Competitiveness Council, 29/02/2016, 29 February 2016

Main results

Businesses must be allowed to operate in a truly single market without barriers when selling their goods and services... Henk Kamp, Minister for Economic Affairs of the Netherlands and the President of the Council

Single market for services and goods 

Following a debate, the Council adopted conclusions on the single market strategy for services and goods focusing on key areas for creating growth and jobs: support for SMEs, start-ups and innovative businesses, releasing the untapped potential in services and the efficient implementation, compliance and enforcement of single market rules.

The chair of the Council and Dutch Minister for Economic Affairs, Henk Kamp, made the following comments: “Businesses must be allowed to operate in a truly single market without barriers when selling their goods and services. This will not only be to their benefit, but will at the same time also benefit European consumers through increased choice and lower prices.  This is the quickest way to make the EU economy more dynamic, competitive and forward-looking”.

• Council conclusions on the single market strategy

Steel industry 

Ministers examined the situation of the global competitiveness of European industry with a focus on energy-intensive industries. They addressed in particular the difficult situation of the steel industry. 

At the end of the meeting, the Presidency drew the following conclusions:

• Presidency conclusions on the European Steel Industry

First, in the short term, we need to speed up anti-dumping measures. Second, the steel industry should be able to use EU funding for innovation, pilot projects and new business models. Thirdly, we need to avoid unnecessary regulation which hampers the competitiveness of our energy-intensive industries. Our companies must be able to operate on a global level playing field. Henk Kamp, Minister for Economic Affairs of the Netherlands and the President of the Council

Minister Kamp concluded the following: “We stressed the need for immediate solutions to deal with the huge crises in the steel sector. They can be valid for other industrial sectors as well since the origins of the crises have much in common.
First, in the short term, we need to speed up anti-dumping measures. Second, the steel industry should be able to use EU funding for innovation, pilot projects and new business models. Thirdly, we need to avoid unnecessary regulation which hampers the competitiveness of our energy-intensive industries. Our companies must be able to operate on a global level playing field."

Competitiveness check-up: support to SMEs - Barriers to growth and investment 

Ministers carried out a "competitiveness check-up" of the real economy with a particular focus on how best to help SMEs scale up and create jobs. 

They also exchanged views on the implementation of country-specific recommendations within the framework of the European Semester, aimed at tackling barriers to growth and investment in the services sector.   

Circular economy

Ministers began discussions on the circular economy package with a view to identifying key priorities that will feed into draft conclusions to be presented at the Environment Council in June.