How to tackle protectionism in the European Union?

The single market is one of the greatest achievements of the European Union. Nevertheless, independent studies conducted by the European Commission and the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers show that protectionism is a serious problem affecting the majority of entrepreneurs and hindering the development of the single market. Elimination of existing barriers could attract an additional €17 billion of investment per year and generate another 1.3 million jobs – keys to restoring the competitiveness of the European economy in the aftermath of the pandemic. Both studies show administrative practices (i.e. requirement to present additional certificates) rank as top protectionist measures. While most of them can be addressed through prohibitions established under the EU law, the current legal framework seems insufficient to cope with all the problems of the single market. During the webinar, we would like to discuss potential ways to tackle the issue of protectionism within the EU.

Agenda available here. Recording from the event is available here.