Agenda of the Competitiveness Council on Internal market and Industry, 1 December 2022

Estimated schedule

• Live streaming
• TBC Arrivals
• 09:45 Public session (Internal Market/Industry)
• 15:00 Public session (Internal Market/Industry)
• TBC Press conference

 Agenda highlights

Internal market and industry

Chips Act

Ministers are expected to adopt a general approach on the Chips Act.

Chips are essential for a wide range of technological and digital products, such as cars, household appliances and electronics. Due to geostrategic issues and value chain disruptions, European industries are currently facing challenges in the supply of semiconductors.

To overcome these challenges, the European Commission presented the Chips Act on 8 February 2022. The package aims to reduce the EU’s vulnerabilities and dependencies on foreign actors. It aims to improve the EU’s security of supply, resilience and technological sovereignty in the field of semiconductor applications and technologies.

EU industrial policy (background information)

Corporate sustainability due diligence

Ministers will aim to reach a general approach on the directive on corporate sustainability due diligence (CSDD). The CSDD proposal introduces an obligation on companies to identify and prevent, end or mitigate the impact of their activities on human rights and the environment.

Geographical indications for crafts and industrial products

Ministers are expected to adopt a general approach on the regulation on geographical indication protection (GI) for craft and industrial products. Geographical indications establish intellectual property rights protection for specific products, whose qualities are essentially linked to the area of production.

The EU has specific GI protection for wines, spirit drinks and other agricultural products and foodstuffs. Champagne or Prosciutto di Parma are well-known examples of agricultural GIs. However, so far there has been no GI protection at EU level for craft and industrial products (such as jewelry, textiles, glass or porcelain). The proposed regulation aims to close this gap.

Also on the agenda

Ministers are also invited to adopt conclusions on the European Agenda for Tourism and will discuss the directive on empowering consumers for the green transition and the ecodesign for sustainable products regulation (ESPR).

Other items on the agenda include a presentation by the European Commission on the Single Market Enforcement Taskforce report and on the 2022 report on the SME Envoy Network. The Swedish delegation will inform the ministers about the programme with a view to their upcoming presidency.

Meeting information

• Meeting n°3915
• Brussels
• 1 December 2022
• 09:30

Preparatory documents

• Provisional list of A items, non-legislative activities
• Provisional agenda