10
Mar
2026
Watch
Single Market: how to move from an incomplete single market to one market for one Europe (debate)
Madam President! The other day, I saw a plush elephant about 10-15 centimeters in size in the store, but it had a sewn label 20 centimeters long, larger than the product itself. This is due to overlapping European and national rules. And even though the Single Market is the cornerstone of the European Union, there are still obstacles that weigh on the European economy. And these are not small burdens. The International Monetary Fund estimated them to be comparable to a 44% customs duty. And it's not Trump's responsibility, it's not Putin's responsibility, it's not Xi Jinping's responsibility, it's our responsibility. And we know the problem because practically every sitting of Parliament is debating this. And I am glad that the Commission has recognised this and that it has some suggestions. But it is really high time to move from words to action, from the theory we have here to concrete actions that will complete our single market. We don't need a new diagnosis. We need less bureaucracy, deregulation, the single market, uniform standards and not 27 different rules governing the same thing. And we need it right away.