The European Council paves the way for the European Single Market Programme for 2021-2027, funded with 4.2 billion euros.
The Council recently adopted its position at first reading on the proposal for a regulation establishing the EU Single Market Programme for the period 2021-2027, following an agreement reached last December with the European Parliament which paves the way for the rapid adoption of the draft regulation at second reading.
“The single market is the backbone of our economy. The new programme will ensure that it works properly for both businesses and consumers and that it continues to promote sustainable competitiveness and growth across the EU”, commented Pedro Siza Vieira, Minister of State for the Economy and Digital Transition of Portugal.
The main objective of the Single Market Programme is to enable citizens, consumers, businesses and public authorities across the EU to take full advantage of market integration. To this end, it shall promote actions aimed at:
- improving the governance and functioning of the internal market;
- strengthen the competitiveness of EU enterprises, in particular micro and small and medium-sized enterprises;
- enable the development of high-quality European standards;
- increase consumer protection;
- strengthening human, animal and plant health, as well as animal welfare;
- promoting high-quality, timely and reliable European statistics.
The programme brings together activities previously financed under six different programmes. Its overall budget is 4.2 billion euros, which is an addition of 119 million euros compared to the Commission’s initial proposal.
The European Parliament should approve the Council’s position at first reading in the coming months, so the regulation will be considered formally adopted and will apply retroactively from 1 January 2021.