Finland promotes a stronger EU single market for the benefit of citizens and businesses

Finland has published its views on strengthening the EU’s single market. The EU needs a single market that operates in a fair, open and transparent way in order to achieve its objectives of a climate-neutral economy and digital leadership. It should be easier to expand business activities to another EU country and to provide consumers with services throughout the EU.

The European Commission and EU Member States agree that strengthening the single market plays a key role in the recovery of the EU economy from the coronavirus crisis. Finland wishes to draw attention to the need to take concrete measures to remove the obstacles that still exist in the single market.

Finland’s position paper, the so-called non-paper, focuses on strengthening the single market in the longer term. It also contains views on the single market communications published by the Commission in March 2020 as part of its package of initiatives on industrial policy.

Attention to regulation, digital services and barriers to the service market

Many of the obstacles to the single market would be removed if Member States implemented, applied and utilised EU regulation in a uniform, efficient and full manner. Finland reminds that the adoption of new legislation should be carefully considered. It should be appropriate and suitable for the modern digital operating environment.

EU-wide access for businesses and citizens would be promoted, among other things, by a common EU-level solution for digital identification. In addition, the EU should streamline administrative procedures for the sale of goods and services across state borders. According to Finland, the services sector in particular still has a great deal of growth potential. Therefore, all Member States should commit themselves to reducing barriers to the movement of services while taking into account the need for adequate labour protection.

Inquiries:

Hannele Timonen, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 141