Regulation (EU) 2021/690 establishing a programme for the internal market, competitiveness of enterprises, including small and medium-sized enterprises, the area of plants, animals, food and feed, and European statistics (Single Market Programme)

What it is

to establish a new programme for improving the functioning of the internal market for the period 2021-2027. PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council. BACKGROUND: the internal market is one of the EU’s greatest successes. Nevertheless, it has to continuously adapt to a rapidly changing environment characterised by digital revolution and globalisation. Still, barriers to a proper functioning of the internal market remain and new obstacles are emerging. Moreover, only 6 % of EU citizens feel well informed about their rights as a citizen of the Union and only 36 % feel fairly well informed. The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection adopted the report by Nicola DANTI (S&D, IT) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Programme for single market, competitiveness of enterprises, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and European statistics and repealing Regulations (EU) No 99/2013, (EU) No 1287/2013, (EU) No 254/2014, (EU) No 258/2014, (EU) No 652/2014 and (EU) 2017/826. The Committees on Economic and Monetary Affairs, the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, Industry, Research and Energy and Agriculture and Rural Development, exercising their prerogatives as associated committees in accordance with Rule 54 of the Rules of Procedure, also gave their opinions on the report. The proposed Regulation establishes the single market programme (2021-2027) for strengthening the internal market and improving its functioning in the fields of competitiveness and sustainability of enterprises, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, standardisation, consumer protection, market surveillance, food supply chain and the framework for financing of development, production and dissemination of European statistics under Regulation (EC) No 223/2009. Members considered that the total financial envelope proposed by the Commission is not sufficient to answer all challenges of the single market and especially to adapt to a rapidly changing environment of digital revolution and globalisation. Therefore, they proposed the financial envelope for the implementation of the programme for the period 2021 to 2027 to be set at EUR 6 563 000 000 in current prices. Members stressed that the programme shall seek to strengthen product compliance by strengthening market surveillance, providing clear, transparent and comprehensive rules to economic operators, raising awareness of applicable Union product safety rules and intensifying compliance checks. It shall also endeavour to strengthen the capacity of the market surveillance authorities across the Union and contribute to a greater homogeneity between Member States. - including references to specific actions to strengthen consumer protection, empower consumers and promote their interests, paying particular attention to the new challenges and opportunities brought about by digitalisation; - adding references to digital developments in all…

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