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Pre-Council Written Statement, Competitiveness Council, Brussels, 18 & 19 February 2019

My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary for State for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Lord Henley) has made the following statement:

The Internal Market and Industry Day of the Competitiveness Council will take place on 18 February 2019 where the Rt Hon. Lord Henley, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, will represent the UK; and the Research and Space Day on 19 February 2019 where Chris Skidmore MP, Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, will represent the UK.

Day one – Internal Market and Industry

The Internal Market and Industry Day will consider a number of non-legislative items including, a competitiveness check-up focusing on the impact of EU value chain integration on competitiveness. Ministers will be asked to exchange views on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on EU industry and to adopt Conclusions on the EU’s Coordinated Plan on Artificial Intelligence. They will take part in a policy debate on ‘Clean Planet for all’, the EU’s strategic long-term vison for a climate-neutral economy. The non-legislative part of the agenda will finish with a European Semester policy debate on how to deliver key reforms to make the European economy more competitive and resilient in the face of global uncertainty.

Under any other business, there will be updates on the following current legislative proposals: the Company Law Package including a Directive on Digital Tools and Processes and a Directive on the Cross-border Conversions, Mergers and Divisions; the Regulation on Enforcement of Union Harmonisation Legislation on Products; and the Regulation on Promoting Fairness and Transparency for Business Users of Online Intermediation Services.

Day two – Research and Space

The Research and Space Day will begin with a session on the Horizon Europe Package during which the Council will review the progress report and exchange views on the Specific Programme implementing Horizon Europe - Framework Programme for Research and Innovation for 2021-2027.

Under any other business, the Presidency will provide information on the state of play of the Horizon Europe Package, covering the Framework Programme and its rules for participation and dissemination. The Presidency will then conclude the Council by providing information on the ITER and Euratom Programmes.