A Europe Unlocked wish list for Enrico Letta

The EU’s competitiveness starts with the Single Market. Therefore, as part of its campaign, Europe Unlocked is issuing an SOS – ‘Strengthen Our Single Market’ – to the incoming European Commission.

Ahead of EU elections in June, as a first step in pushing the Single Market to the top of the agenda, Europe Unlocked commissioned the well-renowned think tank CEPS (Centre for European Policy Studies) to put forward its recommendations on what the next European Commission needs to do to strengthen and deepen the EU’s crown jewels.

The report, written by Jacques Pelkmans, an authority in the field of the Single Market, was launched at the end of January and advances ten recommendations for the next Commission to action during the forthcoming legislative term. Studies have shown that if these measures were implemented successfully, EU GDP could grow by an additional 9 percent. This figure is equivalent to the combined GDPs of Belgium, Ireland and the Czech Republic.

Following up on the Pelkmans report and its substance, Europe Unlocked is now presenting its recommendations to the former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta. Mr Letta has been tasked by EU leaders to prepare a report on the future of the Single Market. The Letta report will be presented to the European Council in April.

In its letter, Europe Unlocked is proposing a detailed programme of medium-term priorities - to be completed by 2028 – along with two dedicated action plans on services. Other recommendations include a dedicated Commissioner for the Single Market, increased efforts by the European Parliament’s internal market committee (IMCO), strict State Aid control and a number of measures to ensure better regulation.

The voices calling to prioritise the Single Market once again are becoming increasingly loud. It is time the EU develop and use its greatest strategic asset – the Single Market.

You can read Europe Unlocked’s recommendations to Enrico Letta in the document below.