Activites

• 1997/06/16 Final act published in Official Journal
• 1997/05/29 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T4-0277/1997 summary

    In adopting the report by Mr. Lyndon Harrison (PES, UK) Parliament expressed its view that the European Commission should expose and name Member States which have failed to cut back home-grown legislation impeding the development of the single market, and pinpoint those Member States which have failed to transpose Community legislation into national law. It believes that - with the single market programme having created an extra 1.5% GDP, adding $130 billion to the EU's wealth in 1996 - experience has shown that completing the single market is the most efficient and effective way of creating sustainable jobs for EU citizens. However, in view of the very limited impact the single market has made on employment, Parliament calls for the single market programme to be backed by a common European employment policy. With a view to dismantling trade barriers, the report calls on the Commission to eliminate cartels, monopolies and abuses of dominant position. It emphasizes, however, that unless free trade is accompanied by other measures, such as social and environmental protection, it will not produce the desired results. The report expresses the concern that small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) have not been able to take advantage of the gains of a larger single market in the EU, have failed to participate in public projects, have been burdened by the cost of hundreds of Community directives and find it impossible to seek redress. It therefore proposes drawing up a dedicated action plan, to run beyond the current multiannual programme for SMEs from 1997 to 2000, with the aim of helping SMEs participate in and benefit from the single market, and a vademecum of compliance with single market legislation to help SMEs. It also suggests transforming the European Information centres into Redress Complaints Centres which meet the costs of bringing legal action before national courts. Parliament calls on the Commission to draft proposals for European legislation on the private pensions insurance sector in order to guarantee the proper functioning of the internal market for insurance and facilitate the free movement of workers. It believes that an efficient single market presupposes simplified taxation system in the EU which would avoid double taxation, eliminate fraud and offer incentives for investment. Such systems must be fair, cover all sources of income and ensure the responsible redistribution of wealth. As regards environmental protection, the report suggests introducing eco-taxes and calls for national rules on solvent emissions, eco-label schemes and waste management to be scrutinized. Consumer policy should also be fully integrated into EU law at its creation and application and should include labelling of goods, clear and simple redress procedures, cross-border guarantees and active consultation of consumer associations. The Commission is called on to: - speed up the adoption of legislation in key areas concerning freedom of movement and freedom of establishment for individuals, the creation of the European company, taxation of investment income, recognition of diplomas, communications networks and the transmission of information and energy; - continue its simplification exercise to remove two remaining barriers, described as the "black hole" of the single market, namely public procurement and state aid; - complete the trans-European networks in energy, transport and telecommunications. �

• 1997/05/28 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 1997/04/22 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A4-0160/1997
• #1993
• 1997/03/13 Council Meeting
  • 1993 summary

    A first (open) debate on this communication took place during the Internal Market Council of 26 November 1996. Subsequently, the Dublin European Council took note of the Commission's intention to submit before the Amsterdam European Council an Action Plan and a timetable covering all necessary measures that must be taken to ensure that the full potential benefit of the Internal Market is achieved before the beginning of stage 3 of EMU. There was an agreement on the need for a renewed commitment to the internal market, together with a new definition of tasks. The Council therefore looks forward to the Action Plan ; this plan must take account of the Union's situation, and in particular of the drastic changes in the social situation of the Community since the presentation of the 1985 White Paper. The Council asks the Commission to take on board, in the elaboration of the Action Plan, the comments made during today's debate. A further exchange of views on this matter will take place at the next Internal Market Council, on 20 May 1997, at which the Commission intends to present an outline of the plan.�

• 1996/12/13 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 1996/10/30 Non-legislative basic document published
  • COM(1996)0520 summary

    OBJECTIVE: the Commission communication presents, on the basis of an initial study conducted over the past two years, an analysis of the impact and effectiveness of the single market. SUBSTANCE: on the basis of the data available to it the Commission considers that, even if there are many gaps, the general picture is encouraging and the single market has had the expected effect: strengthening of competition; accelerated pace of industrial restructuring; greater competitiveness; a wider range of products and services available to public sector, industrial and domestic consumers at lower prices; faster and cheaper cross-frontier deliveries; greater mobility within the EU of workers and those not economically active (students and retired people). In terms of economic effect, the results of the single market can be summarized as follows: - between 300 000 and 900 000 more jobs than would have existed in the absence of the Single Market; - an extra increase in EU income of 1.1 - 1.5% over the period 1987-1993; - inflation rates which are 1 to 1.5% lower than they would be in the absence of the single market; - expansion of intra-Community trade, representing 68% of total trade of the fifteen; - strengthening of structural convergence between the economies of the Member States. The report also highlights the many problems which still exist and puts forward clear recommendations for action at two levels: - first of all at national level, as it is primarily the national authorities which are responsible for applying single market rules. The Commission is urging that enforcement of Single Market legislation and Treaty rules be stepped up. It calls for vigorous action to be taken to reduce excessive regulation at national level; - at Community level, where further efforts must be made to complete the 1985 agenda in a few key areas (such as abolition of border controls on persons, taxation and company law). Provisions are also needed with a view to the creation of the single market in new areas such as biotechnology and the information society, making up the delays in the energy sector (where there is still no single market), and lastly to put flesh on Community provisions in areas such as competition, consumer policy and the environment. The introduction of a single currency in 1999 will also make the Single Market more effective, by eliminating the constraints which now result from exchange risks and by increasing competition. �

Documents

• Non-legislative basic document published: COM(1996)0520
• Debate in Council: 1993
• Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A4-0160/1997
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0277/1997

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)