Commission sets out to revamp internal market

As the EU comes under growing pressure to deliver on the Jobs and Growth strategy, Commissioner McCreevy has started a major review and a public consultation on internal market policies. 

The consultation was opened by Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy on 20 April 2006, at a time when the EU’s internal market feels increasing stress from competitors abroad and is forced to keep pace with a constantly growing rate of technological changes. In addition to dealing with those challenges, the consultation addresses imperfections of the internal market scheme currently in place and asks how a better support from citizens for the scheme can be assured. 

The consultation comes just one day after the Commission has opened infringement procedures against a majority of EU member states for not sufficiently respecting internal market rules. The consultation document provides a rough analysis of the present situation of the EU’s internal market and the challenges it faces. It outlines the Commission’s present top priorities and main reform projects and gives citizens and businesses an opportunity to comment on those. In particular, the consultation addresses a number of areas the Commission considers to be key to fostering growth and jobs: 

• Opportunities and barriers in the internal market
• Innovation policy
• Intellectual property rights (IPR)
• Public procurement
• Private equity and venture capital
• The market in services

Finally, it asks for comments on how the Commission organises communication with parties in the internal market and where future priorities should be. 

The consultation will end on 15 June 2006. It will be followed by a hearing on the same issues on 12 September 2006. 

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