Confederation standpoint on single market strategy

Several proposals of the EU Commission deserve further analysis.

The Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic welcomes the new packet of measures to enhance the efficiency of the EU single market, published on Wednesday 28th October by the European Commission under the title „Upgrading the Single Market: more opportunities for people and business“.

The Confederation appraises the fact, that the new strategy reflects the new economic processes and their gradual globalization and digitalization. In its opinion, the single market’s adaptation to new conditions is the premise for a successful realization of related EU strategies to finalize the economic and monetary union as well as the strategies concerning the digital agenda, circular economy, mobility, commerce and investment.

The Confederation of Industry welcomes the continuity of the measures related to the small and medium-sized entreprises, start-ups and young entrepreneurs as well as the effort for greater convergence of the free movement of goods and services.

The Confederation supports the steps leading to more transparency, effectiveness of the public tenders and consolidation of the European framework for the protection of intellectual property as well.

Several proposals of the Commission deserve nevertheless further analysis. For example the prepared revision of the The Posting of Workers Directive (96/71/EC) will disrupt the achieved delicate balance, won’t lead to the consensus and will get the workers and enterprises into uncertainty.

In relation to the Art. 16 of the Services Directive, the Confederation points out that the proposed legislative procedure concerning restrictions of the access to the internet content based on the geographical localization (so-called geo-blocking) should not in any case harm the contractual rights of the companies.

As to the standardization process in Europe, the Confederation stresses that it should build on the companies’ needs and be market-managed.