Implementation and streamlining of EU internal market rules to strengthen the single market

The European Parliament adopted by 459 votes to 65, with 90 abstentions, a resolution on the implementation and streamlining of EU internal market rules to strengthen the single market.

Strengthening the single market

Parliament stressed that the EU is lagging behind in global competitiveness, notably due to implementation gaps, regulatory fragmentation and unnecessary administrative burdens. It therefore urges that the current obstacles to growth, job creation and investment be removed and that resources be allocated to promoting innovation and growth, while ensuring a level playing field based on high social and environmental standards. Strengthening the single market should boost competitiveness and increase the EU’s global influence.

Streamlining and better implementation of rules

Parliament stressed that regulatory streamlining and simplification aim to facilitate compliance processes and should also strengthen the EU's long-term objectives, including the digitalisation of the economy, the green transition and consumer protection, while ensuring technological neutrality.

Member States are called upon to address gold-plating of EU directives, to ensure that national implementation measures are published transparently and in a timely manner, and to avoid inconsistent implementation of EU legislation. At the same time, Members recognised the right of Member States to maintain or introduce national measures under the conditions laid down in the Treaties. They encouraged the Commission to help Member States implement EU legislation in a more harmonised manner by further facilitating structured exchanges and mutual learning.

The Commission is invited to:

- ensure that current and future legislation remains proportionate, does not impose unnecessary additional burdens on businesses and achieves its objectives, and to include in relevant legislative initiatives an early review clause, without increasing administrative burdens in the process;

- develop and apply a clear method and a simple baseline for reducing burdens and for measuring and monitoring progress towards achieving set objectives;

- prepare, for all legislative proposals, including delegated and implementing acts, high-quality impact assessments assessing the interoperability between new and existing rules (in particular as regards reporting obligations) and including a competitiveness check specifically assessing the impact on SMEs, start-ups and mid-caps, as well as on high-growth emerging technologies;

- avoid overlaps and address unclear definitions and inconsistencies between carious legal acts, in particular with regard to single market legislation covering goods, services and digital technologies with the aim of ensuring a predictable and coherent legal framework for businesses;

- ensure a more structured, transparent and inclusive stakeholder consultation process, including a review of the expert group system;

- develop a mechanism to set clear deadlines for the publication of guidance and implementing measures before a regulation enters into force, to avoid regulatory uncertainty and implementation delays.

Substantial amendments proposed by Parliament and the Council to Commission proposals should systematically be subject to impact assessments.

Exploiting the potential of the single market

Parliament recommends:

- strengthen existing enforcement and cooperation instruments, such as SOLVIT, Product Contact Points and the Single Market Enforcement Working Taskforce;

- draw up an inventory of the tools, mechanisms and processes used to develop legislative and non-legislative initiatives, and to monitor and enforce Union legislation;

- ensure the consistent application of the Services Directive;

- propose efficient legislative and non-legislative instruments, where necessary and justified, to prevent the emergence of new barriers to the internal market;

- simplify administrative procedures, such as authorisation and certification procedures, and streamline compliance procedures to reduce costs and legal uncertainty, particularly for SMEs;

- define measures to address inconsistencies in qualification recognition processes;

- identify and reduce unnecessary reporting burdens by implementing targeted measures;

- propose a new EU-wide legal regime, the '28th legal regime', with a view to creating a business environment that supports the growth and development of SMEs.

Digitisation, artificial intelligence and consumer protection

The resolution stressed that digital policy, particularly on emerging technologies, should follow an approach that also takes into account tools such as structured dialogue with businesses, co-regulation, and regulatory sandboxes, to ensure practical, proportionate, and future-proof rules designed with innovation in mind. Members believe that electronic tools and portals should be the standard for all reporting and administrative requirements. They called on the Commission to examine ways to improve and digitalise reporting procedures and the harmonised rollout of digital labelling and the digital product passport in EU product legislation.

In the face of the rapid expansion of digital platforms and e-commerce, Members called for technology legislation to be properly enforced so that consumers can make genuine, autonomous and informed choices, are protected, and competition is fair. The Commission is urged to use digital tools to enhance transparency and consumer trust in cross-border transactions.