COMPETITIVENESS COUNCIL : TEN KEY SINGLE MARKET ACT PRIORITIES TO BE DECIDED IN APRIL.

Commissioner Michel Barnier, who has responsibility for the internal market, presented an initial overview of the 850 contributions received by the EU executive on revision of the Single Market Act (SMA) and announced for mid-April an initial selection of ten measures. Most of the contributions were submitted by civil society; 23 member states also submitted their views in writing, taking part in this large-scale debate that ran from 27 October 2010 until 28 February. Barnier said that other priorities, different from the SMA's 50 initial proposals, emerged from the contributions, for example: matters related to the European company statute, roaming tariffs and the optional contract law regime.

The commissioner announced that the College of Commissioners would hold an initial policy debate on the subject, on 16 March, and that the three EP reports by Antonio Correia de Campos (S&D, Portugal), Sandra Kalniete (EPP, Latvia) and Cristian Silviu Busoi (ALDE, Romania), on the SMA's three aspects of citizens, partnerships and business, would be put to the vote in plenary, on 7 April.

TANGIBLE RESULTS

"Ten or 12 priorities" will be selected from among the SMA's 50 by the College of Commissioners in mid-April, added Barnier. He gave details: "these priorities will have to lead to tangible results, allow for attainment of the objective of improved growth and progress for European citizens and businesses, and be deliverable...