Strengthening the single market
An improvement in the functioning of the Single Market is still necessary in order to deliver additional benefits to business and consumers, according to a report by French EPP-ED MEP Jacques Toubon and adopted by a large majority of MEPs on 4 September.
The report seeks to provide recommendations for the Commission's review of the Single Market.
Getting citizens' backing for the European project
The report highlights, in particular, the importance of increasing stakeholders' confidence in the internal market, notably by promoting more social and environmental objectives, such as quality jobs, equality of opportunity, and protection of health and the environment. Related to this, MEPs called on the Commission to clarify the legal situation of public services - in particular health services and social services of general interest - and set out common principles.
The need for further reform
MEPs agreed on a number of areas where improvements are needed, including:
- The opening of network industries, such as transport, telecommunications, postal services and energy transport;
- Greater harmonisation of tax systems, with a need for the Commission to push ahead with proposals for a common consolidated corporate tax base;
- Establishing a Community Patent;
- Encouraging free movement of workers within the internal market;
- Improving public procurement rules so that public contracts can more easily be accessed by SMEs and better promote innovation, while responding to environmental and social concerns, including accessibility for disabled people.
Cutting red tape
MEPs adopted four reports on better regulation in the EU, calling on the Commission to stop using "unclear and redundant expressions", "incomprehensible acronyms" and "needless recitals" in its legislative proposals.
They also insisted that they would not take into consideration any proposals that are not accompanied by a full 'Single Market Test', including an independently-scrutinised impact assessment, with an evaluation of the existence of unnecessary administrative burdens.
MEPs further criticised the use of "soft law" instruments such as the "Open Method of Coordination", which is used in setting policies in the fields of employment and social inclusion. They said these type of instruments should be used only in exceptional cases because they are "ambiguous", "ineffective" and "legally dubious" as they operate "without sufficient parliamentary participation and judicial review".
Lastly, MEPs warned the Commission that its plans to slash the administrative burden placed on businesses by 25% must target only unnecessary burdens and not result in deregulation or a change in the level of ambition regarding health, environment or social standards.
