The Competitiveness Council meeting ended with the endorsement of the agreement reached by the Permanent Representatives Committee with regard to the unitary patent protection. The agreement on the unitary patent is one of the twelve priority measures included in the Single Market Act I package. Ministers also held debates on the rest of priorities included in the package such as the debate held on the modernisation of the public procurement policy.

The Council held debates on the proposals included in the Single Market Act I package, which is made up of twelve priority measures aimed at the completion of the single market by increasing confidence and stimulating growth and jobs creation.

The Council held a public debate on the modernisation of the public procurement policy and reached an agreement on a general approach on the three proposals of the package. The agreement is based on the compromise text which builds on the package presented by the Commission on 20 December 2011. It is a major overhaul of public procurement rules across the EU. The revision of the public procurement policy will affect a wide range of areas applying to the procurement of goods, works and services. Ministers also endorsed the agreement reached by the Permanent Representatives Committee on 19 November on the patents package.

The Council also took note of a report drawn up by the Presidency on the progress made regarding a draft directive aimed at making the system of recognition of professional qualifications more efficient with the purpose of further facilitating mobility of skilled workers across the EU. The Single Market Act I package also include a proposals for a directive on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and a draft regulation on On-line Dispute Resolution (ODR), and a review of accounting requirements for companies. The Council also held an exchange of views on these proposals.