Competitiveness Council

The Competitiveness Council plays a central role in developing and adopting EU legislation and policies that aim to strengthen the single market and support industrial competitiveness.

It also works to foster scientific and technological research and innovation and develop the EU's space sector and flagship programmes.

Three interlocking gears overlaid on a circular chart with colour-coded segments and binary code.

Areas of work of the Competitiveness Council

Single market

The Council aims to remove barriers that hinder the cross-border movement of products and workers and the provision of services, including through technical harmonisation.

Industry

The Council works to enhance the EU's strategic autonomy and its business environment, especially for SMEs, by boosting access to funding, cutting red tape, fostering innovation and protecting intellectual property.

Consumer protection

The Council works to protect and empower European consumers when they buy goods and services in the EU.

Research

The Council works to strengthen fundamental, applied and collaborative research, promote innovation as the engine for competitiveness, and further develop the European Research Area.

Space

The Council works to ensure safe and sustainable space operations and flagship programmes that support Europe’s strategic autonomy, competitiveness, security, and digital and green transitions.

Digital economy

The Council aims to create a digital single market that promotes fair competition between digital companies, drives innovation and delivers benefits for consumers.

How does the Competitiveness Council work?

Depending on the topics discussed, the Competitiveness Council (COMPET) meets in three different compositions.

Internal Market and Industry

The COMPET Council (Internal Market and Industry) is composed of the ministers in charge of the economy, the internal market and industry. They focus on the single market and policies to boost competitiveness and growth in the EU. They meet at least four times a year.

Space

The COMPET Council (Space) focuses on space policy. Ministers take decisions for example on the EU space programme, which includes the EU global navigation satellite system Galileo and the Earth observation programme Copernicus. They meet at least twice a year.

Research

In the COMPET Council (Research), ministers responsible for research and innovation discuss and adopt decisions on the implementation of the European Research Area (ERA) and the EU funded research programme Horizon Europe. They meet at least twice a year.

Relevant European Commissioners also participate in meetings.

The Competitiveness Council is assisted in its work by a number of specialised working parties and by Coreper I.

Work programme during the Irish presidency

The Irish presidency aims to advance the One Europe, One Market roadmap to strengthen competitiveness, support industries and enhance the EU's economic resilience. It also focuses on deepening the single market and improving regulation.

The presidency is working to promote innovation, help SMEs scale up, and strengthen sustainable, resilient industrial competitiveness in line with the EU’s social and climate goals.

Research and innovation are also key priorities that can be delivered through progress on Horizon Europe and the European Innovation Act, and by boosting the European space sector, which is a strategic driver of growth.