On 19 September, the European Commission presented the proposal for a Regulation establishing the Single Market Emergency Instrument as a response to the fragmentation and obstacles that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic and seeks to preserve the free movement of goods, services and people in the European Union’s single market. The proposed instrument establishes a crisis management framework that includes:
- The crisis management structure. It consists of a monitoring and coordination mechanism to identify and respond to threats to the single market. This tool establishes different levels of risk and a response in phases: contingency, surveillance mode and emergency mode. An advisory group composed of the Commission and the Member States is formed to assess situations and recommend measures.
- Different measures to address threats according to the level of risk. In the surveillance mode, the supply chains of strategic goods and services are monitored, as well as the establishment of strategic reserves. In emergency mode, free movement is maintained through a list of prohibited restrictions and reinforced control of unilateral restrictions. The Commission may recommend Member States to ensure the availability of relevant goods and facilitate production and distribution.
- Measures of last resort: In exceptional circumstances during emergency mode, the Commission may use additional tools. These include requesting information from economic operators, requesting acceptance of priority orders for relevant products, and accelerating product marketing through faster testing and certification.
The Single Market Emergency Instrument complements other EU crisis management measures and seeks to ensure a coordinated and effective response to emergencies. Separate proposals for Regulation and Directive amending product-specific regulatory regimes are established to allow derogations during emergencies.
Last reviewed on: 22 Aug 2023
Temáticas
Single market