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Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary, will join his fellow Ministers with responsibility for the Internal Market and Industry at today’s meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council in Brussels.
Commission Vice President Šefčovič along with Commissioners Breton and Sinkevičius will represent the European Commission at the meeting which will be chaired by the Czech Minister for Industry and Trade on behalf of the Czech Presidency.
Ministers are also due to engage in policy debates on the recently published Commission proposal for a Single Market Emergency Instrument and on a proposed ecodesign Regulation.
Welcoming the proposal for a framework setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products, Minister Calleary acknowledged that, for smaller Member States like Ireland, an ambitious common EU approach is vital in developing sustainable product standards, saying:
"I look forward to supporting this proposal that aims to reduce the environmental impact of products that we all use. A well-informed consumer is empowered to make better choices and so I welcome the Digital Product Passport that will provide information throughout the lifecycle of a product about substances of high concern and repair information."
Minister Calleary also welcomed the opportunity to engage for the first time on the recently published Single Market Emergency Instrument:
"Ireland has expressed ongoing support for an emergency instrument to assist the functioning of the Single Market in times of crisis and I am pleased to have the opportunity to hear the views of my fellow Ministers on this measure aimed at protecting the Four Freedoms and the Single Market."
Minister Calleary stated that any new instrument must complement existing and planned measures and avoid duplication or hampering EU competitiveness.
He concluded:
"A fully functioning Single Market is essential to EU competitiveness, growth and resilience, particularly in times of crises when we are tested. The continued war in Ukraine has presented challenges to European and global supply chains. These shortages have ongoing economic impacts and effect on Irish and European citizens, consumers, and businesses.
"The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the value in making financial supports available to businesses whether through wage subsidisation, loan guarantees, grants or voucher schemes which helped protect impacted firms, and Budget 2023 represents a continuation of Government’s support to businesses to address rising costs of energy. I intend to highlight this with my EU counterparts as we look to a build and strengthen resilience in the Single Market."