12
Sep
2023
Watch
Single market emergency instrument (debate)
Madam President, almost a year ago, to the day, during the State of the Union address, the European Commission presented its new Single Market Emergency Instrument. Drawing lessons from the Covid pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine, this new tool aims to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services, even in times of crisis. Citizens rightly did not understand the lack of coordination between Member States and the shortages we experienced during the pandemic. As we know, our single market is our best asset in crisis management, the joint purchase of vaccines is an example – we welcome Commissioner Breton here. We therefore need to better structure emergency responses, which cannot be guaranteed either by improvisation or by national measures taken individually. Now, in times of crisis, we ensure rapid supply for critical goods and services. We are putting in place a mechanism that allows Member States to call for solidarity in case of shortages. As a last resort, if the situation so requires, we allow priority and binding ordering from economic operators. To respond to current and future crises, let us equip ourselves with the necessary means for the coordination, solidarity and coherence of the European response. The protection of our single market is at stake.