Strengthening enforcement of Single Market Rules: revision of current tools and framework

Key points

The EESC:

1. stresses the central role of enforcement policy in reducing the fragmentation of the Single Market and calls on the Commission to implement a clear and coordinated approach between preventive, collaborative and remedial tools. It also stresses the primary obligation of Member States to implement EU law in due time and correctly;

2. considers that the adequate implementation of EU law should be integrated into all steps of the legislative process, and legislation should include clauses dedicated to enforcement. Gold-plating should be avoided by limiting the possibilities of complementing EU legislation with supplementary national requirements. The EESC asks for active engagement from the co-legislators in this regard, as well as the Member States;

3. asks the Commission to update the Communication on enforcement of EU law to strengthen and simplify the enforcement tools and accelerate the handling of infringement procedures, while increasing their transparency;

4. points out the importance of using the infringement procedures efficiently as the strongest tool to ensure that Member States apply EU law correctly, and recommends reducing the duration of the procedures to avoid legal uncertainty, as well as increase transparency;

5. considers that SOLVIT should be improved and connected to the other enforcement tools; strengthening the SMET is also a necessary step. In addition, it would be useful to explore new possibilities to ensure the correct application of EU law. In this context, the EESC calls on Member States to provide future Single Market sherpas with the necessary resources;

6. invites the Commission, as the guardian of the Treaties, to rapidly implement concrete measures to improve its enforcement policy, and the Member States to reduce existing barriers and refrain from creating new ones.

    

For more information please contact the INT Section Secretariat.