Which objective(s) does the Commission pursue?

The proposed programme brings together activities financed under five predecessor programmes in the areas of competitiveness of enterprises, consumer protection, customers and end-users in financial services, policy making in financial services and as regards the food chain, or financed previously under several Commission budget lines, all dealing with the internal market and the competitiveness of SMEs. The proposed programme includes new initiatives that aim to improve the functioning of the internal market. The programme establishes the financial framework for providing high quality, comparable and reliable European statistics to underpin the design, monitoring and evaluation of all the Union policies.

The main objectives of the SMP are to support the following key priorities:

- Improve the governance of the Single Market and compliance with rules

- Boost the competitiveness of businesses, in particular SMEs

- Develop effective European standards.

- Give even higher protection to consumers

- Maintain a high level of food safety

- Produce and disseminate high-quality statistics

Estimated savings and benefits

The proposed programme provides for continuity of the various previous actions while streamlining and exploiting synergies between them and the new activities. In a context of budgetary constraints, the Union needs to prevent duplication and fragmentation in its support for the internal market. It also needs to give greater visibility and coherence to its action towards individuals, consumers, businesses and competent authorities, who may find the wide range of different tools and support programmes confusing.

The programme will therefore provide the budgetary means to support the establishment of a deeper and fairer internal market through a streamlined and flexible financing framework.

The synergies identified while preparing the programme are expected to materialise from crosscutting implementation, better coordination, common enforcement, and as such are difficult to quantify. Potential savings identified during the preparation of the programme are also avenues for improved delivery of the programme.

Outcome of legislative procedure

Economic and Social Committee, Opinion 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, 17 October 2018.

European Committee of the Regions: Opinion on the Single Market Programme, on 5 December 2018.

The Council adopted a partial general approach on the Commission’s proposal and gave a mandate to start negotiations with the EP on 29 November 2018.

Position of the EP at first reading on 12 February 2019 (file allocated to the IMCO Committee, ECON-ENVI-ITRE-AGRI associated. MEPs proposed to increase the overall funding from €4 billion to €6,5 billion in current prices, more funds for SMEs, consumer protection and market surveillance and the creation of a new budget line and objective on market surveillance and product safety. After its meeting of 8 October 2019, the IMCO Committee voted to re-enter into negotiations, on the basis of the first reading position, adopted by the Parliament and the partial mandate of the Council.

Following the July 2020 European Council, the total budget of the Single Market Programme was set at 4.208 billion (in current prices). The Council and the European Parliament conducted negotiations with the aim of concluding an early second reading agreement on the basis of a Council first reading position that the European Parliament could approve as such.

A provisional political agreement was reached between co-legislators at the trilogue on 8 December 2020, with a compromise on the following outstanding issues:

- Duration of the Programme:

- Technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the Programme

- Designated beneficiaries representing consumers interest at the Union level:

- National reference laboratories as designated beneficiaries, and their accreditation

- Co-financing rules in the area of plants, animals, food and feed

- Delegated acts, implementing acts and committees:

- Retroactivity

On 11 January 2021, the IMCO Committee endorsed the final compromise text and confirms on 15 January 2021 to the Permanent Representatives Committee that, should the Council formally transmit to the EP its position as agreed during trilogues, she would recommend to the Plenary that the Council's position be accepted without amendment at Parliament's second reading.

On 13 April 2021, the Council adopted its position at first reading, which fully reflects the compromise reached in the interinstitutional negotiations as concluded on 8 December 2020. The Council's position and the statement of the Council's reasons were transmitted to the European Parliament.

On 23 April, pursuant to Article 294(6) of the TFEU, the Commission has adopted its Communication to the EP concerning the position of the Council on the adoption of a Regulation establishing the SMP and transmitted it to the Council and the European Parliament.

0n 26 April, the EP IMCO Committee has adopted the Single Market Programme by a vast majority without amendments tabled nor a need for vote during EP Plenary.

A Commission Decision is necessary as financing decision before implementing the budget. For 2021 and 2022, annual financing decisions constituting the work programme for the implementation of the Single Market Programme were adopted and three amending Decisions, notably:

2021 - Commission Implementing Decision C(2021)3046 of 6.5.2021 on the financing of the Programme for Single Market, competitiveness of enterprises, including small and medium sized enterprises, and European Statistics and the adoption of the work programme for 2021-2024 ensures the implementation of the SMP and the formal adoption of the SMP Work programme via written procedure (entry into force as of 1 January 2021), and amending decision Commission Implementing Decision C(2021)9046 of 29.9.2021

2022 - Commission Implementing Decision C(2021)9046 of 29.9.2021 on the financing of the 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 and the adoption of the work programme for 2022

2022 - amending decisions to the 2022 Financing Decision Commission Implementing Decision C(2022)5587 of 10.8.2022 and C(2022)1976 of 7.12.2022 amending the Commission Implementing Decision C(2022) 724 as regards the implementation of actions under the Single Market Programme in order to adjust to the actual developments of the ongoing 2022 implementation and implement the requests of the Member States when comitology is involved.

Comitology procedures would apply for the parts of the work programme corresponding to the objectives of:

- improving the competitiveness of enterprises, particularly SMEs : SMP/COSME Committee;

- promoting consumers interests and ensuring a high level of consumer protection and product safety: Consumer Committee;

- contributing to a high level of health for humans, animals and plants along the food chain: Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed.

With a budget of €4.2 billion, calls and other types of actions following the six objectives will be mainly implemented under direct management of the European Commission (COMP, ESTAT, FISMA, GROW, JUST, SANTE, TAXUD) with support of two executive agencies in following areas;

• European Innovation Council and SME Executive Agency (EISMEA): competitiveness of businesses and SMEs, internal market and standardisation, and promotion of the interests of consumers;

• European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA): protection of the health of humans, animals and plants along the food chain, and the support of the welfare of animals.

Estimated savings and benefits

Fostering policy and administrative synergies between the six thematic pillars of the SMP is one of the elements of the programme success. Certain synergies between the activities of seven different DGs are already in place, other in development.