Date of release : 06-06-2005

Policy area : Competitiveness (Internal market, Industry and Research) Competitiveness (Internal market, Industry and Research)

Event : Competitiveness Council

Ministers for the Economy of the European Union touched on several dossiers dedicated to the internal market during the Competitiveness Council on 6 June 2005 chaired by Jeannot Krecké, Luxembourg Minister for the Economy and Foreign Trade.

On the report by the European Commission on the functioning of the SOLVIT network, Jeannot Krecké stated: "We debated a number of neglected subjects that are a real help to our enterprises and our citizens. SOLVIT is one of the great advances in the internal market over the past few years." SOLVIT (resolution of problems relating to the poor application of internal market regulations) is an online problem resolution network: the Member States of the European Union cooperate to work out in a pragmatic way the problems resulting from the poor application of internal market regulations by public authorities. There is a SOLVIT centre in each Member State of the European Union (as well as in Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein). The SOLVIT centres help handle complaints from both citizens and enterprises. 80% of the issues submitted to the network in 2004 were resolved, on average within 60 days.

The Ministers also took note of the agreement reached on the directive on professional qualifications. This directive is intended to improve the mobility of European workers in the internal market by facilitating the mutual recognition of professional training between the Member States. This directive is an amalgamation of some 15 other texts. According to Jeannot Krecké: "a single directive for professional qualifications is a good example to set in the area of improving Community regulations."

The Council closed the session by adopting conclusions on improving and simplifying Community legislation. These conclusions set the priorities of the Council as regards the optimisation of legislation and avoidance of excessive administrative expenses in order to promote growth and jobs while respecting sustainable development.