Competitiveness

The EU internal market

Dealing with the economic crisis will continue to be an important task in the second half of 2009. A well-functioning internal market will strengthen the European economy, but it must be developed and streamlined even further.

This is a matter of focusing on practical measures, aimed at getting the internal market to work more smoothly. Forward-looking efforts are also required to ensure that the internal market continues to be as important in the future as it has been up to now.

The internal market serves as a motor for recovery and thus supports increased employment and growth. The Services Directive, which is to be implemented by all Member States by the end of the year, will strengthen the internal market. The Directive will stimulate the services sector and lead to increased employment and growth.
 
Consistent consumer protection regulations will contribute to smoother cross-border trade. The Presidency will work to achieve agreement on a draft directive on consumer rights.
 
The EU’s ‘goods package’, the package of legislative measures designed to remove the remaining barriers which hinder trade in the EU’s internal market for goods, and a forthcoming recommendation from the European Commission on a partnership between EU Member States and the Commission, including administrative cooperation and information, are other important aspects of these efforts. The internal market can only function efficiently if rules and regulations are correctly implemented in all Member States, and when citizens are aware of them.
 
The Presidency will work towards making as much progress as possible in the negotiations on the Community patent and the European Patent Court. The creation of a cost-effective Community patent and a European patent court system is important for the innovation climate in Europe and thus for EU competitiveness.
 
The EU Baltic Sea Strategy and its principles concerning free movement within the EU/EEA mean that the EU can make use of existing structures, processes and policies at EU level and will lead to better cooperation between agencies and Member States.

Entrepreneurship and free movement in focus

The Competitiveness Council usually meets four times a year and brings together ministers for enterprise and energy, research or EU affairs, depending on the agenda. Issues addressed here cover areas such as the free movement of goods and services, measures to encourage enterprise in Europe and EU support for research. In October 2009, an informal meeting of the competitiveness ministers will take place in Umeå, under the leadership of the Minister for Trade Ewa Björling, the Minister for Enterprise and Energy, Maud Olofsson and the Minister for Higher Education and Research Tobias Krantz.

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