| Author (Person) | Chapman, Peter |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.9, No.37, 6.11.03, p26 |
| Publication Date | 06/11/2003 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Peter Chapman Date: 06/11/03 FRITS Bolkestein, the commissioner for the internal market, has poured scorn on EU ministers he claims are stalling the Union's bid to become the world's most dynamic economy. In a speech to business leaders in his native Netherlands, the outspoken commissioner expressed his frustration at the performance of the EU's so-called Competitiveness Council - the group of ministers responsible for many of the key internal market dossiers. "Some people say I complain too much. But I have every right to be grumpy when ministers in the Competitiveness Council say, with a straight face, that they want more research and innovation in Europe's internal market, while at the same time they drag their feet on the Community patent. "Or when they say they want a booming biotech sector in Europe, yet more than half of them have failed to implement the biotechnology directive, which is more than two years overdue." The Dutch Liberal then took a swipe at the ministers' stance over stalled efforts to approve a directive on company takeovers. They say "companies must be able to organize themselves efficiently on a European scale but will only agree to the takeover bids proposal after it has been gutted", he complained. While governments drag their feet, Bolkestein warned that the EU's major competitors are racing ahead in the economic stakes. He said they should "stop merely talking about competitiveness and start doing something about it". The Dutchman also said the EU must also make sure the long list of policy areas which sprang from the 2000 Lisbon summit is not too unwieldy. Report of a speech given by Frits Bolkestein, European Commissioner for the Internal Market, in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, on 3 November 2003. In his speech Mr Bolkestein criticised Ministers in the Competitiveness Council for holding back progress in key areas such as the Community Patent. |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry, Internal Markets |
