(Minister of State for
Universities, Science, Research and Innovation): The
‘Internal Market and Industry Day’ of the Competitiveness Council
will take place on 27 May 2019. Katrina Williams, Deputy
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the European
Union, will represent the UK.
The ‘Research and Space Day’ of the Competitiveness Council will
take place on 28 May 2019. MP, Minister of State for
Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, will represent
the UK.
Day one – Internal Market and Industry
The ‘Internal Market and Industry Day’ will consider a number
of non-legislative items, including a
competitiveness “check-up”. Attendees will be asked to debate and
agree the adoption of Conclusions on ‘A new level of ambition for
a competitive Single Market’ and ‘An EU Industrial Policy
Strategy: A Vision for 2030’. This will be followed by the
adoption of ‘Conclusions on the competitiveness of the tourism
sector as a driver for sustainable growth, jobs and social
cohesion in the EU for the next decade’.
Under any other business, there will be updates on the following
current legislative proposals: (a) the Directive on cross-border
conversions, mergers and divisions; (b) the Directive on the
modernisation of the EU consumer protection rules; (c) the
Directive on representative actions for the protection of the
collective interests of consumers; and (d) the Regulation on the
general safety of vehicles.
The Presidency with also provide information on Better Regulation
and the Forum dedicated to the auto industry. Finally, the
Finnish delegation will provide information on the work programme
of the incoming Finnish Presidency.
Day two – Research and Space
The ‘Research and Space Day’ of the Competitiveness Council will
begin with a session on space, during which the Council will hold
a policy debate on ‘Strengthening Europe's role as a global actor
and promoting international cooperation, space diplomacy and
contributing to building the global space governance’.
The Competitiveness Council will then break for the
280th European Space Agency (ESA) Council where
the UK, as an ESA Member state, will vote on the ESA resolution
‘Space as an enabler’. The Council will then reconvene for the
9th EU-ESA Space Council where there will be an
exchange of views and adoption of Conclusions on ‘Space as an
enabler’.
The research session will start with a policy debate concerning
‘Research and innovation as a driving force for a more
competitive European Union’. Finally, the Finnish delegation will
provide information on the work programme of the incoming Finnish
Presidency.
