A fully developed single market is central to fight climate change, promote sustainable development, to fully harness the potential of digitalisation and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness. Without the single market, the EU would lose much of its attraction.
With the EU institutions starting a new political cycle, everyone is looking for solutions to the many societal challenges facing the union. From the perspective of businesses and industry, we emphasise the importance of the single market. It is the most important tool for the EU to create economic growth, and to increase employment and innovation. A fully developed single market is also central to fight climate change, promote sustainable development, to fully harness the potential of digitalisation and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness. Without the single market, the EU would lose much of its attraction, both for the EU member states and the rest of the world.
So, how do we keep the single market relevant? The Nordic business organisations, DI, EK, NHO and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise invited Nordic MEPs to discuss the issue during a round table in Strasburg on September 17. Confederation of Swedish Enterprise participated through Cemille Üstün, expert on the EU single market, and Emelie Nordström, policy adviser at the EU office.
Prior to the meeting, three discussion papers had been jointly drafted by the Nordic business organisations. One covered the single market and how to improve freedom of movement for goods, services and labour, one how to achieve free movement of energy and the circular economy, and one how the single market can be used to improve European businesses access to the global market.
The round table discussions showed a wide engagement for the single market. The parliamentarians welcomed the initiative and established that the Nordic countries must show leadership in developing and preserving the single market. Sweden was represented by MEPs Arba Kokalari, Fredrick Federley and Abir Al-Sahlani.
Nordic consensus exists on many issues, points stressed in the discussion included: