Assessment of the Letta and Draghi reports on the functioning and competitiveness of the EU single market

Background

The 2024 reports by Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta serve as strategic roadmaps for securing Europe’s economic resilience and future prosperity. Both reports analyse key challenges facing the EU and propose recommendations for strengthening the EU single market and enhancing European competitiveness.

This opinion focuses on the most pressing issues raised in the reports. The first section identifies priority investment areas necessary to support Europe’s economic strength, while the second advocates for a balanced approach to competitiveness, one that integrates economic, social and territorial cohesion.

At a time of rapid global change, the EU stands at a critical juncture: it must either take decisive action to enhance its competitiveness or risk stagnation. The EESC wholeheartedly agrees with the Letta and Draghi reports that this matter is urgent, calling on EU policymakers to act swiftly and decisively.

Key points:

In its opinion, the EESC:

1. emphasises the urgent need to enhance European competitiveness while maintaining sustainability and social cohesion. The EU must act decisively to stay competitive without compromising environmental sustainability, workers’ rights or regional balance. The EESC advocates for growth aligned with social and territorial cohesion;

    

2. calls for greater investment in key areas such as social infrastructure, digital transformation and energy transition. The EESC emphasises the need for substantial investments in modern infrastructure - education, research, digitalisation and renewables - to sustain Europe’s economic strength and competitiveness and tackle demographic, technological and climate challenges;

    

3. stresses the need for the EU to drive global economic transformation rather than just preserve past achievements. Europe is at a crossroads: it can either take a proactive role in global economic transformation or risk falling behind. The EESC therefore calls for the proactive adaptation of the single market, reduced reliance on non-EU supply chains and stronger strategic industries.

Read the draft opinion.

Additional information

Section: Single Market, Production and Consumption

Opinion number: INT/1070

Opinion type: own-initiative opinion

Rapporteurs: Matteo Carlo Borsani, Giuseppe Guerini, Stefano Palmieri

Reference: Rule 52(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Date of adoption by section: 12/2/2024

Result of the vote: 55 in favour/1 against/0 abstentions                                                   

Date of adoption in plenary: 26/2/2025 – 27/2/2025

Result of the vote: 222 in favour/2 against/6 abstentions

Contacts:

Press officer: Laura Lui          

Tel.: 00 32 2 546 9189

Email:  laurairena.lui@eesc.europa.eu

Administrators: Silvia Staffa

Tel.: + 32 2 546 8378

Email: Silvia.Staffa@eesc.europa.eu

Annalisa Tessarolo

Tel.: + 32 2 546 9732

Email: Annalisa.Tessarolo@eesc.europa.eu