The European Parliament and the Council of the EU reached an agreement on Tuesday 8 December on the regulation on the post-2020 Single Market Programme, with a budget of €4.2 billion, including a specific budget line dedicated to market surveillance.
Thus, the Regulation (which brings together five current programmes - see EUROPE 12036/2) will have a budget line of €105 million (as the European Parliament wanted - see EUROPE 12116/7) to reduce the risks for consumers by combating the sale of dangerous or counterfeit products, particularly via electronic commerce, while promoting high-quality products and services.
The programme will also focus on support for SMEs with a view to the internationalisation of their activities as well as support for their digital transition (in particular through training). It should be noted that the co-legislators agreed to provide support for ‘business clusters’ and social economy enterprises. They also highlighted the need to promote sustainable consumption by offering safer and more sustainable products for sale.
As is often the case, the most recent discussions have focused on the use of delegated or implementing acts. In the end, the co-legislators decided to opt for implementing acts for the work programmes. On the rules on co-financing rates in the area of plants, animals, food and feed products (see EUROPE 12593/18), the co-legislators agreed on a fixed co-financing rate of 50%, which may exceptionally be increased to 75% and 100% under certain conditions.
Finally, as to the duration of the programme, the legislators agreed on a formulation that allows for the continuity of the programme. Thus, in a spirit of compromise, the Regulation will cover the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2027. The duration of the programme is to be aligned with the duration of the Multiannual Financial Framework. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)