Advancing further liberalisation of the European internal market

Further liberalisation of the EU internal market is one of the core tasks of the European Union.

Many markets of the electrical engineering and electronics industry will develop more lively due to liberalisation and more competition that promotes more innovation. Excessive regulations, great state influence and – as a result of the two – limited competition reduce the incentives to innovate and this prevent growth.

In particular fast liberalisation of the internal market for services and the reduction of the remaining barriers to the free movement of goods will strengthen the competitiveness of the EU and its companies. That is why these efforts should not flag. Practically speaking, companies in the electrical engineering and electronics industry are still being disadvantaged on many markets due to their national affiliation.

That is why it is one of the ZVEI’s most pressing demands on the European and national politicians, above all to consistently further open the EU markets of transport/infrastructure, postal services and power that are difficult to access for German companies. In addition we need better regulation that strengthens competition also for sectors that support our industry – such as transport and financial services for example.

That is why for us liberalisation above all means:

• In public tenders by consistently doing without above all production, environmental and social political demands on the respective suppliers that have nothing to do with the offer, facilitate international, transparent competition!
• In rail transport further open the markets to international suppliers or find regulations that increase the modernisation investments in network extension and rolling stock! Reduce location requirements, develop common European railway networks, facilitate European railways and European leasing markets for rolling stock. Joint tasks for producers, operators and supervisory authorities is the harmonisation of the technical standards which is necessary for this.
• In the power supply sector further drive the liberalisation of the power markets, to increase innovation and modernisation investments! Here, in a number of member states the preference for national procurements should be ended, lengthy and long-winded approval procedures should be simplified and a slim and powerful competition authority with the task of regulating should be set up, whose task is to extend the network, modernise the power stations and competition of the technologies on a functioning market.
• On the postal infrastructure markets in a series of countries, remove public access barriers for producers from other countries.
• Create a European internal market for financial services! It is precisely SMEs that need better access to international capital through the creation of a common European market for financial services and removal of the limitations for international credit institutions and insurance companies. More efficient service providers are helpful for the competitiveness of the electrical engineering and electronics industry.
• In support sectors that are important for our industry such as logistics, postal, lawyer, civil-law notary and other services, reduce the hindrances to efficient competition, free trade and free movement!
• Help the World Trade Organisation to reduce the agricultural protectionism to relieve the strain on consumers in Europe and through better access to the market provide purchasing power for countries in the Third World.
• Facilitate the European consolidation of our industry, to build strong positions on the basis of this in competition with the USA and Asia.

Concrete ZVEI initiatives:

• ZVEI initiative: “Coalition for Competitiveness” as a common European industrial platform to promote the Lisbon Agenda
• BDI/ZVEI initiative: Opening of the service market in the EU on the basis of mutual recognition
• ZVEI initiative: further opening of the infrastructure procuring markets
• ZVEI initiatives: Reduction of duties and trade impediments for electrical engineering products