Internal market in the new Member States: situation, opportunities and lessons to be learnt

 The committee adopted the own-initiative report by Malgorzata HANDZLIK (EPP-ED, PL) on the internal market in the new Member States. The report pointed out that the internal market can only be genuinely complete if all Member States transpose and enforce the relevant directives, and that late or incorrect transposition deprives businesses and consumers of the full economic benefits of this market. It therefore called for the transposition and implementation - where overdue - of all internal market directives so that the new enlarged European market can realise its full potential. The 1.5% target suggested by the European Councils for the transposition deficit should be "taken seriously" by all Member States. Updates on the status of transposition should be made more often, as a complement to the Internal Market Scoreboard, and should be used to create a "name and shame list" of all the Member States lagging behind in the transposition process.

MEPs added that the transposition and implementation process would be greatly helped by the streamlining and simplification of existing Community legislation.

To achieve the goals set by the Lisbon Strategy, the committee suggested that the new Member States increase their investment in R&D, promote better contact between research institutions and businesses, and improve the quality of the labour market through more efficient education and training systems. Emphasis should also be placed on ensuring an effective intellectual property regime. Other recommendations included building an effective professional qualifications system and disseminating information on the new legislation among consumers, producers, traders and courts.