On 27 April, the Commission has proposed new rules to help companies, especially small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), make the most of their inventions, leverage new technologies and contribute to the EU's competitiveness and technological sovereignty. The proposed Regulations on standard essential patents, compulsory licensing of patents in crisis situations, and the revision of the legislation on supplementary protection certificates will create a more transparent, effective and futureproof intellectual property rights framework. The new proposals will complement the Unitary Patent system, which will be operational as of 1 June. Their respective starting points are existing provisions and principles of international and EU IP law, but they each aim to make the patents system more effective by further eliminating Single Market fragmentation, reducing red tape, and enhancing efficiency. This solid patent framework will empower economic operators and competent authorities to better protect innovation while ensuring fair access, including during emergency situations. These patent initiatives tackle the following key areas: Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPC); Compulsory Licencing and Standard-essential Patents (SEP). They also provide for a new vouchers scheme in support of SMEs in the context of the 2023 SME Fund.

The Commission has proposed a Regulation to facilitate the use of non-road mobile machinery (such as cranes, harvesters, forklifts, snow cleaners, etc.) on public roads. This initiative will ultimately replace the different regulatory regimes that currently exist in the Member States. The new rules will contribute to remove fragmentation in the Single Market and eliminate barriers to the free circulation of such machinery, while ensuring a high level of road safety. The new rules will also reduce compliance costs and administrative burden, with cost savings estimated at up to €846 million over a period of 10 years.

On 19 April, the Commission launched the Public Buyers Community Platform, an innovative platform designed to facilitate cooperation and knowledge-sharing between public buyers across Europe. The platform is a unique digital space where public procurement stakeholders including public authorities, industry , SMEs, and academia can come together to exchange best practices, share experiences, and discuss challenges. Efficient, modern and well-managed public procurement can help create a more innovative, sustainable and socially inclusive EU economy. It stimulates the job sector, growth and investment, and improves the quality of public services. The launch of the Public Buyers Community Platform is a significant step towards achieving the Commission's goals of promoting transparency, fairness, and competition in public procurement.

This month’s episode of Business Planet, our co-production with Euronews, focuses on greening public spending. In Europe, around 250,000 public authorities spend €2 trillion a year - 14% of Europe’s GDP - on services such as transport, waste management, health and education. The power of the public purse can also be used to drive green goals or push social inclusion. The Big Buyers Collaboration Network for Strategic Procurement is a European Commission Initiative for promoting collaboration between big public buyers, focusing on implementing strategic public procurement for sustainable solutions. By working together, and pooling their resources, cities, central purchasing bodies, and other major public procurers can maximise their market power and impact.

On 31 March, the EU signed an Association Agreement with Türkiye on the country’s participation in the Single Market Programme. This will enhance the EU-Türkiye cooperation in the Single Market. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs Mehmet Kemal Bozay and DG GROW’s Director-General Kerstin Jorna signed the agreement. The EU and Türkiye have a long tradition of partnership in trade, manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and industry. This new agreement will develop partnerships between Turkish and European businesses and serve as leverage for all stakeholders in the Turkish and European economies. Negotiations are proceeding with several countries and the Commission hopes to sign several more agreements under the Single Market Programme in the coming months.

The Commission had a prominent presence at the Hannover Fair 2023. More than 20 panels at the Commission stand’s auditorium hosted a total of about 600 visitors. The Commission was represented by several high-level speakers from DG GROW, including Director-General Kerstin Jorna, Deputy Director-General Maive Rute, Directors Jakub Boratynski and Kristin Schreiber, who contributed to the panels and discussions. Commission staff seized the opportunity to engage throughout the week with stakeholders from industry, academia, and beyond, and to showcase their work to support economic growth and innovation across Europe.

On 31 March, the Representation of the European Commission in Latvia, in cooperation with the European Union House in Riga, invited entrepreneurs to participate in the event "30 years of the EU Single Market – Future Opportunities for Entrepreneurs in Latvia". The event was attended by a DG GROW expert, James Brett, who presented the advantages of the business environment and the Single Market for Latvia.

As one of the largest European transformation programmes, ADMA TranS4MErs offers a comprehensive and dynamic approach to digital transformation, helping companies across the continent achieve their full potential. The open Call 2 runs from 3 April until 18 January 2024, and aims to assist small and medium sized enterprises in the EU to adopt and implement innovative and sustainable digital and advanced manufacturing solutions. The programme offers vouchers to design and implement companies’ Digital Transformation Plan and boost them in their objective of becoming factories of the future. This is done in two stages: a first stage focused on Design and a second one on Revamp. Vouchers are allocated on a first come first serve basis.

Read the latest developments of DG GROW's analysis of supply chains disruptions related to the Russian military aggression against Ukraine.

The Single Market Forum conference is organised in Stockholm by the European Commission together with Swedish Presidency and will mark the 30th anniversary of the EU Single Market. It will be a full-day event and include a high-level panel which will hold a political discussion on the accomplishments and future of the Single Market in addition to thematic workshops on Standardisation, Digitalisation and Skills.

On the occasion of the European Tourism Day 2023, the European Commission will organise an orientation debate to discuss the resilience of the tourism ecosystem and three roundtables, each focusing on different important aspects such as the twin transition and the upskilling of the workforce in the EU tourism ecosystem

Draft agenda - European Tourism Day livestream

The Representation of the European Commission in the Hague, the Enterprise Europe Network in the Netherlands and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) are organising an event in the context of the 30th Anniversary of the Single Market. What has it brought to the Netherlands and the rest of the EU countries? And what will the future bring? Maurits Pino, DG GROW expert, will present and explain the Single Market and developments in industrial Policy. Check out all SM30 events organised around Europe on our interactive map.

The Enterprise Europe Network in Germany in collaboration with the Representation of the European Commission in Berlin is organising an event in the context of the 30th Anniversary of the Single Market. Kristin Schreiber, DG GROW's Director for Chemicals, Food and Retail ecosystems will give a keynote speech on 30 Years of the Single Market – Perspectives for the Future of Europe. Check out all SM30 events organised around Europe on our interactive map.

ACCIÓ, the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona, the General Council of Chambers of Commerce of Catalonia and the Enterprise Europe Network Catalunya are organising an event on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Single Market. Martine Diss, DG GROW expert, will present the achievements and current challenges of the Single Market. Check out all SM30 events organised around Europe on our interactive map.

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