On Wednesday 4 September, the Bruegel think tank published its 2024 memo for European decision-makers, in particular the next European commissioners. In a chapter devoted to the single market, the authors make recommendations to the European Commission on how to remove as many barriers as possible from the internal market.
They suggest setting up a “Single Market 2.0 programme” led by a Commission Directorate-General and supported by a working group. Bruegel believes that it is crucial to prioritise actions to be taken to improve efficiency. This also involves performance indicators.
Another recommendation for the future commissioner for Internal Market: the ability to allocate EU funds to specific projects that strengthen the internal market. The authors take as an example the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), which they believe should be under the commissioner for Internal Market’s responsibility.
Enrico Letta’s proposal to create a 28th regime for companies is also included in the memo. This would be particularly beneficial for trade in services, where many intra-Community barriers persist.
In terms of investment, Bruegel agrees with many observers and decision-makers on the need for EU funding for industry. In the chapter on the economy, the document’s authors recommend increasing the size of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and creating a fund for strategic European investments. Initially, this could be funded by redirecting existing funds. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)