Brussels proposes market shake-up on Grech proposals

Brussels has announced 50 new measures to be taken in the coming years aimed at implementing the biggest ever shake up in the 60-year history of the EU’s Single Market.

The measures, aimed at “improving the lives of EU citizens and businesses”, take the form of a ‘Citizen’s Report’ and a new ‘Single Market Act’ and includes various proposals suggested for the first time by Labour MEP Louis Grech who was responsible for the European Parliament’s opinion on this dossier.

The raft of proposals, unveiled by Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier, aim at introducing concrete measures to promote basic EU rights and boost growth, competitiveness and social prog­ress by facilitating access to the internal market to companies, consumers and workers.

Among the 50 new proposals, which will now be put up for discussion with EU member states by 2013, is a new law to simplify the registration of cars, a major problem in Malta for those importing a car from abroad, new rules to give more access to patients to avail themselves of healthcare facilities abroad and a total change in the rules related to tourism, particularly on package travel and increased passenger rights.

“Markets need to serve both the economy and our citizens. That is what defines our society. But, right now, the EU Single Market is not delivering as well as it could,” Mr Barnier said. “Europe can’t afford to leave this potential unexploited,” he added, acknowledging Mr Grech’s input.

On the economic aspect of the Single Market, the Commission is proposing more access to financing for SMEs, an expansion of electronic and online commerce across the 27 member states and the introduction of a “professionals ID card”, which would facilitate the free movement of professionals who want to work in other member states.

Welcoming the proposals, Mr Grech said he was very satisfied Mr Barnier recognised the work done by the EP. He said that, through this new blueprint, the focus of the Single Market would now be shifted onto the 500 million citizens of the EU.