Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry), 2 March 2023

Main results

Financial services at a distance

Ministers agreed on a general approach on the directive concerning financial services contracts concluded at a distance.

This directive is another step towards a future-proofed digital transition in the field of financial services. The update of the 2002 legislation ensures a high level of consumer protection and strengthens the legislative framework for the provision of innovative financial services for consumers in the single market.

Gunnar Strömmer, Swedish Minister for Justice

The general approach includes the possibility for Member States to apply stricter information obligations; it clarifies how the provisions complement existing legislation, extends one of the features of the Commission’s proposal, the so-called withdrawal button, not only to financial services but also to all products and services purchased at a distance, and it introduces a right to for consumers to request human intervention when the trader uses online tools, like roboadvice or chatbots to understand the effects that the contract may have on his or her financial situation.

• Council agrees negotiating position on financial services contracts concluded at a distance (press release, 2 March 2023)
• Recording of the public debate

Short-term accommodation rental services

Ministers approved the Council’s negotiating position (general approach) on a proposal for a regulation on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services.

This regulation will benefit players of the short-term accommodation rental segment alike: hosts will have an easy registration procedure, platforms will have a single set of rules for the information they have to provide, travellers will be better protected against fraud and authorities will be able to regulate based on accurate and reliable data.

Ebba Busch, Swedish Minister for Energy, Business and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister

In its general approach, that has been agreed in a speedy manner, the Council supports the objectives of the Commission’s proposal to establish a coherent framework for the collection of data provided by online platforms, whilst taking into account the registration systems that are already in place in some member states.

• Council agrees position on data collection and sharing for short-term accommodation rentals (press release, 2 March 2023)
• Recording of the public debate

Long-term competitiveness and productivity in the single market

Competitiveness is one of the priorities of the Swedish presidency. At the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the single market (created on 1 January 1993) the presidency organised a first dialogue on short-term measures to boost competitiveness in the informal Competitiveness Council of 6 February 2023. Today’s discussion was a follow-up focussed on long-term competitiveness. The dialogue was structured around five pillars:

• market economy
• open trade
• better regulation
• innovation
• secure energy supply

This discussion adds to the European Council conclusions of 15 December 2022 and 9 February 2023 on these issues, and a number of proposals of the Commission such as the Green Deal industrial plan for net-zero age (presented on 1 February 2023 and discussed during lunch) and the coming communication on the 30 years of the single market and the strategy to boost growth and productivity. Commission’s Vice-President Vestager, Commissioner Breton and the Chair of the High-Level Group on competitiveness, Daniel Blockert also took the floor.

• Note for the policy debate: Long-term competitiveness and productivity – Internal market at 30 and beyond
• EU single market (background information)
• EU industrial policy (background information)

Other business

Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court

The presidency informed ministers on the state of play of the unitary patent system and unified patent court.

• State of play on the unitary patent system (presidency information note, 20 February 2023)

Follow-up to the EU-Ukraine summit

The presidency and the Commission informed ministers on the follow up to the EU-Ukraine summit.

• Background document – Follow up of the EU-Ukraine summit
• EU-Ukraine summit, 3 February 2023

Working lunch

Over a lunch, ministers have discussed the Green Deal industrial plan for the net zero-age.

• Green Deal industrial plan for the near-zero age (European Commission, 3 February 2023)