Single market 20th anniversary celebration launch event

Free movement of capital / Free movement of goods / Free movement of persons / Free movement of services

20-10-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — Involving citizens in the single market, better informing them of their rights, building trust, countering retrenchment tendencies in member states, making existing rules work better for citizens and businesses and mapping the future were among the issues discussed at the single market anniversary celebration launch event in the European Parliament on Monday.

Internal Market Committee Chair Malcolm Harbour (ECR, UK) recalled the European Parliament’s role in driving forward the single market from the outset and his committee’s commitment to safeguarding citizens’ interests. His opening speech was followed by presentations by Commission President José Manuel Barroso, Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier, reading a message from former Commission President Jacques Delors, and Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti.

The conference included a lively talk show exchange of ideas with students, businesses, civil servants, consumers and trade unionists.

Panellists included MEPs Louis Grech (S&D, MT), Roza Thun (EPP, PL), Andreas Schwab (EPP, DE), Toine Manders (ALDE, NL) and European Parliament Vice-President Gianni Pittella (S&D, IT), Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli and Cypriot Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Nioklis Sylikotis.

Watch the recording of the debate through the link to the right.

REF. : 20121015IPR53607

###

Contacts

Rikke ULDALL
Telephone number (+32) 2 28 42976 (BXL)
Telephone number (+33) 3 881 72033 (STR)
Mobile number (+32) 498 98 32 57
imco-press@europarl.europa.eu