Internal market: 3rd 2002 review.

PURPOSE : to present the 2002 Review of the Internal Market Strategy. CONTENT : this is the third annual review of the Strategy. It draws together the different strands of Internal Market Policy in a single document and provides decision-makers with a roadmap for the next 18 months. It is based on a thorough analysis -mainly based on the Cardiff Report - of the areas where the Internal Market still needs to be improved. It sets out a series of target actions aimed at filling these gaps. The document also monitors progress since last year's review. It reveals a mixed picture. The success rate for completing target action stands at just over 50% which is about the same as last year. Overall progress has not been fast enough. The added impetus from the Barcelona Council offers the chance to accelerate delivery. The need for continuity and results is the central message of this Communication which centres on the same broad objectives as last year's review: -pressing ahead with the economic reforms agreed at Lisbon and reaffirmed at Barcelona; -gearing up to exploit the opportunities which will soon be offered by an enlarged Internal Market; -ensuring that the Internal Market brings tangible benefits to citizens, especially in their role as consumers and business, particularly SMEs; -a continuing emphasis on appropriate harmonisation, mutual recognition, transposition, compliance and enforcement, problem-solving and standardisation. These fundamentals are essential to ensuring that the Internal Market works in practice, not just in theory. The Communication also states that, to be effective, action needed must be a shared agenda for the Commission, Council, European Parliament and the Member States. The target actions selected have been grouped under four headings: -modernising markets. The actions include adoption of proposals for the final stage of the market opening of gas and electricity, for the creation of the Single European Sky, proposals on pensions funds and adoption of the public procurement package. -improving business conditions. Target actions include the simplification of the regulatory environment, and a more efficient enforcement of the competition rules. -meeting citizens' needs. Target actions include the adoption of a state-aid framework for services of general economic interest and a legal framework for enforcement cooperation between public authorities responsible for protection consumer economic interests. anticipating enlargement, where target actions include the establishment of twinning arrangements and carrying put training programmes for officials in candidate countries.�