SP(2012)104

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the outcome of the Single Market Forum, tabled by the EPP, S&D, ALDE, ECR and Greens/EFA groups.

The resolution stresses the importance of converting the Single Market Forum into a regular event , to enable businesses and citizens as well as local and regional authorities to directly participate in and influence the further development of the Single Market. The Commission is called upon to put forward all 12 priorities in the Single Market Act by the end of 2011 to enable the Council and the European Parliament, in close cooperation with the Commission, to adopt a first set of priority measures by the end of 2012 to impart new impetus to the Single Market.

Members call for continuous monitoring of the implementation of the Single Market Act at the highest political level by, inter alia, a regular review and reporting by the Commission, its inclusion as a key agenda item at the Competitiveness Council and progress reports at the European Council; underlines in this regard the need for timely and correct transposition and implementation of existing legislation.

Underlining the lack of awareness and limited knowledge of citizens, consumers and SMEs about their rights and opportunities within the single market, Parliament calls on the Commission to consider the adoption of a user-friendly, regularly updated and easily accessible Citizens' Rights Charter for all citizens moving, working, shopping and selling across borders, as called for in its resolution of 20 May 2010 , which will serve as a practical handbook outlining citizens' rights and obligations within the single market.

Parliament highlights the recognition during the Forum of the overall success of the automatic recognition procedure in Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications and takes the view that it should therefore be extended to other professions. It welcomes the announcement of the results of the professional card pilot projects.

The resolution insists on the need to:

ensure that Points of Single Contact be developed into fully-fledged e-Government centres allowing entrepreneurs to submit and manage administrative formalities online;

put in place efficient, affordable and simple Alternative Dispute Resolution systems in order to ensure higher consumer confidence in the Internal Market;

complete the digital Single Market and to overcome technical barriers to cross-border trade and service provision, in particular by improving the interoperability and mutual recognition of electronic IDs, electronic signatures and electronic documents;

improve legal certainty for e-commerce to create an efficient and up-to-date system of copyright in the European Union and update European legislation on data protection;

ensure correct and timely transposition of the Internal Market legislation and to reduce non-compliance;

professionalise the public procurement sector through improved training, to confirm procurement objectives and to explore possible ways of achieving other policy objectives;

improve the participation of SMEs in public procurement tenders and that procurement procedures need to be less cumbersome, cheaper and more open to SMEs;

involve citizens and other stakeholders more closely in the development of the Single Market, in particular by organising timely public consultations on new legislation in a more proactive way.

The resolution stresses that the cross-border provision of services and mobility of posted workers are key elements of the internal market and highlights that the Posting of Workers Directive should ensure a level playing field and guarantee respect for posted workers' rights across EU.

Lastly, Parliament calls on the Commission to work with Member States, applicant countries and EEA partners to hold and promote major public events in 2012 in order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Single Market.

T7-0543/2011

Debate in Parliament

B7-0576/2011