The aim of IMERA is to improve Estonia’s crisis preparedness and security of supply, and to support coordinated cooperation between the European Commission and the Member States. This helps to safeguard the free movement of goods, services, and workers, even in situations where the functioning of the single market is at risk of serious disruption.
‘The crises of recent years have shown just how important cross-border cooperation is, as well as the need to be prepared to act swiftly and in a coordinated manner. IMERA helps to ensure that, during a crisis, the necessary information is shared quickly, supply chains remain operational, and the people and businesses of Estonia can be confident that essential goods and services will remain available,’ said Erkki Keldo, Minister of Economy and Industry.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications will be responsible for implementing the framework in Estonia. The practical implementation is organised by the Estonian Stockpiling Agency, which acts as an intermediary in crisis situations, relaying information between the European Commission, the Member States, and the Estonian authorities.
In a crisis situation, the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority will be authorised to permit, under a simplified procedure, the placing on the market of technical products that are essential in the context of the crisis, such as generators, building panels, or radio communication equipment. This is helpful in situations where the required products need to be put into use quickly.
The impact of the draft legislation will be realised, in particular, when a threat affecting the internal market has been identified and the relevant crisis management regime is activated at European Union level, such as the internal market vigilance or emergency regime. In such cases, crisis management measures can be implemented, including monitoring the functioning of supply chains that are critical during a crisis.
The framework generally covers all goods and services, except those that are expressly excluded, such as financial services, energy carriers, and defence technologies.
The changes do not impose any new obligations on businesses under normal circumstances. Under crisis management arrangements, the competent authorities of the Member States and the European Commission may request information from businesses, on a voluntary basis, regarding the status of their supply chains or production capacity.
Under the internal market emergency regime, the Commission may also issue priority production requests for products deemed essential in the context of the crisis, but businesses are free to refuse to comply with them.
