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.
Source : © European Union, 2014 - EP