The Single Market is the centerpiece of European integration and the foundation for growth, employment and prosperity in Europe. At the same time, it remains one of the EU's biggest construction sites. Only if we continuously deepen the Single Market in all areas can our industry remain globally competitive and can the EU maintain its global influence in the long term.
In spring 2021, the European Commission plans to table a legislative proposal on due diligence requirements to protect human rights and the environment in the supply chain. The European Parliament and Council welcome these plans. The success of a European supply chain law will strongly depend on its concrete design: The due diligence requirements to be met must be proportionate and feasible for companies to implement in daily practice.
In its work program for 2021, the European Commission announced that it will withdraw its 2017 proposal for a Directive on ex-ante notification of service-related measures. This step is a reaction to the fierce opposition of some Member States to the proposal. For the deepening of the Single Market for services this means another severe setback.
In September 2019, the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, presented her assignments to the designated Commissioners. These show that transparency, better regulation and bureaucracy reduction will remain key priorities of the EU Commission in the next five years.
The EU Commission needs to reform the definition of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). BDI is advocating orientation to relevant orders of magnitude for personnel and financial thresholds as well as the introduction of qualitative criteria. It should also be reviewed whether small-mid caps should be strategically considered.
Bureaucracy Reduction and Better Regulation in the EU
In fall 2018, the European Commission took stock of its Better Regulation Agenda. BDI contributed to the consultation with a comprehensive position paper. German industry welcomes the progress made in improving European policy making. It is now crucial that the positive developments continue into the next legislative cycle.
Reform of EU transparency register: absence of transparency and legal certainty
The European Commission plans to extend the transparency register for interest representatives and to make it compulsory. European Commission, Council and European Parliament should commit to linking dialogue with interest representatives to their prior registration. However, instead of more transparency, the Commission’s proposal would only lead to more red tape.
