From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
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The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, will today meet with the European Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton in Dublin, during the Commissioner’s one-day visit to Dublin.
Later today, Minister of State for Digital Affairs, Robert Troy TD, will join Commissioner Breton at an SME Roundtable on Access to the Single Market. The virtual event is an opportunity for the Commissioner to engage directly with indigenous small and medium-sized Irish companies in the digital sector on the key challenges facing Irish digital businesses as they look to expand across the EU market.
Ireland is a strong proponent of the Single Market and over the recent years has championed the push to remove barriers to the Single Market particularly in services, recognising the value of a potential market of 450 million to Irish industry.
The Tánaiste said:
"The Single Market can play a key role in our economic recovery from COVID-19, and future growth, and I look forward to further engagement with the European Commission to deepen our valuable relationship."
During the course of their meeting, the Tánaiste and the Commissioner are expected to focus on the digital agenda and EU Industrial Strategy, including the potential for Ireland to play an important role in forthcoming Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI).
Speaking ahead of his meeting with Commissioner Breton, the Tánaiste said:
"I am delighted to welcome Commissioner Breton to Dublin today and I look forward to an engaging discussion on the EU proposals to create a safer digital space and to establish a level playing field to allow smaller businesses to establish and grow."
Speaking ahead of the SME roundtable, Minister Troy said:
"I believe that the Commissioner and I have a shared desire to ensure that the Single Market is the best place to do business, where goods and services are traded easily without unnecessary obstacles, a market that fosters innovation and competitiveness, where small companies can grow and compete not just within the EU but on the global stage too.
"I am delighted that the Commissioner came to Dublin and specifically asked to hear first-hand the experience of Irish businesses in the Single Market and of the areas where we need to pay more attention to improve it further. The EU’s recovery and success will depend greatly on the efforts of our SMEs – we must be sure to remember that as we shape policies and design new regulations."
In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the Tánaiste recognises that Ireland and Europe must be ready to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the twin ecological and digital transitions.
Looking to the future, the Tánaiste said:
"A fully functioning Single Market, in both goods and services, can be the bedrock of a strong green and digital Europe."