IMCO - European Parliament

This study, prepared by Policy Department A at the request of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), analyses the possibility and challenges of defining a monitoring and evaluation system to measure the economic and regulatory performance of the Single Market, to be used in the context of the European Semester exercise. Based upon their research, the authors conclude that an integrated measurement system can be devised to perform this function, by combining different methodologies, including composite indicators, sets of indicators, sectoral tools and qualitative assessments. With respect to regulatory indicators, it is relatively easier to design tools that could directly result in policy recommendations addressed to the EU institutions and Member States, possibly based on the ‘Single Market Gap’ composite indicator proposed in this study. With respect to economic indicators, additional care and qualitative assessment would need to be employed to extrapolate policy recommendations from any set of indicators.

Source : © European Union, 2014 - EP

OPINION on the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2015 - all sections
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Catherine Stihler

Source : © European Union, 2014 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2014 - EP

Study: indicators for measuring the Performance of the Single Market

An analysis of the challenges related to defining a monitoring and evaluation system to measure the economic and regulatory performance of the Single Market - for use in the context of the European Semester exercise - is provided in this study. Based upon their research, the authors conclude that an integrated measurement system can be devised by combining different methodologies, including composite indicators, sets of indicators, sectoral tools and qualitative assessments.

Further information
Study

Source : © European Union, 2014 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 58 - Draft opinion on the European Semester for economic policy coordination: implementation of 2014 priorities
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Source : © European Union, 2014 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2014 - EP

Ms Simona Vicari (Italian Secretary of State for Economic development) and Mr Sandro Gozi (Italian Under-Secretary for European Affairs) will present the programme of the Italian Presidency. Amongst the priorities, special efforts will be made to complete the proposals put forward in the Single Market Act II. The programme will also focused on a new “Approach to the Internal Market” (AIM), since the European Union now needs a strongly integrated economic platform and a coherent set of policies.

Further information
Italian Presidency's programme

Source : © European Union, 2014 - EP

Length of video : 129'
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Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2014 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2014 - EP

Length of video : 121'
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Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2014 - EP

"The priorities of the Italian Council Presidency were outlined to the various parliamentary committees by Italian ministers in a series of meetings held in July and September."
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Development
Committee on International Trade
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Committee on Legal Affairs
Committee on Culture and Education
Committee on Constitutional Affairs
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Regional Development
Committee on Transport and Tourism
Committee on Fisheries
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Source : © European Union, 2014 - EP

Length of video : 147'
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Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2014 - EP

IMCO heard presentations by Ms Simona Vicari (Secretary of State for Economic Development) and Mr Sandro Gozi (Secretary of State for European affairs) on the priorities of the Italian Presidency.

Ms Vicari set out the main lines of action and priorities in the fields of consumer protection and standardisation. The Italian Presidency (IP) aims at starting negotiations with the Parliament on the product safety and market surveillance package. Furthermore, the IP is in favour of a comprehensive reinforcement of the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network. Ms Vicari informed that work on the Package Travel Directive is progressing in the Council. In the field of technical harmonisation, the IP will seek an early second reading agreement on e-Call. On registration of vehicles, it is awaiting a study requested from the Commission on possible effects of the new rules on national taxation systems. Finally, on cableway installations, personal protective equipment and appliances burning gaseous fuels, the aim is to reach common approach within the Council, to allow the Latvian Presidency to enter into negotiations with Parliament.

Mr Gozi reported about three major themes for the IP: revising working methods of the Competitiveness Council, for instance by improving connections with other Council formations; removing barriers to the internal market in a follow-up to the two Single Market Acts and in completing the Digital Single Market; and furthering consumer protection and cohesion between employers and industry, helped by the additional investment package of 300 billion euros envisaged by Commission.

Further information
Italian Presidency's programme

Source : © European Union, 2014 - EP

The IMCO Committee heard a presentation of the study recently commissioned by the Committee in the area of Single Market policy. The study on Indicators for measuring the Performance of the Single Market – Building the Single Market Pillar of the European Semester analyses the possibility of defining a monitoring tool and evaluation system to measure the economic and regulatory performance of the Single Market, with a view to making use of these tools in the context of the European Semester. The study concludes that an integrated measurement system can be devised to perform this function. With respect to regulatory indicators, it proposes using a “Single Market Gap” composite indicator which would measure in what Member States and to what extent non-national EU citizens/companies face additional burdens compared to nationals. Such an indicator could be easily used for policy recommendations addressed to Member States during the European Semester.

Further information
Study

Source : © European Union, 2014 - EP

Between 29 September and 6 October, IMCO will be involved in hearings with the Commissioner-designates who will be dealing with policy in IMCO's remit:

- Andrus ANSIP (Estonia), Vice-President-Designate of the Commission for Digital Single Market,

- Elżbieta BIEŃKOWSKA (Poland) for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs,

- Pierre MOSCOVICI (France) for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs,

- Günther OETTINGER (Germany) for Digital Economy and Society,

- Vĕra JOUROVÁ (Czech Republic) Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality.

IMCO is also invited to the hearing of Jonathan HILL (UK) for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union and Margarethe VESTAGER, (Denmark) for Competition.

Each hearing is scheduled to last three hours, during which the commissioner-designate will hold an opening speech and then answer questions posed by committee members.

Further information
Schedule
Electing the new Commission

The next Committee Meeting will be held on Monday 6 October 2014 (15.00 - 18.30) and Tuesday 7 October (09.00 - 12.30) in JAN 6Q2. The draft agenda will be available soon.

Newsletter: Issue 52: September 2014 - Previous issues

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Latest studies/briefing notes are available here

Further information
2014 calendar of committee meetings