Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, is pushing for a major overhaul or “completion” of the European Single Market. Speaking at the EU Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, she argued that simply preserving the Single Market as it exists is insufficient given the continuous technological transformation, the climate crisis, and intensifying geopolitical competition. She stated that the market can only continue fulfilling its purpose if it is modernized, completed, and adapted to current challenges.
Addressing barriers, she highlighted the need to dismantle existing impediments within the market. Efforts are underway at the European level to establish uniform rules across the continent. Furthermore, she stressed that national-level variations-often referred to as “gold-plating”-must end. Von der Leyen argued that making it easier for companies to expand throughout Europe is essential, calling it the core promise of the Single Market that must be fulfilled.
A major element of the reform involves thinking about the Single Market digitally. According to von der Leyen, technologies such as AI must be connected to the physical systems they are intended to improve. She noted that Europe has strong starting conditions, thanks to its leading industrial companies and growing startup scene. To reinforce Europe’s position within the semiconductor value chain, a “Chip Law 2.0” is planned, alongside a forthcoming legal act concerning cloud and AI development.
Sustainable development must also become a core component of market regulations to foster clean innovation, the Commission President added. She further pointed out the Single Market’s potential to contribute to Europe’s independence by streamlining the coordination of strategic investments. Von der Leyen also emphasized the social dimension, asserting that high-quality jobs must be central to a stronger Single Market.
While acknowledging that the Single Market has been a great success for Europe, the CDU politician cautioned that success is not something inherited from previous generations. Instead, it requires constant work, foresight, and political will. She concluded by stating that this necessary political will is finally present today with the roadmap “One Europe, one Market” and urged swift implementation.
