Simplification and removal of barriers: leaders approve the EU’s competitiveness agenda

Brussels – Simplification, digitalisation, autonomy, and an end to any kind of foreign dependencies. Interconnectivity, the recognition of professional qualifications across borders, and the overcoming of remaining fragmentation. The competitiveness agenda is in place; leaders are now calling for the implementation “as a matter of urgency,” starting immediately. The European Council summit has garnered approval and support for the work programme finalised last month from the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, whose motto – “One Europe, one market” – is a declaration of intent that has the EU-27’s blessing.

At first glance, the conclusions seem to offer vague and perhaps hasty guidelines, as they refer to “implementation in 2026 where possible, and by 2027 at the latest.” However, in the timetable attached to the conclusions, there is a tight, scheduled calendar that the European Parliament has also been requesting. And so, here is the roadmap: a proposal for an electronic declaration for posted workers by June of this year, revision of the ETS mechanism (the emissions‑trading system, ed.) in July, and a report on banking competitiveness in the summer. Then, after the summer holidays and until the end of 2026, the programme envisages an electronic portfolio for businesses, strengthening guarantees for the placing of products on the market, resolution of issues relating to the fragmentation of product labelling and packaging requirements, agreement on all pending omnibus simplification packages, mapping of dependencies in strategic sectors, the networks package, and the digital euro. 

2027 will, however, be the year dedicated to removing what the European Commission considers to be the “10 terrible barriers” to competitiveness and the full functioning of the single market. Identified last year in the Single Market strategy, these include complexities in setting up and running businesses, excessively complex EU regulations, recognition of professional qualifications, delays in setting standards conducive to innovation, fragmented regulations on packaging and waste management, outdated harmonised product regulations and lack of product conformity, restrictive and overly divergent national regulations on services, burdensome procedures for the temporary posting of workers, and territorial supply constraints. The aim is to achieve “tangible progress” on all these issues. 

In addition, “We will adapt our competition policy,” von der Leyen said during the closing press conference. “Global competition has changed, and so must our rules.” She then anticipates that “We are urgently reviewing our Merger guidelines,” and here too, the plan is to act swiftly. “The draft will be presented in April,” the EU executive head assures, who also aims to have the competitiveness agenda complete its targets and deadlines, signed at the informal leaders’ summit at the end of the month (23-24 April), so that it can be officially unveiled with due ceremony.