20 Single Market Scoreboard
| (25858)
11566/04
SEC(04) 956
| Commission staff working paper: Internal Market Scoreboard No. 13
|
| Legal base | —
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| Department | Trade and Industry
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| Basis of consideration | Minister's letter of 10 November 2004
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| Previous Committee Report | HC 42-xxx (2003-04), para 10 (9 September 2004)
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| Discussed in Council | 24 September 2004
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared (decision reported on 9 September 2004), but further information requested
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Background
20.1 As part of the Internal Market Action Plan agreed in June
1997, the Commission undertook to produce a "Single Market
Scoreboard"[55]
during each Presidency of the European Union. The purpose of the
Scoreboard is to monitor the functioning of the Single Market
and allow Member States to compare their performance in certain
key areas. This Scoreboard is the 13th edition.
20.2 As is customary, we reported briefly on this
latest Scoreboard in September 2004. In doing so we said:
"But we are dismayed again at the continuing
failure of some Member States to meet promptly and properly their
obligations in relation to the Single Market. This disadvantages
not only UK businesses and consumers but the interests of all
those who stand to benefit from a properly functioning Single
Market. We trust that the Minister will make plain in discussion
of this Scoreboard, particularly to recalcitrant Member States,
the cynicism engendered in ordinary European citizens by this
disregard for what is supposed to be a common enterprise."[56]
We reiterated our request in relation to a Commission
Recommendation seeking to improve the implementation of Single
Market Directives by Member States, again in September 2004.[57]
The Minister's letter
20.3 Last month we asked the Secretary of State for
Trade and Industry (Ms Patricia Hewitt) to expand on a brief report
on this issue which she had given us in a general account of the
Competitiveness Council of 24 September 2004. In particular we
asked about reactions to the comments in our Reports of 9 and
15 September. The Minister writes now to give us that fuller account.
She notes that three Member States — Germany, France and
Slovakia — which had shown up as bad performers in the 13th
Scoreboard "committed themselves to improving their performance".
She adds: "I did not, however, comment on the adverse performance
of particular Member States as it would not have been appropriate
in this forum."
Conclusion
20.4 We are extremely disappointed by this response
from the Minister. We should like her to tell us what, if not
the Competitiveness Council, is the appropriate forum for her
to convey to governments of other Member States the concern of
UK parliamentarians that continued disregard of agreed Community
rules can only engender cynicism in ordinary European citizens.
55 The Commission uses the term "Internal Market",
and the subject of this paragraph is entitled the "Internal
Market Scoreboard". However, the term "Single Market"
is more commonly used in the UK and therefore we use it except
when referring to titles or headings using "Internal Market. Back
56
See headnote. Back
57
See (25883) 11852/04: HC 42-xxxi (2003-04), para 14 (15 September
2004). Back
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