MEPs Shall Point Out the Distortions in the Internal Market

CEBRE founders called on Czech MEPs during their March meeting in Prague to stress the tendencies of emerging obstacles to the Internal market. Barriers appear mostly in the area of social standards in transport going against the Internal market principles.

“Initiatives of some western EU countries aimed at protecting domestic business entities tend to disadvantage entrepreneurs from the new EU member states and eliminate them from these markets. This growing protectionism and the decline in cohesion in the EU are contrary to the Commission’s efforts to reduce Internal market barriers and improve the performance of the European economy”, highlighted Irena Bartoňová Pálková, Vice-President of the Czech Chamber of Commerce. CEBRE founders agreed that smart communication during the negotiation of the European initiatives and thorough defending of Czech business interest in the European parliament must be given critical importance.

The key proposals to be discussed in the European Parliament this year according to the Czech businesses are: Digital Single Market, Energy Union and Juncker ́s Investment Plan for Europe. The president of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic Jaroslav Hanák said: “In my opinion, the concept of the Energy Union, as announced by the European Commission in February, is a good move. Nevertheless, the future Energy Union needs to well balance the objectives of the security of supply, competitiveness and sustainability, while fully respecting the principle of subsidiarity. Completion of the internal energy market, security of supply and the impact on energy prices and competitiveness is considered the main and most important priority of the Energy Union”.

The debate followed a discussion CEBRE founders held exactly a year ago with candidates to the European Parliament. Jan Wiesner, President of the Confederation of Employers ́ and Entrepreneurs ́ Associations reminded that the meeting serves as a platform to refine the principles of cooperation and specifically set up the way of a swift communication. “We wish our comments and positions are well received by our MEPs so that our interest is heard in the European Parliament”, he stressed.