Single Market cannot develop further without mutual efforts of both, PA and businesses

During a debate organized by CEBRE, Czech Permanent Representation and Ministry of Industry and Trade (CZ) over 80 representatives of European institutions, Member States, European businesses and businesses associations agreed that the Single Market can be strengthened only through proper implementation of the Services Directive and via continuous efforts to implement the Single Market Act measures.

“Being pragmatic, it is not up to us, the public administration, to evaluate the implementation of the Services Directive, but to the business sector,” said the host, H.E. Milena Vicenová, Czech Permanent Representative. The Czech Republic serves as a good example of the Services Directive implementation. Francois Arbault, Member of Cabinet of Commissioner Barnier emphasized the Commission‘s firm determination to bring the Single Market closer to citizens and SMEs and monitor its functioning from a „user-perspective“.

Martin Tlapa, Czech Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, stated, “the tools to boost the services sector, including the PSC, must provide added value and be client-oriented.” Jérôme Chauvin, Director for the Internal Market department of BUSINESSEUROPE recalled that the data gathered from the national business federations show that we are on the right track, but there is still much room for improvement, in particular with regard to the functioning and the user-friendliness of the PSCs. Ben Butters, Director of European Affairs Department of EUROCHAMBRES acknowledged that the PSC are operating fully in a limited number of Member States only. Positive results are obtained on the information side, but the procedural side still seems to have significant room for improvement”. Luc Hendrickx, Director for Enterprise Policy of UEAPME, stressed that the performance of the “single points of contact” foreseen by the directive has been “quite disappointing” so far.

Tina Sommer, President of ESBA raised another important aspect – to what extent do businesses know about the PSC and the help they can get from them? “The Secretary-General of the European Council of the Liberal Professions (CEPLIS) Dr. Koutroubas has underlined the importance of article 37 of the Directive, relating to European Codes of Conduct for the Liberal Professions. Looking towards challenges ahead, Maria Martin-Prat, Head of Unit at the European Commission, DG Internal Market, stressed the need to consolidate and to build upon the significant results achieved.

The Czech Deputy Permanent Representative and moderator of the debate Jana Reinišová urged that strengthening of the Internal Market shall follow the principle of 3 „Cs“ – communication, coordination and confidence. “No legislation is perfect when adopted because it is a result of a compromise. But we have to make the best use of it,” concluded Reinišová.