Establishing the single market programme

Briefing 22-11-2018

The Commission’s proposal to establish a Single Market Programme for the period 2021-2027 would merge various existing and new programmes in the field of the Single Market. The impact assessment accompanying the proposal describes well the problems and the objectives addressing them, and provides a solid source of data. It also explains the relationship between different programmes and funds. The IA compares three options against the parameters of flexibility, simplification, synergies and feasibility, but does not provide a proper impact analysis of the options, as required in the Better Regulation Guidelines. Furthermore, the IA could have presented the scope of the programme more clearly. In addition, it would have been useful to have more information about the governance of the preferred option and the implementation of the health dimension.