Geen duurzame economische prestaties mogelijk zonder samenwerking met sociale partners (en)

At the EESC plenary, European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services Michel Barnier i has reaffirmed his conviction that the EESC can contribute to achieving this objective. The Commissioner presented and debated the Single Market Act which aims at completing the creation of a European market almost 20 years since its emergence. The Single Market Act brings together 50 proposals, among which the Commission will identify 12 priority proposals to implement over the course of the next two years.

EESC President Staffan Nilsson said that the EESC welcomes the Commission's initiative to re-launch and revive the single market, and stressed the important role that the EESC can play in this process, particularly through its Single Market Observatory.

"We need to put the financial markets back in serving the real economy and put the real economy back in serving growth and human development," stressed the Commissioner. He once again emphasised the importance of the work done by the EESC and the crucial role of civil society organizations in formulating a response to the financial and economic crisis.

The EESC approved an opinion on the Commission's paper, asking for more coherence and interdependence between different measures of the Single Market Act. The opinion has been prepared by three rapporteurs representing the three components of the EESC. Some of the criticisms drawn in the opinion were highlighted during a vibrant debate that followed the Commissioner's address.

Mr. Ivan Voleš (Employers' Group, Czech Republic) underlined the importance of this EESC opinion, which is the result of a consensus among different interests. He asked the Commission to do more, especially in supporting the competitiveness and the access to capital for SMEs. Mr. Martin Siecker (Workers' Group, Netherlands) insisted on the need for more attention to the "social dimension" of the single market, explaining that reconciling European policies and social rights of workers is crucial in order to reduce conflicts, restore confidence and revive the European project. Finally, Ms Benedicte Federspiel (Various Interests Group, Denmark) focused on the need to directly involve all stakeholders in the re-launch of the single market, adding that this will help citizens and consumers' confidence. She also insisted on the importance of the development of a digital single market, to achieve real equality between citizens. The president of the Single Market, Production and Consumption Section, Mr. Brian Cassidy, stressed the spirit of good co-operation with the European Parliament and the Commission in favour of a fast delivery of civil society's input.