Single market, a love letter
There is momentum behind showing the EU’s single market some love.
Next week, the European Council will be dedicated to competitiveness. Today, the European Parliament debated ways to re-energise the single market.
The single market is in dire need of attention. Trade between member states as a share of EU GDP dropped from 23.5 per cent in 2023 to 22 per cent in 2024. Barriers to trade among EU countries represents around 45% tariffs on manufacturing and 110% tariffs services.
Valérie Hayer, Renew europe’s president, said : “We need to take these barriers down. The European Commission has proposed simplifying existing EU legislation — a welcome step, but only the tip of the iceberg. The real obstacles to the Single Market lie in the Member States: we need to overcome additional licensing requirements for businesses operating across borders, the failure to recognise professional diplomas, and national product regulations layered on top of EU rules."
Valérie HayerRenew Europe MEP, France, Renaissance
Svenja Hahn, Renew europe’s coordinator for the internal market committee : “The real challenge to the EU’s single market lies in the member states. The Commission and member states must tear down existing barriers in the single market, harmonise existing rules and cut red tape where possible. We need to finally create a full single market in key areas, such as energy, services, telecoms, capital, company law, skills, research, and innovation. That way we can strengthen the single market and boost our economy.”
Svenja HahnRenew Europe MEP, Germany, Freie Demokratische Partei
For the next European Council on March 18, Renew Europe calls on national leaders to come up with a list of national barriers to EU internal trade in their own country and commit to remove them. There is no such is as love; only proofs of love. We cannot keep on saying how important the single market and do nothing about it.