The Monti report: putting the Single Market back on centre stage
Posted, May 11, 2010 @ 00:00
Brussels, 10th May 2010 -- Professor Mario Monti has published his eagerly awaited report for re-launching the Single Market today in the European Parliament in his chosen forum, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee. In presenting his report, he particularly thanked the committee's own work, saying that it had contributed significantly to his final report.
Malcolm Harbour, Committee Chairman from the European Conservatives and Reformists group, has welcomed the report and congratulated Professor Monti for putting the Single Market "centre stage" in the context of Europe's response to global economic challenges. Professor Monti also punctures the sense of complacency, held by too many national governments, that the Single Market is complete.
The Monti report calls for strengthened delivery, enforcement and governance to create a stronger single market, built around a political consensus across all EU countries.
The European Conservatives and Reformists particularly welcome the call to put the Single Market at the heart of European policy making to ensure that citizens, consumers and businesses reap the benefits and exploit what it has to offer. The report challenges Member States to "timely transpose" and "correctly apply" the rules already agreed to, and outlines initiatives to re-engage them with Single Market.
Mr Harbour said:
"Professor Monti has put the Single Market centre stage with this report. This really is an important step forward for the Single Market, which will act as a catalyst for improving our economic competitiveness whilst providing new opportunities for recovering businesses.
"Governments' attentions have understandably been on bail-outs and financial markets but they must also look at the Single Market as a catalyst for economic growth. In too many national capitals there has been a sense of inertia about the development of the Single Market. We need national governments to drive it forward again and this report will help jump-start the process.
"I welcome much of this report, which contains an important ECR policy proposal to make compliance with Single Market rules an immediate obligation for Member States.
"However, we cannot agree with all of this report. In particular we do not accept the strong endorsement of tax co-ordination and cooperation, in the context of addressing "social concerns" within the Single Market. These policies will, in our view, inevitably lead to tax harmonisation, with more centralised policy making and a dramatic reduction in the EU's competitiveness.
"We also consider that the report ignores the need for EU nations and the commission to promote single market opportunities to businesses, especially small and medium businesses. The ECR has proposed that national governments should set up contact points, in multiple languages, to give businesses seamless information on the opportunities for selling their goods and services throughout the EU.
"Professor Monti is an highly respected, independent expert, who has a deep understanding of the importance of a fully functioning and all embracing Single Market. He sets this in the clear context of Europe's global competitiveness and the welfare of citizens, employers and consumers. We expect the commission and Member States to reflect these proposals in the EU2020 strategy now under discussion.
"National governments must now play their part in accepting their responsibility for strengthening the Single Market, by introducing rules in a timely and effective way and promoting the many opportunities provided by the free movement of goods and services."