Lithuanian EU Presidency priorities of the Competitiveness Council presented

During the Presidency of the European Union (EU) Council in the field of Competitiveness Lithuania will address single market policy and other related issues relevant EU-wide, evaluate the achieved progress and further improve the implementation of the Services Directive, the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania informed the European Parliament (EP) Committee responsible for Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) during their meeting in Vilnius on 29 April. A delegation led by chairman of the committee, Malcolm Harbour is visiting Vilnius (Lithuania) to discuss the priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency.

‘Our aspirations for the Competitiveness Council are closely linked to the overall objectives of Lithuanian Presidency of the EU - a credible, growing and open Europe. These priorities are of vital importance during the Lithuanian presidency period to achieve the EU's continued growth and competitiveness,’ said the Minister of Economy.

According to the Minister of Economy, the program of the Trio (Ireland-Lithuania-Greece) was approved in December 2012. The program of the Lithuanian Presidency is being developed according the program of the Trio.

‘The final agenda of the presidency of the EU Council does not entirely depend on Lithuania, it has been strongly influenced by the "inherited" topics from the Irish Presidency. The agenda of the Competitiveness Council during the Lithuanian Presidency will focus on the deepening of the Single Market, which includes evaluation of implementation of the Single Market Act I, progressing on new SMA II initiatives. The Lithuanian presidency will evaluate the implementation measures of the Services Directive as well as the Professional Qualifications Directive; discuss the European Retail Action Plan and implementation of the E-Invoicing in the Public Procurement Strategy,” said the Minister of Economy.

One of the most important tasks on the legislative agenda will be negotiations on Product safety package, which will determine general consumer product safety requirements and harmonized rules on market surveillance of products at the EU level.

The chairman of IMCO, Mr. Malcolm Harbour, stressed that the committee is looking forward to mutual cooperation during the Lithuanian Presidency.

Minister of Economy, Mrs. Birutė Vėsaitė, invited the Chairman of IMCO to come to Vilnius on 22-23 July to the informal meeting of the ministers, responsible for competitiveness issues.

The EP IMCO Committee is responsible for competition policy and consumer welfare issues. The Committee seeks to establish clear rules for businesses and to simplify the rules to be obeyed by small firms as well as to make sure that people who want to work, study or start business could settle in any place they want in the EU.