In developing the proposal for a new single market emergency instrument (SMEI) there needs to be a definition of what constitutes a crisis and a strict timetable, Energy, Trade and Industry Minister Natasha Pilides said during the Competitiveness Council of the EU which took place in Brussels on Thursday.
The ministers responsible for issues of competitiveness exchanged views on the Commission’s proposal for a new Single Market Emergency Instrument (SMEI) and on the proposal for a Regulation on Eco-Design for Sustainable Products (ESPR).
Speaking during the discussion regarding the SMEI initiative, which concerns the functioning of the EU single market in the midst of a crisis, Pilides noted that there should be a clear definition as to what is considered a “crisis” and a strict timetable for crisis measures. She stressed that Member States have an active role in the enforcement of measures and pointed out that it such measures should be compatible with other EU legislation and emergency instruments, such as HERA and the European Chips Act.
During the discussion on ecodesign of sustainable products and harmonising relevant standards across the EU, Pilides said that in order to ensure a level playing field, the new measures should apply equally to products manufactured inside and outside the EU. Referring to small and medium-sized enterprises, she stressed the importance of avoiding the imposition of further administrative burdens.
The ministers also had a working lunch with Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton, and discussed ways to strengthen the resilience of the single market in the light of the war in Ukraine. In her intervention, Pilides referred in particular to the disruptions in value chains as a result of the energy crisis and their impact on small and medium-sized enterprises.
Source: Cyprus News Agency