SMP – Single Market Programme – 2021-2027

The Single Market Programme is a major contributor to growth, competitiveness and employment. This programme is also an important tool to face recent unprecedented challenges (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) and lay the foundations of Europe’s long-term recovery. It brings together 6 predecessor programmes from different policy areas (COSME, programmes on consumer protection, consumer and end-users, on financial reporting and auditing standards). The general objectives are the improvement of the internal market’s functioning, the protection of citizens, consumers and businesses as well as the production and the dissemination of high quality European statistics.

Objectives

• To make the internal market more effective, inter alia, in the light of the digital transformation
• To strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of SMEs and achieving additionality at Union level
• To ensure the effective functioning of the internal market through standardisation processes
• To promote the interests of consumers and ensuring a high level of consumer protection and product safety
• To contribute to a high level of health and safety for humans, animals and plants in plant, animal, food and feed areas
• To develop, produce, disseminate and communicate high-quality European statistics

Priorities

• Making the Internal Market more effective
• European standardisation and international financing reporting and auditing standards
• The participation of users in financial services policy making

Structure

• Food safety
• Consumer protection
• Support to businesses
• A more effective singe market
• High quality European statistics
• Effective European standards

Financed actions

• Data gathering, analyses, studies and evaluations in support of effective enforcement and modernisation of the EU legal framework
• Capacity-building activities and facilitation of joint actions between EU countries, their competent authorities, the European Commission and decentralised EU agencies
• Financing of mechanisms allowing individuals, consumers and business representatives to contribute to decision-making processes
• Strengthening the exchange and dissemination of expertise and knowledge
• Setting of common European standards