The EU Commission has announced its proposal for a new crisis management framework called the “Single Market Emergency Instrument”, which aims to ensure the free movement of goods, services and people, and the availability of essential products and services in future emergencies.
Accordingly, a new crisis management system will be determined for the EU Single Market.
A new mechanism, consisting of several stages, will be established to monitor the EU market, identify different levels of risk and coordinate the appropriate response. In the mechanism, there will be levels of “contingency”, “vigilance” and “emergency”.
At the contingency level, the Commission and member states will network and work together to increase crisis preparedness.
When a serious threat is detected, the Commission will be able to activate the vigilance level.
At this stage, member states, in cooperation with the Commission, will monitor the supply chains of defined, strategically important goods and services.
In addition, strategic reserves will be created in important products.
In the event of a crisis with far-reaching effects, the European Council can declare a state of emergency.
In case of emergency, it will be ensured that free movement in the EU market is not interrupted.
Restrictions foreseen to prevent free movement will be blacklisted. Unilateral restrictions will be swiftly reviewed and avoided.
The EU Commission will be able to recommend expansion or repositioning of production lines to member states to secure the supply of crisis-related goods.
The Commission will also be able to propose a targeted distribution of strategic reserves created during the vigilance phase.
In cases of vigilance and emergency, the EU Commission will be able to purchase related goods and services through public tenders.
When an emergency is declared, the Commission will be able to send mandatory information requests to companies. Companies will need to respond to this request immediately. Otherwise, there will be a fine.
The Commission will also be able to request priority-grade production for crisis-related products from companies. Companies will have to comply with this. Companies that do not comply with the request may be fined.
Rapid testing and accreditation processes will also be run for immediate release of certain products in emergencies.
The approval of the European Parliament (EP) and member states is required for the proposal to enter into force.
EU countries quickly closed their borders with other member countries at the beginning of the Kovid-19 epidemic. This situation caused supply problems for many products.
In addition, some companies in Europe supplied critically important products primarily to countries outside the EU during the epidemic period.
The Commission proposal aims to prevent these situations from happening again.