In the course of the debate, ministers welcomed the Commission’s new proposals on e-commerce and digital platforms. They urged the prompt implementation of the Strategy and highlighted the importance of the innovation-friendly and flexible legislation. The Hungarian delegate especially welcomed that one of the main priority of the DSM Strategy is the elimination of geoblocking practices.
The Council agreed on a general approach on the draft Regulation on ensuring the cross-border portability of online content services in the internal market, meaning that the trialogues can soon be launched with the European Parliament. Ministers emphasized the importance of adopting the Regulation as soon as possible, since it would make it possible for Union citizens being temporarily present in another Member State to have access to those online contents (e.g. films, music) they are subscribed for in their Member State of residence.
The competitiveness check-up has become an established practice at the Competitiveness Council meetings. This time ministers discussed the impact of digitalisation on productivity, with a focus on the services sector. Hungarian Minister of State, István Lepsényi highlighted some of the main elements with EU- relevance of the National Infocommunication Strategy and of the Digital Welfare Programme in his intervention.
During the Competitiveness Council, ministers held a short exchange of views about the proposed revision of the so-called posting of workers directive. Eleven national Parliaments (including the Hungarian National Assembly) communicated their subsidiarity concerns about this proposal to the EU legislators, thereby triggering the „yellow card” procedure, for only the third time in the history of the Union. During the debate, the Member States opposed to the revision highlighted its negative impact on the single market and on competitiveness. Minister of State István Lepsényi expressed the Hungarian position by fully supporting the freedom to provide services, and asked the Commission to withdraw its proposal in light of the subsidiarity concerns raised during the yellow card procedure.
Peter ŽIGA, Slovakian Minister of Economy reported that during their Presidency priority will be given to the implementation of goals set out by the Digital Single Market Strategy and to the elimination of unjustified geographically-based restrictions. They intend to put emphasis on cooperation in the field of consumer protection and the modernization of the industry as well.
On its conclusions on the evaluation of the 7th research framework programme and the future outlook the Council notes that the €55 billion FP7 has proved to be effective in boosting excellent science, strengthening Europe’s industrial competitiveness and addressing societal challenges. The final evaluation and lessons learnt of the FP7 provide valuable findings to improve the implementation of the Horizon 2020 framework programme in the context of its mid-term review. In addition it is also essential for the design and implementation of the next research and innovation framework programme.
Finally, the Council also adopted conclusions on the creation of a research and innovation-friendly regulatory environment and on the transition towards an open science system. In the text of the conclusions Member States committed to open access to scientific publications by 2020 and to the best possible re-use of research data as a way to accelerate the transition towards an open science system.
