The European Commission wants to have powers to prioritize productions and build up national reserves in times of crisis
The Community Executive this Monday asked for powers to intervene in emergency situations in the internal market. Brussels wants to be able to force European companies to give priority to important productions and to build up national strategic reserves to avoid the lack of “vital stocks”. “We have to learn from the pandemic crisis, the lack of masks and vaccines, and from the current energy crisis,” said Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton.
These two crises have shown that “the European market is strong, but not immovable”, the Commissioner emphasized. The instrument presented on Monday – which must receive the approval of the Council and the European Parliament – aims to improve the functioning of the internal market in the face of future crises.
This mechanism aims to provide a coordinated response and establishes a series of measures depending on the severity of the situation. The European Commission, in consultation with the Member States, will have contingency plans for the preparation, alert and emergency phases. “In short, it’s about being better prepared for a situation that is unforeseeable,” said Breton, who worked during the pandemic to facilitate the arrival of masks and vaccines in the EU.
It is up to European countries to sound the alarm and, given this early warning, Brussels will monitor the supply chains of essential products to ensure that the European Union has sufficient reserves and may ask states to undertake these strategic matters. to supply . In the same way, it will be able to ensure the free movement of these goods and, in case of emergency, countries will be prohibited from restricting it.
In an extremely serious situation, the European Commission can also force companies to prioritize certain productions and redirect them to the required products. “Businesses will be invited to prioritize certain shipments and those that do not comply with what has been agreed will be subject to sanctions,” said Competition Commissioner Margrette Vestager.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
