Prime Minister Sobotka holds talks with Eurocommissioner Bieńkowska about the internal market and industry

On Tuesday 11 April, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka met European Commission member Elżbieta Bieńkowska who holds the brief for the internal market, industry, business and small and medium enterprises. The main topic of the talks was the internal market, industrial policy and a comparison of conditions for the remuneration of EU agency staff in different EU Member States.

Prime Minister Sobotka and EuroCommissioner Bieńkowská discussed in particular the long-term Czech priority of an internal market where all four freedoms are implemented and the formation of new barriers is avoided.  "An effective internal market is needed to ensure convergence in the EU. An open market without barriers is the way to align living standards and reduce wage gaps. A functioning internal market is also the best way of preventing social dumping", said Prime Minister Sobotka.

In addition to the topic of the internal market, Prime Minister Sobotka and Eurocommissioner Bieńkowská also discussed the comparative conditions for the remuneration of EU agency staff in different EU Member States. Industrial policy was also an important point of the talks with Eurocommissioner Bieńkowska.

Today, the Prime Minister also personally invited Commissioner Bieńkowska to a Conference on Defence and Security which we are preparing in conjuction with the European Commission on 9 June in Prague.

The Prime Minister last met Eurocommisioner Bieńkowska in May of last year.