Establishing the Single Market and Customs Programme for the period 2028-2034

The European Parliament adopted by 496 votes to 53, with 125 abstentions, amendments to the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Single Market and Customs Programme for the period 2028-2034 and repealing Regulations (EU) 2021/444, (EU) 2021/690, (EU) 2021/785, (EU) 2021/847 and (EU) 2021/1077.

The matter has been referred to the committee responsible for interinstitutional negotiations.

As part of the second package of programmes under the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the 2028-2034 period, the Commission issued its proposal to consolidate four predecessor funding instruments within a new Single Market and Customs Programme covering the Single Market, Customs Union, Taxation and Anti-Fraud. The programme will also cover the development, production and dissemination of European statistics.

The main amendments adopted in plenary session concern the following points:

Programme objectives

The general objectives of the programme are to:

- deepen and enhance the functioning of the Single Market and the Customs Union, to protect and empower citizens, consumers and businesses by enforcing Union law, promoting standard setting;

- foster competitiveness, sustainable growth and fair competition in the Union, ensure safety, security, and protect the financial and economic interests of the Union, its Member States and its citizens.

The programme should foster flexibility, simplification and synergies, while ensuring a high level of predictability, transparency and accountability and place EU added value at its core.

The programme’s specific objectives would be to:

- contribute to the completion of and improve the functioning of the Single Market and promote a competitive, fair and sustainable economy by fostering legal certainty and a level playing field, facilitating market access, reducing fragmentation and contributing to remove and prevent unjustified barriers and unnecessary administrative burden and to support the uniform and effective implementation and enforcement of Union law, including digital rules through strengthened market surveillance to ensure a high level of consumer protection and that only safe and compliant products, including products sold online;

- support the Customs Union, national customs authorities and the EU Customs Authority working together and acting as one to ensure effective development and management of the EU Customs Data Hub; to support the detection and control capabilities of customs authorities, particularly in light of the increase of distance sales and e-commerce, and to ensure effective and coordinated customs controls and market surveillance;

- empower consumers, investors, economic operators, civil society and authorities to fully and easily access the opportunities of the Single Market and make informed decisions, including by providing information, guidance, services and advice, and supporting financial and digital literacy; to promote the interests of consumers and ensure a high level of consumer protection, product safety, fairness and trust in the internal market; to ensure the uniform enforcement of consumer protection rules in the Union, and ensure that all consumers, including the most vulnerable, and to support representative organisations; to combat unfair commercial practices and to promote sustainable consumption;

- facilitate harmonised standard-setting and reinforce the development of European and international standards; to support business compliance with Union regulations; to enable the inclusive and balanced participation of all relevant stakeholders in setting up standards;

- protect the Union’s and its Member States’ economic, financial and other interests by preventing and combating national and cross-border fraud including tax and customs fraud, corruption and other illegal activities, including money laundering or any types of conflict of interest;

- support a fair and efficient tax system in the Union through tax policy and the proper implementation of Union law on taxation, to improve the taxation systems and tax collection; to enhance Europe’s competitiveness, and protect the Union’s and its Members States’ financial and economic interests from tax fraud;

- provide high-quality, reliable relevant and comparable official European statistics in a timely and impartial manner.

The programme should: (i) foster cooperation and information exchange in all areas covered by the programme, including preparedness and economic security of the single market, as well as crisis response; (ii) promote Union-wide digital solutions and facilitate the connection of IT systems and their interoperability; (iii) strengthen the human, operational, technical and administrative capacities of national authorities; and (iv) improve understanding of the single market.

Budget

Members proposed that the programme envelope for the implementation of the regulation, for the period 2028-2034, be set at EUR 6 871 148 000 in current prices, compared to EUR 6 238 112 000 proposed by the Commission.

Third countries associated to the programme

For funding provided in the context of customs control equipment, Member States funding needs should be prioritised and third countries should only benefit in the absence of priority funding needs among Member States.

Co-financing rate

The co-financing rate for grants awarded under the programme, where provided in the form of actual eligible cost reimbursement, shall not exceed 95% of the eligible costs. Any funding in excess of the ceiling, up to 100% of the eligible costs, should only be granted in exceptional and duly justified cases.