Over the next two years, the Commission plans to tackle the ‘terrible ten’ areas of the single market, according to a provisional version of the ‘Strategy for a Single, Simple and Seamless Market’, which it is due to publish on 25 May and a copy of which has been obtained by Agence Europe. These include the slow pace of standardisation in the EU, barriers to the provision of services and disparate rules on product labelling and packaging.
In its communication of around 20 pages, the European Commission proposes a list of actions that it plans to implement from now until 2027. However, according to the timetable presented, a significant proportion of the major legislative initiatives to bring down barriers in the single market are not expected to see the light of day before 2026.
By 25 May, the European Commission is already expected to propose new ‘omnibus’ legislation on standardisation, digitalisation and the creation of a status for ‘mid-caps’.
Standards. On the subject of standardisation, the ‘omnibus’ is expected to “allow the Commission to establish common specifications where needed”, asserts the draft communication. According to one source, the aim is to try and regain control of standardisation in areas where processes are too slow, notably because they currently involve too many players.
On the other hand, the revision of the Standardisation Regulation is only scheduled for 2026, according to the timetable set out in the draft strategy for the single market.
28th regime. Enrico Letta’s proposal for a 28th regime for European companies is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026. The Commission will then draw up a legislative proposal creating a single legal framework for businesses, based on 100% digital technology. The 28th regime “will launch a pilot to allow companies to establish in Europe in less than 48 hours”, according to the authors of the Communication.
Digitalisation. Since the single market is to be ‘all-digital’ from now on, the Commission will be presenting an ‘omnibus’ on digitalisation on 25 May.
The Commission is also drawing attention to the issues surrounding the labelling and packaging of products in the EU, and is promising to remove some of the constraints thanks to its Digital Product Passport (see EUROPE 13618/33). It will become “the main tool for disclosing and sharing product information across all new and revised product legislation”.
SMEs. The strategy for the single market devotes an entire chapter to SMEs, with a number of actions targeting them. On 25 May, the Commission will present an ‘SME ID tool’ based on self-declaration, which will be available in all EU languages and should facilitate the process of authenticating SME status.
The Commission also plans to make the ‘SME test’ compulsory for all new legislation in the coming weeks.
Services. Although it suffers from significant barriers in the single market, the services sector will have to wait a few more years to see tangible progress. Potential harmonisation of the rules for certifying certain authorised operators providing pan-European services is not expected until 2026.
Facilitating the provision of cross-border construction services will have to wait until the end of 2026, when the Commission plans a “Construction Services Act”.
On the other hand, industrial services, such as the maintenance or installation of machinery from one Member State to another, are expected to benefit from a dedicated initiative from this year.
See the draft strategy for the single market: https://aeur.eu/f/go7 (Original version in French by Léa Marchal and Anne Damiani)