On the implementation and streamlining of EU internal market rules to strengthen the single market
IMCO-PR-769908
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection · Rapporteur: Anna-Maja Henriksson
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This draft report proposes a resolution on strengthening the single market by streamlining EU internal market rules, reducing regulatory burdens, and improving implementation and enforcement.¶¶ It calls on the Commission to act on recommendations from the Draghi, Letta and Niinistö reports, to include early review clauses in legislation, and to conduct impact assessments with competitiveness checks.¶¶¶ It urges member states to eliminate gold-plating and the Commission to enforce rules, and suggests measures like regulatory sandboxes, innovation hubs, and a '28th legal regime' for smaller companies.¶¶¶ It also addresses digitalisation, AI, consumer protection, and the need for better stakeholder consultation and enforcement instruments like SOLVIT.¶¶¶
Committee position. The rapporteur proposes a resolution calling for concrete actions to streamline and simplify EU internal market rules, reduce burdens on businesses, and improve implementation and enforcement, while maintaining policy objectives like consumer protection.¶¶¶
Key points
- Underlines that the EU is falling behind in global competitiveness and that regulatory and administrative burdens are key factors; calls for reducing burdens on businesses, especially SMEs and start-ups.¶¶
- Welcomes the Commission's simplification plans and calls for concrete measures and timelines based on the Draghi, Letta and Niinistö reports.¶
- Urges member states to eliminate gold-plating and avoid inconsistent implementation; demands the Commission enforce rules across all member states.¶
- Asks the Commission to include mandatory early review clauses (three to five years) in legislation and to revise acts that hamper competitiveness.¶
- Calls for high-quality impact assessments, including cumulative effects and competitiveness checks, and for assessments of significant amendments by Parliament and Council.¶¶
- Stresses prioritising implementation of existing laws over new legislation and ensuring a structured stakeholder consultation process.¶¶
- Suggests mechanisms for timely guidelines, limiting level 2 legislation to technical matters, and including regulatory sandboxes and innovation hubs.¶¶
- Welcomes the Commissioner for Implementation and Simplification and calls for adequate resources; urges continued 'Omnibus' simplification proposals.¶
- Calls for strengthening SOLVIT and the Single Market Enforcement Taskforce, and for new initiatives to integrate services, including consistent application of the Services Directive.¶¶
- Urges reducing reporting burdens, extending intervals, and upholding the 'once-only' principle; acknowledges the potential of the '28th legal regime'.¶¶
- Calls for a fitness check on digital legislation, clarification of interplay between acts, and use of digital tools and a 'one-stop shop' for reporting.¶¶
- Highlights that consumer protection should not be lowered, calls for proportionate information obligations, and enhanced redress mechanisms.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- Businesses, particularly SMEs and start-ups, will face reduced regulatory and administrative burdens and benefit from streamlined processes.¶¶
- Member states are urged to eliminate gold-plating and ensure consistent implementation of EU rules.¶
- The Commission is tasked with enforcing rules, conducting impact assessments, and proposing simplification measures.¶¶
- Consumers are targeted by calls to maintain high protection standards and improve redress mechanisms.¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- Early review clauses of three to five years are proposed for legislation.¶