Main results of the Competitiveness Council

Ministers held a debate on industrial competitiveness on the basis of the Commission communication “For a European Industrial Renaissance”. They also held a debate on the Commission’s Annual Growth Survey (AGS) for 2014. The main results of the Council included:

Industrial competitiveness
Ministers held a debate on industrial competitiveness on the basis of the Commission communication “For a European Industrial Renaissance”, which proposes that industrial competitiveness concerns be systematically mainstreamed across relevant EU policy areas such as environmental, climate, energy, trade, competition and state aid and regional policies. The outcome of the debate will feed into discussions on industrial competitiveness to take place at the next EU summit on 20 and 21 March.

Annual Growth Survey 2014
Ministers held a debate on the Commission’s Annual Growth Survey (AGS) for 2014. The AGS is the starting point for the European Semester, which involves simultaneous monitoring of the member states’ fiscal, economic and employment policies during a six-month period every year. The AGS 2014 is accompanied by the second edition of the “State of the Single Market Integration”, a report that shows the state of single market integration in key areas with the greatest economic growth potential.

Other Issues
Without discussion the Council adopted a directive aimed at improving the functioning of copyright collecting societies in the internal market and facilitating cross-border licensing of authors’ rights in online music.

It also adopted a regulation concerning the notification to the Commission of investment projects in energy infrastructure within the EU.

Access the full report here.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Better access to online music – Collective management of copyright
• Conclusions on progress in the European Research Area
• More press releases from the Competitiveness Council