European Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier said that he will be using parts of a report by Labour MEP Louis Grech in the drawing up of the Commission's action plan on the future of the EU's single market.
Mr Barnier's comments followed the approval of Mr Grech's report by the European Parliament in which he suggested that the EU should pass a "Single Market Act" by May 2011, setting out policy priorities for creating a highly competitive social market and green economy and covering both legislative and non-legislative initiatives,.
Mr Grech's report, presented in the form of a resolution, was adopted by 578 votes to 28, with 16 abstentions.
The report called for "a more holistic approach" to the EU internal market that takes full account of citizens' concerns. Strengthening it will be vital if the Europe 2020 strategy is to preserve the social dimension of the EU model, while at the same time giving the Union the competitive edge it needs.
This position is intended as Parliament's contribution to another report prepared by former Commissioner Mario Monti, at Commission President José Manuel Barroso's request, on revitalising the single market.
Mr Grech's report considers strengthening the single market to be essential if the EU's 2020 strategy is to deliver protection for citizens and consumers and preserve the social dimension of the EU model, while at the same time giving the Union the competitive edge it needs.
"This is extremely important to combat the low or at times negative perception of the single market among citizens, particularly at a time when the Union is going through a fragile time due to the ongoing financial turmoil," the report states.
The Labour MEP also called for specific measures to ensure that single market policy focuses on consumer interests and citizens' rights, improves consumer and small business access to e-commerce and digital markets, support the development of an inclusive, low-carbon, green, and knowledge-based economy, protect services of general economic interest and create a strategy for better communicating the single market's benefits.
The European Parliament also adopted Mr Grech's proposal that the Commission be requested to undertake a single market strategy that ranges from a health check of the current situation, through a consolidation process to the improvement of the single market.
"This project would convince European citizens that the single market is not tied solely to the economic sphere, and that it can work in their interest," the report states.
Addressing a press conference following the report's adoption, Mr Grech called for a new paradigm in political thinking so that citizens, consumers and SMEs should be given a central role in a holistic approach to all legislative initiatives.