The Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) debate the EU’s coronavirus exit strategy, including the gradual lifting of lockdown measures and the recovery fund, with Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Brussels

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

exchange of views

CHARANZOVÁ, Dita (Renew, CZ)

SCHWAB, Andreas (EPP, DE)

SCHALDEMOSE, Christel (S&D, DK)

BRETON, Thierry (FR, EC)

Coronavirus outbreak (T)

economic situation in Europe (T)

COVID-19 outbreak - recovery and exit strategy: extracts from the exchange of views with Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market

SOUNDBITE (French), Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market, We already knew it, but this crisis revealed it to the greatest possible light.  Some of our value chains are largely dependent on extra-EU sources of supply outside the EU. Globalization has brought many economic benefits, but it has also proved to be a risk factor in our ability to respond to emergencies.  We experienced it in the early days of the crisis with the risk of shortage of masks. You remember.  Blouses, respirators. We therefore need to identify those strategic areas for which we need to have the capacity to produce in Europe technological, critical supply infrastructures, such as critical raw materials or pharmaceutical active ingredients.  This also applies to green technologies on which Europe needs to take global leadership.

SOUNDBITE (French), Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market, This is about the integrity of the internal market and of the European product itself.  The aim is to ensure a level playing field both within the internal market and vis-&agrave;-vis global competition. On a global scale, we cannot afford to get out of the crisis with European companies that are at a disadvantage compared to their American or Chinese competitors, who have benefited from massive support plans.  A technological, industrial and competitive development for Europe would be deficient. So we need to be extremely vigilant on this matter. 

SOUNDBITE (French), Andreas SCHWAB (EPP, DE), It cannot be accepted that Member States take actions that are nothing but protectionism. What needs to be done now to avoid these measures?  Second point on data markets. What's going to be done?  what is the Commission doing? Beyond the 'Free flow of data' directive, I didn't understand. 

SOUNDBITE (French), Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market, I say, we must all be aware of it. No one has the first cent today to deal with the crisis.  All countries on the planet and all European countries will have to borrow! All!  Whether France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy or the Netherlands. Everyone's gonna have to borrow.  And the only thing I think we have all said is that, of course, this ability to have precise access to these resources so that they are targeted must be as harmonised as possible, particularly in order to preserve the internal market.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&amp;D, DK), When it comes to critical infrastructure I think you are right in trying to discuss that some of the production can come back to Europe. But we also need to make sure that we are not closing Europe to the rest of the world. The question is how to create trust and if we have the right tools in order to make sure that the member states are complying with the rules.

SOUNDBITE (French), Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market, I spent the first ten days of this crisis, night and day, almost hunting in order to ensure that those who had taken measures, including protectionist measures, to protect their own national territories, especially for fear of lack of masks, personnel protection products, including health care, are covered by these barriers. Took me days.  But fortunately, it was done. The lessons from the rest will have to be learned.  And how to learn lessons? In particular, we must talk seriously about this with the first ones who have been involved in this type of behaviour, which is believed to have been - I am not afraid to say so - harmful to our internal market and harmful to the Union.  But finally, it's behind us and so it's a good thing. But you know, it's, as they say &ldquo;never ending fight&rdquo;.  So we always have to be attentives.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dita CHARANZOV&#193; (RE, CZ), Well, you already said that you will monitor the member states closely, but are you ready to the next step meaning to start an infringement procedure in the case that you see that the member states are not complying with the EU law, which undermines the internal market efficiency.

SOUNDBITE (French), Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market, There is a truly cooperative spirit to try to harmonize as much as possible, again taking into account the health constraints of all the countries of the countries of the Union.  However, there are obviously infringement procedures. I spoke earlier about Bulgaria.  This was really the case, especially for food products. There, we have launched an infringement procedure because it is absolutely unacceptable. 

SOUNDBITE (French), Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market, Concerning apps, here too, I was absolutely clear. I said out of the question that the Union supports tracking!  Out of the question! We are not in that logic at all.  We have defined with the Member States a kind of vade mecum, a toolbox if you like, in which, together, it was said that it should be only voluntary, temporary, interoperable by country, especially not geolocation. By possibly using Bluetooth technology is completely anonymized.  And so this was obviously the only condition, paying attention to the aspects of cyber security that were essential.