The Single Market is now 30 years old. The Single Market is one of the greatest achievements and main drivers of the European integration process. Its benefits are widely recognised and documented.

CREATES NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE AND BUSINESS

 The single market gives people the chance to travel and work around the EU and allows goods, services and money to move around almost as freely as within a single country. This has become an integral part of European life. These opportunities create more choice of products and services for consumers all around the EU.

SETS COMMON VALUES AND STANDARD

A well-functioning single market requires everyone to play by the same rules. That's why consumers can trust that the products and services they buy across the EU are safe and meet agreed performance requirements; and that companies respect rules on labour and environmental protection. The single market also helps us to project these high standards and values globally.

HELPS BUSINESSES GROW AND WEATHER DIFFICULT TIMES

The single market helps companies, especially small ones, to attract investments to grow across the EU and globally. It also protects companies from possible shocks to their supply chains, by making it easier for them to find new suppliers and partners. In this way, the single market helped companies to connect and overcome difficulties like the recent COVID-19 pandemic, enabling Europe to deliver life-saving vaccines and lead the global response to the crisis. 

SUPPORTS FINDING SOLUTION TO NEW CHALLENGES 

The single market is Europe's best answer to help tackle the impacts of climate change, develop a more sustainable and circular economy and society and take full advantage of the digital revolution. It allows for the scaling of innovative solutions across the continent and helps Europe to secure access to new technologies, critical raw materials and clean energy as well as infrastructure, financing and skills needed for this transition.

(Source: European Commission)