Highlights of Subcommittees I-IV meeting – EP IMCO Committee, EU 2020 Strategy and EU Research and Innovation Funding

In the joint meeting with the European External Action Service, the Commission presented the Green Paper “Towards a Common Strategic Framework for EU Research and Innovation Funding”. The paper, which proposes major changes to EU research and innovation funding, brings together the current Framework Programme for research, the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme, and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.

The Subcommittees welcomed Mr Joseph Dunne, Head of the Secretariat of the European Parliament (EP) Committee for the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), and his colleague Mr Tarvo Kungla, who gave an overview of the IMCO Committee’s work and on the increasing role of the EP, especially following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. Mr Dunne reported on some of the main legislative acts such as the proposal on Consumer Rights, the Single Market Act and Public Procurement. He explained that for a few years, IMCO has tried to tackle initiatives at an early stage. Indeed, IMCO regularly invites the Commission to present their impact assessments. The Committee also issues own initiative reports, such as the report on the Future of European Standardisation. Better regulation being a priority for IMCO, the Committee follows closely the implementation of legislative acts, such as the Services Directive. Mr Kungla informed delegates that the increasing role of national parliaments had led IMCO to being proactive at engaging national parliaments in its activities. This, Mr Kungla said, was also an opportunity for parliamentarians from the EEA EFTA States to participate in the EP’s debates.

The Subcommittees further discussed a number of issues related to legislation under preparation for incorporation into the EEA Agreement, such as novel food and GM food and feed, the third legislative package for the internal energy market, the use of renewable energy sources, the Deposit Guarantee Scheme, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, the European Aviation Safety Agency, the inclusion of aviation activities in the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme, the new Social Security Coordination Rules and the new financial supervisory authorities.