MEP ask Commission about ongoing challenges to the functioning of the EU internal market

On Tuesday, the Internal Market Committee adopted an oral question accompanied by a draft resolution on challenges and emerging commercial practices in the EU internal market.

The draft resolution highlights new dynamics and persistent barriers that require reforms to ensure competitiveness and consumer protection. The resolution further proposes actions related to digital markets, consumer rights, product safety, and the need for reduce administrative burdens, among various recommendations to be reflected in the upcoming New Single Market Strategy, the 2030 Consumer agenda and the Digital Fairness Act.

MEPs ask the Commission to address more specifically

How the upcoming New Single Market Strategy will address risks related to geopolitical tensions, climate change, challenges to EU competitiveness and economic disparities;

Specific reforms to reduce market fragmentation and administrative burdens on companies; possible upcoming targeted proposals to improve the consistency of EU law enforcement across member states, potentially through a simplified harmonised framework;

Growing concerns that some goods and services offer less quantity or quality for the same or increased price; scale of such practices and investigate the causes for differentiated levels of inflation of basic goods and consumer price increases across the EU;

The impact of the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act on the dynamics of new commercial practices within the single market; further steps should be taken to strengthen consumer protection online while ensuring simplification and coherence in EU digital legislation;

Specific reforms the Commission envisages to improve cross-border service provisions and worker mobility; sectors the Commission sees a need to align fragmented legal frameworks of the member states in;

How the Commission envisages simplifying reporting requirements that concern European businesses, particularly SMEs.

The draft question for an oral answer and draft motion for resolution were approved with 41 votes in favour, 4 votes against and 4 abstentions. They will be added to the plenary session 5-8 May 2025.