Video conference of internal market and industry ministers, 18 September 2020

Source: Council of the European Union (Council) i, published on Friday, September 18 2020.

Main results

Ministers exchanged views via video conference on the priority actions needed to restore and improve the functioning of the single market with a view to ensuring the swift recovery of the EU economy after the COVID-19 crisis.

Today's discussions have identified essential actions needed as a matter of priority in order to achieve a fully functioning, more integrated and resilient single market. This is a crucial prerequisite for the swift recovery of the EU economy as it exits the COVID-19 crisis.

Peter Altmaier, German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy

There was broad acknowledgment of the need to restore swiftly the integrity of the single market by removing all temporary derogations put in place by individual member states during the COVID-19 crisis. The single market enforcement task-force (SMET) was mentioned as the main tool for identifying unnecessary barriers to the cross-border free circulation of goods and services.

Ministers called upon the Commission to present by 15 January 2021 an annual strategic report as a tool for identifying and removing unjustified barriers, assessing the resilience of the single market and take stock of the state of implementation of the 2020 enforcement action plan.

Ministers acknowledged that the implementation of the actions set out in the Commission's March 2020 package remains essential for the functioning of the single market. They also stressed the importance of close cooperation between member states and the Commission regarding such actions.

Several voices highlighted the importance of exploring the untapped potential of the single market, especially in the field of services.

A number of ministers expressed support for structural reforms, where necessary, for the transition towards a competitive, sustainable and inclusive green and digital economy. Such reforms should be facilitated by a consistent, efficient, digital-by-default and future-proof regulatory framework at EU level. In the same context, there was broad acknowledgment of the need for an enabling business environment that allows business, especially small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), to grasp the full benefit of the single market.

There was broad support for a more resilient single market, capable of resisting crises such as the one caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In an increasingly difficult international environment, ministers spoke in favour of strengthening the EU's economic and social resilience and strategic autonomy in sensitive and key technological sectors, while upholding the principles of an open economy and free, fair and sustainable trade.

Meeting information

  • - 
    Meeting n°3767
  • - 
    Video conference
  • - 
    18 September 2020
  • - 
    09:30

Preparatory documents

Outcome documents

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