– limited capacity of SMEs to expand to markets beyond their home country, both within the Single Market and beyond.

In my view, our export market structure, in Canada, is overly dependent on the U.S. market, and in order for us to keep our standard of living high, foreign trade has to play a vital role.

Substantial progress has already been made in unlocking the potential of internal and external markets through improved market access to companies.

(1) A coordinated approach All efforts to improve market access and export opportunities for European business, and other issues related to regulatory cooperation and convergence should be coordinated and clearly linked to the external competitiveness agenda.

In the light of experience it is necessary to change the regime for the fruit and vegetables sector in order to achieve the following objectives: improving the competitiveness and market orientation of the sector so as to contribute to achieving sustainable production that is competitive both on internal and external markets; reducing fluctuations in producers’ income resulting from crises on the market; increasing the consumption of fruit and vegetables in the Community; and continuing the efforts made by the sector to maintain and protect the environment.

- Support for industrial cooperation projects of Community interest through the implementation and utilization of existing Community instruments (iii)Competition without distortion on foreign markets and on the internal market: - Establishment of a database and presentation of an annual report on obstacles to the smooth operation of foreign markets, incorporating in particular the results of the centralized information body on electronics and information and communication technologies; on the basis of that information, in particular that provided by the abovementioned body's initial results, formulation and implementation of specific me ...[+++]asures to remove those obstacles, and extension of that approach to other industrial activities.