Mizzi appointed S&D spokesperson on new Single Market strategy

Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi has been appointed as the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) spokesperson on the IMCO's committee report on the European Commission’s proposal for a new Single Market Strategy for goods and services.

The Commission’s proposal for a new Single Market strategy intends to deliver on President Juncker’s political commitment to unleash the full potential of the Single Market and make it the launchpad for Europe to thrive in the global economy.

Under the strategy, 22 targeted actions will be delivered in order to make the best use of the single market and deliver positive results for consumers, SME and start-ups, innovative services and professionals.

During the first exchange of views in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, Mizzi said, “The Single Market represents the heart of the European integration process. With its dynamic structure, the single market is in a constant state of flux shaped by the tensions and pressures of the future challenges. The Single Market can never be truly complete, but at least we can try to ensure that it functions properly."

"I welcome the Commission's proposal calling for a deeper and fairer Single Market, but I expected the strategy to be more ambitious and to present a clear vision for the future, building on the positive results from the Single Market Acts I and II and becoming a benchmark in the review of the Europe 2020 strategy."

Through this new roadmap, the Commmission will include a legislative proposal to clarify the provisions of Article 20 of the Services Directive in order to identify and ban specific forms of residence-based discrimination, guidelines on collaborative economy and regulated professions, new rules on business insolvency, European pact for start-ups, a new electronic services passport, and a modern framework for standards, procurement procedures and intellectual property.

During the exchange of views, Mizzi stressed that the strategy mainly bounds the Single Market solely to its economic aspects, but in order to restore hope and confidence in the European project, Europe needs to find the right equilibrium between economic rights and fundamental social rights.

"First and foremost we need to ensure that consumers', citizens' and workers' interests and rights are fully respected and integrated in the single market," stressed Mizzi.

"Continued sustainable development of the Single Market depends more than ever on rebalancing the current policy mix, reducing social inequalities and delivering social and environmental benefits to the citizens as well as enforcing the existing legal provisions to protect consumers.

"We also have to ensure that entrepreneurs, particularly SMEs, who have invested heavily in their businesses are acknowledged as valid contributors to economic growth and that no unfair competition is encouraged by a laissez faire strategy veiled under the 'single market ' principle," said Mizzi.