Agenda of the EU Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry), 2 March 2023

EU ministers responsible for the internal market and industry will seek to adopt two Council positions:

– on distance marketing of consumer financial services

– on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

They will also hold a policy debate on the European single market, established 30 years ago.

Financial services at a distance

Ministers will seek to establish a general approach on a review of the 2002 directive concerning financial services contracts concluded at a distance.

An update is necessary as an increasing number of financial services are offered online, via email or by telephone, a trend that has been further accelerated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The aim is to improve consumer protection and ensure a level playing field in the internal market.

Distance marketing of financial services (European Commission)

Short-term accommodation rental services

Ministers are set to establish a general approach on a regulation on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services which account for nearly 25% of the EU’s supply of tourist accommodation.

The aim of the proposal is to streamline data sharing between online platforms and public authorities and to harmonise registration requirements for hosts.

Data protection in the EU (background information)

Infographic – 30th anniversary of the EU single market

See full infographic

Long-term competitiveness and productivity in the single market

On the 30th anniversary of the single market, ministers will hold a policy debate on the single market’s long-term competitiveness and productivity.

At the summit in December 2022, EU leaders had called for the Commission to present short- and long-term proposals to address current and future challenges to Europe’s competitiveness, such as the growth and innovation gap between the EU and its global competitors.

EU single market (background information)

EU industrial policy (background information)

European Council conclusions, 15 December 2022

Informal meeting of competitiveness ministers, 6-8 February 2023 (Swedish presidency website)

Other business

The presidency will inform ministers on the state of play as regards the unitary patent, to be launched on 1 June 2023, and as regards the Unified Patent Court.

The unitary patent system (European Commission)

Unified Patent Court website

The presidency and the Commission will inform ministers on the follow up to the EU-Ukraine summit.

EU-Ukraine summit, 3 February 2023

Meeting information

• Meeting n°3934
• Brussels
• 2 March 2023

Preparatory documents

• Provisional agenda
• Provisional list of A items