A ministerial meeting of the EU Council on Competitiveness, chaired by Deputy Minister of Competitiveness and Development, Notis Mitarachi, was held in Brussels today (26.05.2014). The meeting discusses issues related to Internal Market and Industry.

The Council approved the following texts: a) a draft decision and b) a draft regulation of the Council for the establishment of implementing measures for the system of own resources of the EU, an issue of particular significance for the ratification of the budget of the European Union, as own resources must correspond to expenses.

The ministers agreed on a general approach in so far as the regulation proposal is concerned, which has as its aim the introduction, on a European level, of standard requirements for the incorporation of an eCall device system in new vehicle models and in light commercial vehicles. The European eCall system is designed in such a way as to facilitate and accelerate the provision of first aid services and the job of emergency crew in cases of road accidents.

The ministers also agreed on a general approach in relation to new regulations for the protection of commercial confidentiality. The aim of the directive proposal is to facilitate national courts to deal with the misappropriation of confidential business information, remove the trade secret infringing products from the market and make it easier for victims to receive compensation for illegal actions.

The Council was informed on the progress made to date on the examination of a series of proposals for the revision of the framework which concerns the registered trade marks in order to improve the conditions for business to innovate. The modernization of the framework will make the European System of registered trade marks more accessible to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and will render the protection of trade marks more efficient.

The ministers took note, in addition, of the progress report by the Presidency concerning the revision of the directive on package travel, aiming at the modernization of the operational framework of this specific market, which has been deeply transformed, primarily due to the internet, and no longer fully satisfies the needs of consumers and businesses.

The Commission was represented by Vice-President, responsible for Competitiveness, Joaquín Almunia, Vice-President responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship, Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, Michel Barnier, and the Commissioner for Trade, Karel De Gucht.