The Single Market Programme (SMP) is the EU funding programme that supports the single market in reaching its full potential and ensures Europe's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It has EUR 4.2 billion in the period 2021-2027.

The Single Market Programme brings together crucial activities funded by several programmes active between 2014 and 2020 (COSME, European Statistical Programme (ESP), Reporting and Auditing, Enhancing consumers involvement in the EU policy making in the field of financial services, Food and Feed, Consumer Programme).

Objectives of the new single market programme

• Maintaining a high level of food safety
• Providing consumers with even better protection
• Increasing the competitiveness of enterprises, especially SMEs
• Improving single market governance and enforcement
• Producing and disseminating high-quality statistics
• Developing effective European standards

The sectors concerned are as follows:

Food protection

• Preventing, combating and eradicating animal diseases and plant pests
• Promoting sustainable food production and consumption
• Supporting the improvement of animal welfare
• Improving the effectiveness, efficiency and reliability of official controls

Tools

• Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed
• EU Reference Laboratories and Reference Centres
• Financing of emergency measures
• Training actions for competent authorities in food, feed, animal health and welfare and plant health

Consumer Protection

• Ensuring that products placed on the market are safe and that consumers know the rules
• Helping national authorities to collaborate effectively and communicate quickly

Tools

• Early warning system for hazardous products
• Consumer protection cooperation network to tackle illegal practices at EU level (e.g. misleading advertising campaigns)
• European Consumer Centres, through which citizens can solve problems, e.g. when shopping online
• Online dispute resolution system, which helps consumers resolve disputes out-of-court

Competitiveness

• Providing various forms of support to enterprises, in particular SMEs: providing financial support in the form of, for example, grants and loan guarantees under the InvestEU Fund
• facilitating market access and reducing administrative burdens
• supporting the diffusion of innovation and addressing global and societal challenges
• promoting a business-friendly environment and entrepreneurial culture

Tools

• Enterprise Europe Network to offer an integrated advisory package to SMEs on how to innovate and grow internationally
• Debt and equity financing will be available under the SME section of the InvestEU Fund

An effective single market

• Implement and enforce existing rules and develop them further in areas including company and contract law, anti-money laundering and free movement of capital
• Ensuring that financial services meet the needs of consumers, civil society and end users
• Enhancing the Commission's tools and competences for effective enforcement of competition rules in the digital age, such as the use of big data and algorithms
• Improving the functioning of the single market on the ground by helping public purchasers make the best use of citizens' money

Tools

• Future digital one-stop shop providing online administrative services to citizens and businesses
• Internal Market Information System for the exchange of information between authorities
• SOLVIT, the problem-solving network for citizens and businesses

European statistics

• Providing funding to national statistical institutes for the production and dissemination of high-quality statistics to monitor the economic, social, environmental and territorial situation
• Statistics are important for fact-based decision-making in the Union and for measuring the impact of EU initiatives

Tools

• Enhanced partnership between Eurostat, the EU's statistical office, and national statistical offices, using multiple data sources, advanced data analysis methods, intelligent systems and digital technologies.

Effective standards

• Providing financial support to organisations developing standards at European level
• Developing standards at European level to ensure that products and services meet an agreed level of quality and safety

Tools

• Cooperation between the Commission and European standardisation organisations through joint initiatives and action plans