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The next Committee Meeting will be held on:

Wednesday 30 May (9.00 - 12.30 and 15.00 - 18.30) and Thursday 31 May (9.00 - 12.30 and 15.00 - 18.30) in PHS 1A002.
 
The Draft agenda is available here.
 
- From the last Committee Meeting: Provisional Outcome of Votes
 
► Newsletter:  Issue 31: April 2012 - Previous issues 
    If you wish to subscribe, send us an email with "Newsletter" as subject

 
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Highlights
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Committee meeting @ European Union  
Alignment of technical harmonisation directives in the Member States - 30 May

Members will consider 9 draft reports on the harmonisation of the laws of MS related to pyrotechnic articles, non-automatic weighing instruments, simple pressure vessels, measuring instruments, lifts and safety components for lifts, supervision of explosives for civil uses, voltage limits in electrical equipment, electromagnetic compatibility and equipment and protective systems used in explosive atmospheres.

 
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Hearing on Public Procurement  
Public procurement and utilities directive

At their meeting on 30 May, IMCO members will consider the draft report of Marc Tarabella (BE - S&D) on public procurement and procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors.

 
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Hearing ADR and ODR © European union  
Consideration of draft report on ADR and ODR

Alternative and Online dispute resolution for consumer disputes were discussed during the last IMCO meeting on 8 May. The proposed Regulation aims at ensuring that that disputes between consumers and traders can be submitted to entities offering impartial, transparent, effective and fair alternative dispute resolution procedures.

 
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Consumer programme © European Union  
Consumer programme 2014-2020 - 8 May

The Rapporteur, Mr Rochefort (ALDE), presented his draft report. He regrets that the European Consumer Agenda is not available yet but he is globally in favour of the Commission's proposal, including the four objectives proposed and the fact that the budget has been maintained, despite the current financial constraints. He nevertheless supports the Parliament's negotiation position on the MFF to ask for a 5 % increase in the budget (SURE Report), also for the Consumer Programme. Furthermore, he suggests including in an annex to the Regulation the indicative breakdown of spending between the different objectives, while giving 20 % leeway to the Commission to spend the money differently. As regards the adoption of the annual work programmes, the Rapporteur advocates a delegation of powers to the Commission instead of the use of implementing acts, so as to guarantee sufficient control for the Parliament on what he considers altogether to be a political exercise (determining priorities and actions, allocating financial resources). Finally, the Rapporteur expressed his disappointment with the indicators proposed by the Commission to monitor consumer awareness and calls upon the Commission to propose better ones.
 
Shadow Rapporteurs welcomed the draft report, including the amendments on budgetary aspects and delegated acts. Ms Jacqueline Minor, Director at DG MARKT, expressed strong reservations on behalf of the Commission on exactly those two points.
 
The deadline for tabling amendments to the Commission proposal is 14 May 2012, 12:00.

 
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Presentation and responsibilities
 
Committee responsible for:
 
1.    coordination at Community level of national legislation in the sphere of the internal market and for the customs union, in particular:

(a)    the free movement of goods including the harmonisation of technical standards,
(b)    the right of establishment,
(c)    the freedom to provide services except in the financial and postal sectors;

2.    measures aiming at the identification and removal of potential obstacles to the functioning of the internal market;
 
3.    the promotion and protection of the economic interests of consumers, except for public health and food safety issues, in the context of the establishment of the internal market.
 
 
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Welcome words
 
Malcolm HARBOUR - © European Union, 2010  
 

The Single Market and its free movement of people, goods and services is one of the absolute foundations of the EU. It has provided prosperity and growth, jobs, mobility and freedom of choice to Europe's citizens and businesses.
 
In the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer protection, we believe that citizens must be placed at the heart of the Single Market. It is our mission to ensure that people can establish themselves anywhere within the EU, to work, study or set up a business.
 
We want to make sure that consumers know their rights and feel assured that they are safe and protected when buying products in the EU, whether in their local shop or when shopping online across borders.
 
We aim to make clear rules for businesses, and to make life simpler for small firms while expanding their market opportunities in making, selling or providing services.
 
The Internal Market Committee initiated the Single Market Act to give a fresh impetus to the Single Market. We remain committed to deliver on its proposals as quickly as possible. Only a well functioning Single European Market can ensure our prosperity and competitiveness in the world in the decades to come.
 
Malcolm Harbour
Chair of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection