The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection adopted the report by Nicola DANTI (S&D, IT) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Programme for single market, competitiveness of enterprises, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and European statistics and repealing Regulations (EU) No 99/2013, (EU) No 1287/2013, (EU) No 254/2014, (EU) No 258/2014, (EU) No 652/2014 and (EU) 2017/826.
The Committees on Economic and Monetary Affairs, the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, Industry, Research and Energy and Agriculture and Rural Development, exercising their prerogatives as associated committees in accordance with Rule 54 of the Rules of Procedure, also gave their opinions on the report.
Subject matter
The proposed Regulation establishes the single market programme (2021-2027) for strengthening the internal market and improving its functioning in the fields of competitiveness and sustainability of enterprises, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, standardisation, consumer protection, market surveillance, food supply chain and the framework for financing of development, production and dissemination of European statistics under Regulation (EC) No 223/2009.
Financing
Members considered that the total financial envelope proposed by the Commission is not sufficient to answer all challenges of the single market and especially to adapt to a rapidly changing environment of digital revolution and globalisation.
Therefore, they proposed the financial envelope for the implementation of the programme for the period 2021 to 2027 to be set at EUR 6 563 000 000 in current prices.
Market surveillance, consumers and digital developments
Members stressed that the programme shall seek to strengthen product compliance by strengthening market surveillance, providing clear, transparent and comprehensive rules to economic operators, raising awareness of applicable Union product safety rules and intensifying compliance checks.
It shall also endeavour to strengthen the capacity of the market surveillance authorities across the Union and contribute to a greater homogeneity between Member States.
Members also suggested:
- including references to specific actions to strengthen consumer protection, empower consumers and promote their interests, paying particular attention to the new challenges and opportunities brought about by digitalisation;
- adding references to digital developments in all areas covered by the programme.
Evaluation and publicity
When it comes to transparency and publicity, the Commission shall implement information and communication actions to raise awareness among consumers, businesses, notably SMEs, and public administrations about the opportunities offered under the Programme.
Members proposed a mandatory final evaluation of the Programme by 2030 with a specific focus on the longer-term impact of the programme, the sustainability of the actions and the synergies achieved among the different work programmes.