; improving framework conditions for industry; enhancing the quality of investment into education and research; and encouraging open global markets by removing protectionism and excessive regulation. 

The present fall in global car sales seriously affects the economic situation of all European manufacturers and their supply chain, having negative impact on related industrial sectors and the labour market. The Council has therefore invited the European Commission to further examine options encouraging a coordinated European car fleet renewal, such as vehicle recycling and scrapping schemes. The Commission should also continue its work on monitoring the compliance of support measures introduced by Member States with EU State Aid rules and Internal Market principles.

„The main responsibility for responding to the current crisis rests with the automotive industry itself. However, Community finance and innovation instruments should be made more accessible to the industry in order to speed up its recovery and strengthen its future competitiveness,“ Minister Martin Ríman said.

The Council therefore called on the Commission and European Investment Bank to jointly present to the Spring Council further ways to improve access to finance for the automotive industry. Project assessment and financing procedures of the EIB should be simplified and accelerated. Furthermore, the Council has also invited the Commission to consider how industry could benefit more easily from EU instruments in support of R&D and innovation, such as the 7th Research Framework Programme.

The Council was also presented with a Progress Report on Better Regulation, drawn up by the Czech Presidency. There were more than a thousand legal acts identified as a possible subject to simplification, out of which more than 130 draft proposals have already been introduced by the European Commission and 75 adopted.

“I appreciate efforts taken by the European Commission to simplify and reduce  administrative burden of European businesses. In times of economic downturn, it is more than ever important to deliver concrete proposals that will save financial and time costs particularly to small and medium-size enterprises,” Minister Martin Ríman stated. 

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  For more information see the Calendar on the website of the Czech Presidency.