INFORMAL COMPETITIVENESS COUNCIL : PUBLIC PROCUREMENT AND ONLINE BILLING: MINISTERS DEFINE OBJECTIVES.

The member states' industry and single market ministers have pledged to build a framework for developing online public markets between now and 2016, and to promote e-invoicing between now and 2020. At the informal Competitiveness Council in Copenhagen, on February 3, member states also agreed on a drive to double online sales between now and 2015. These measures are aimed at reinforcing the digital single market, which is currently considered a significant driver for growth. According to figures provided by the Danish EU Presidency, the European GDP could increase by 4% between now and 2020 if this market is fully exploited.

"The economic crisis in Europe not only necessitates financial consolidation, but also the stimulation of long-term growth and job creation," said the Danish Minister for Economic and Business Affairs, Ole Sohn, on behalf of the Presidency. "Last Monday, the European Council stressed that the creation of a well-functioning digital single market is one of the central growth accelerators within the EU."

He added that "At today's meeting, we have taken further steps on the matter and have agreed upon which initiatives to prioritise in order to reap the potentials of a fully functioning digital single market".

The first of these measures is the development of online public procurement between now and 2016. These markets only represent 5% of total European public markets, yet electronic access to public...