Commission agrees Single Market Action Plan
The European Commission has adopted an Action Plan to achieve a properly functioning Single Market before the introduction of the Euro on 1 January 1999. The draft Action Plan centres on four strategic targets: - Making Single Market rules more effective; - Dealing with key market distortions; - Removing sectoral obstacles to market integration; - Delivering a Single Market for the benefit of all citizens. In order to achieve each of these targets, a series of specific actions is listed, including both legislative and non-legislative initiatives. The Commission also announced that it will regularly publish a "Single Market Scoreboard" containing detailed indicators of the state of the Single Market and of Member States' level of commitment to fulfilling the Action Plan. Following discussions on the basis of this outline with Member States, the European Parliament and other interested parties, the Commission will adopt the definitive Action Plan for presentation to the Amsterdam European Council in June, as announced by President Jacques Santer at the European Council in December 1996 in Dublin.