25th Anniversary the Single Market Marked by Return to Protectionism

Unjustified national restrictions that have a disruptive impact on the transport sector cause fragmentation and harm the whole economy of the EU. National barriers in transport sector are disproportionate, unjustified and are endangering competitiveness.

Ahead of the February Competitiveness Council, nine countries (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) sent a declaration on competitiveness of the EU Single Market to the Council. In the declaration, the Member States pointed out that the European Commission should act as the Guardian of the Treaties. The 25th anniversary of the EU Single market and the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaties should be marked with zero barriers to service provision. But it is already clear now that this would not happen.

The Commission tries to facilitate the provision of services in the EU through its new services package but on the other hand, it leaves room for national protectionist measures. We should fight unfair and illegal practices and not to give space to new barriers to the Single Market.