On the 16th May 2008 a report on the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee concerning three main topics was punlished in the Official Journal of the European Union. These topics were:

1. ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down procedures relating to the application of certain national technical rules to products lawfully marketed in another Member State (Regulation (COM(2007) 36 final).
2. ‘Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a common framework for the marketing of products’ (Decision (COM(2007) 53 final) .

‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council setting out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products’ (Regulation (COM(2007) 37 final).

In brief the EESC stressed that the free movement of goods is an essential driver for competitiveness and the economic and social development of the European single market and that reinforcement and updating of the requirements for the marketing of safe, high-quality products are key factors for consumers, businesses and European citizens. The EESC also observed some updating and streamlining necessary for EU legislation on goods (with reference to the report:

• The problems encountered in implementing and enforcing the provisions of the Treaty.
• The lack of a consistent approach to market surveillance in the Member States.
• Shortcomings in conformity assessment bodies and in the legal protection of the CE marking.
• Gaps in businesses', administrations' and citizens' awareness of their rights and obligations.

Thus The EESC supports the Commission's initiative of putting together a legislative package on the subject.

The comments offered by the President of the European Economic and Social Committee Dimitris Dimitriadis also offered suggestions for various European infrastructural applications. One of which is RAPEX. The President commented that the rapid information-exchange system is capable of effectively assisting market surveillance, however, to be used in a more uniform and coordinated way by the Member States.

The commission's proposals

The first regulation (COM(2007) 36 final):

• A new procedure for national authorities.
• Definition at EU level of the rights and obligations of national authorities.
• Establishment in each Member State of one or several ‘Product Contact Points’, with the task of providing information on the technical rules.

The decision (COM(2007) 53 final):

• Harmonised definitions, common obligations for economic operators.
• Rules for the selection of conformity assessment procedures as well as the harmonised range of procedures.
• A single definition for the CE marking.
• An information and market surveillance procedure as an extension of the GPSD system.
• Harmonised provisions for the future safeguard mechanisms as a complement to those for market surveillance.

The second regulation (COM(2007) 37 final):

• Stepping up European cooperation.
• Establishing a framework for recognition of the existing organisation ‘European cooperation for Accreditation’.
• Putting in place a Community framework for market surveillance and checks on products entering the EU market.
• Applying clear, standardised rules across all sectors.
• Providing Community funding for sectoral accreditation schemes.