The study arose from a need to revise the application of the Mutual Recognition principle and the implementation of the Regulation with the objective of ensuring a better mutual recognition, achieving a fairer and deeper Single Market for goods. A series of policy options were drafted, envisaging different levels of modifications to the Regulation and existing instruments to apply mutual recognition, as well as introducing new tools and procedures. Within this framework, the purpose of this study was to collect data to identify the economic value of non (or partially) harmonised products, the most significant impacts of the different options envisaged for the revision of the Regulation, their benefits and costs, providing input for the Impact Assessment undertaken by the Commission and accompanying the revision. The assessment relied on both desk and field research, combining different methods and tools, to provide an analysis of the market, to estimate the magnitude of the problem relating to a sub-optimal application of mutual recognition, and to compare the options, trying to quantify their impact. To identify the market value of non (or partially) harmonised products, the study combined analyses in terms of both sectors (considering the number of active economic operators and the share of non (or partially) harmonised sectors on the overall EU manufacturing sector) and products.
CEPS was subcontractor to Ernst & Young Special Business Services. Jacques Pelkmans was the principal advisor. More specifically, CEPS was responsible for the provision of certain services within the scope of the contract: definition of the data collections tools, participation in the kick-off meeting, field research, estimation of the market value of current intra-EU trade in non-harmonised products falling under the mutual recognition principle, estimation of the magnitude of the problem triggered by a suboptimal functioning of the mutual recognition principle, analysis of the impacts of the options, drafting of the inception report, drafting of the interim report, drafting of the draft final report, drafting of the final report and participation in interim meetings and the final meeting.
