"Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs" Newsletter Issues

The European Single Market turns 30 in 2023 (18/01/2023)

The Single Market is one of the major achievements of European integration, and one of its key drivers. Established on 1 January 1993, the European Single Market allows goods, services, people and capital to move around the EU freely, making life easier for people and opening up new opportunities for businesses.

Join the Campaign: DG GROW can support you in organising local events and initiatives (19/01/2023)

DG GROW has planned a year-long communication and outreach campaign on the Single Market, which will be open to all local events or initiatives organised by authorities and other stakeholders across the EU. In this context, we have set up a dedicated website with an interactive map where we have started listing relevant events organised in the Member States at the local and national level. We encourage you to share with us any of your relevant events. The site also offers useful materials for your events, such as the SM30 visual identity and the style guide of the campaign, promotional material such as posters, roll-ups, social media and a lot more.

Single Market Upcoming events (19/01/2023)

To mark the 30th anniversary of the Single Market, you’re invited to join us at one of the events, talks and exhibitions organised by the Commission and many different stakeholders that will take place throughout 2023 across the EU. Register your own local event and come back to our site from time to time as initiatives will gradually appear throughout the year!

In 1993, Jacques Delors' vision became a reality: "I want Europeans to be able to touch, in their daily lives, a real, concrete Europe" (18/01/2023)

The Single Market has brought unity and opportunities to Europeans, eliminating old barriers to allow more than 460 million people and business to move, communicate and trade freely across 31 countries. The European Parliament continues to work to adapt the Single Market further to respond to current challenges and make full use of its potential.

The Single Market can help us reduce our energy dependency on third countries, including by boosting renewables (09/12/2022)

Euronews in partnership with DG GROW, interviewed our Director-General, Kerstin Jorna, on the subject, and reported on Skoon Energy, a young startup that has set up a network of swappable batteries, with the aim of getting rid of battery waste.

European Parliament plenary session - Opening statement by Margrethe Vestager (20/01/2023)

On 16 January 2023, Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Europe fit for the Digital Age, and Commissioner for Competition, attended the plenary session of the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg, on the 30th Anniversary of the Single Market.

Quiz: how much do you know about the EU's Single Market? (18/01/2023)

The EU's Single Market allows goods, services, capital and people to move freely across EU countries. How much do you know about it? Test yourself with the quiz

MEPs call for a specific action plan for 2030 and beyond, in order to further strengthen and develop the Single Market, especially in areas such as services, energy, telecommunications and the Digital Single Market (19/01/2023)

The European Parliament adopted on Wednesday 18 January a resolution on the 30th anniversary of the EU Single Market. The text outlines the most pressing challenges facing the Single Market today and recommendations for the way forward.

The Single Market: A Referee for Fair Competition and a Coach for Economic Growth (19/01/2023)

In this opinion piece, Commissioner Thierry Breton delineates how the Single Market will help us build our industrial future by ensuring a level playing field among all 27 EU Member States even in times of crisis. The Single Market is and will remain our joint source of growth, job creation and exports.

Commissioner Thierry Breton looks back at the Single Market's main achievements and what comes next (08/12/2022)

DG GROW and the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU kicked off the Single Market 30th Anniversary celebrations with a political conference, which focused on the vision for the next 30 years, as well as the opportunities and risks for further integration. Read here Commissioner Thierry Breton's full keynote speech.

The European Parliament continues to work on improving how the Single Market functions and adapts to new challenges (18/01/2023)

MEPs believe the Single Market has to be adapted further to respond to current challenges. During the plenary session in mid-January the European Parliament looked at how the Single Market has transformed Europe since its launch in 1993 and what else should be done to make full use of its potential.

Energy security: How the Single Market supports Europe’s race for a solar renaissance (09/12/2022)

In this episode of Business Planet, find out how Europe intends to shake off its dependence on Russian gas by ramping up renewables, specifically solar, and the challenges it faces. Solar is seen as crucial to Europe's energy security, climate goals, and jobs. Europe installed a record-breaking 41.4 gigawatts of photovoltaic power in 2022 -- a rise of 47% compared to 2021-- according to industry group SolarPower Europe.

Economic paper - 30 years of Single Market – taking stock and looking ahead (10/01/2023)

This paper provides an analytical contribution on the state of the Single Market 30 years after its establishment and the role of the Single Market as driver of EU resilience. It assesses developments in goods and services integration.

Economic paper - The 'completeness' of the EU Single Market in comparison to the United States (10/01/2023)

How can we judge Europe’s progress towards completing the Single Market? How should we estimate prospective gains from further steps? This paper argues that new insights on these questions can be generated by comparing Europe’s Single Market governance, economic flows, and some related political attitudes to the same conditions in the United States.

The Single Market in numbers (18/01/2023)

The Single Market is one of the European Union’s greatest achievements and has progressed significantly over the last 30 years. The Single Market is now home to 24 million companies and 15% of the world's trade in goods is from the EU. This factsheet brings together this and more interesting figures.

EUROSTAT - Did you know that 47.5% of EU exports of goods to non-EU countries in 2020 were in euro? (18/01/2023)

The past three decades have allowed people, goods, services, and money to move around freely within the EU’s Single Market. Between 2010 and 2021, the number of employed persons in EU countries with a citizenship of another EU country increased by 47%. Eurostat gathered interesting facts and figures about the EU Single Market.

Ho ho ho... (09/12/2022)

And the end of 2022 is already around the corner. On behalf of DG GROW, we take this opportunity to wish you an excellent holiday season. Stay tuned early next year ... we are preparing a special edition on the 30th anniversary of the Single Market. Thank you, see you next year and until then... take care!

EU Single Market prepares to celebrate its 30th birthday (09/12/2022)

The European Single Market celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2023, in this context, Euronews in partnership with DG GROW, interviewed our Director-General, Kerstin Jorna, on the subject, and reported on Skoon Energy, a young startup that has set up a network of swappable batteries, with the aim of getting rid of battery waste.

Commissioner Thierry Breton looking back at the Single Market's main achievements and what comes next (08/12/2022)

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the European Single Market, DG GROW and the Czech Presidency of the EU have organised on 7 December, an academic conference that brought together top researchers from academia and policy makers from EU and national institutions to present research findings and policy insights related to the single market, and on 8 December, a political conference, which focused on the further development of the Single Market and the vision for the next 30 years, its opportunities and risks for further integration. Read here Commissioner Thierry Breton full keynote speech.

Is the EU legal framework for products still fit for purpose? (09/12/2022)

Digital product passport, digital CE marking, software as a product, circular economy, modified products made available on the EU market: Is the New Legislative Framework (NLF) able to cope with the digital and circular economy objectives? The evaluation of the NLF assesses how the system has been performing since 2008 when it was adopted and whether it is able to preserve its relevance in the light of new challenges.

Do you know how much it costs to send a parcel cross-border? (09/12/2022)

To increase tariff transparency, the European Commission publishes the prices of the most used cross-border parcel delivery services on a dedicated webpage. This online tool can be used to send check how much it costs to send parcels from any EU Member State to another and what companies provide the service. Choosing the service that suits them best, they may #SaveOnDelivery.

The Single Market Enforcement Task Force (SMET) continues to tackle barriers in the single market (09/12/2022)

The Single Market Enforcement Task Force (SMET) met on 25 November to discuss projects on cross-border service providers (posted workers), permitting for renewable energy projects and the SMET report 2021-2022

Adoption of the European Semester Autumn Package (09/12/2022)

The core of the package is the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (ASGS), which outlines the economic and employment policy priorities for the EU for the coming 12 to 18 months. It is accompanied by the proposed recommendations to Euro Area Member States to address issues critical to the Euro Area economy. The package also includes the Proposal for a Joint Employment Report, and the Alert Mechanism Report, as well as the post-programme surveillance reports for Ireland, Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Portugal.

New rules will make industrial designs quicker, cheaper and more predictable (09/12/2022)

The proposals for a revised Regulation and Directive on industrial designs modernise the existing Community design framework and parallel national design regimes, created and harmonised 20 years ago. The revised rules will help to further improve the conditions for businesses to innovate. At the same time, the rules also introduce a more balanced approach to design protection. This ensures that designs can be reproduced for spare parts, allowing consumers more choice in repairing complex products such as cars in particular.

High-level Conference: Launch of the European Solar Photovoltaic Industry Alliance (09/12/2022)

On 9 December, the Commission together with industrial actors, research institutes, associations and other relevant parties launched the European Solar PV Industry Alliance. The alliance will help mitigate supply risk by securing diversification of supplies through more diverse imports and scaled up solar PV manufacturing of innovative and sustainable solar PVs in the EU. In a joint statement, the Commission and signatories of the Alliance set out the immediate priorities for 2023.

High-level Conference: “The Unitary Patent System - A Game Changer for Innovation in Europe” (09/12/2022)

At last month's successful conference on the unitary patent system, the Belgian authorities, the European Patent Office and the Commission joined hands to gather an impressive number of high-level speakers. The speakers, including from industry and the newly appointed top judges of the Unified Patent Court, shared their enthusiasm regarding the upcoming launch of the unitary patent system.

Highlights from the 5th Hydrogen Forum (09/12/2022)

The Commission hosted on 5 December, the 5th Forum of the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance. Members of the alliance focused on the infrastructure requirements to meet EU's target of 10 million tonnes of clean hydrogen production in the EU by 2030. The roadmap on hydrogen standards will be published in early 2023. It provides a comprehensive overview of the standardisation issues, gaps, challenges identified by the members of the alliance. Read here our Director-General, Kerstin Jorna's speech.

2022 SME Assembly with a clear message for more resilience and less administrative burden (09/12/2022)

From 28 to 30 November, around 500 entrepreneurs, policy makers, SME support organisations, media and academics met in Prague for the yearly SME policy gathering. The delegates worked in many workshops and plenary sessions to come up with concrete suggestions for the SME Relief Package announced by President von der Leyen in the 2022 State of the European Union speech.

Access2finance website – the one-stop-shop on EU financial support: Major upgrade (09/12/2022)

Find out how to apply for loans and equity financing supported by InvestEU and other EU programmes, all in one place! The access2finance.eu website has over 1 million page views per year (hosted on YourEurope). It provides detailed information on how businesses can apply for EU loans and equity finance through one of over 1,000 financial institutions or investors. It offers a one-stop-shop for SMEs looking for loans and equity financing supported by the InvestEU programme, Cohesion Policy and funding from the European Investment Bank Group.

More environmentally sustainable and circular products (09/12/2022)

Many more physical goods on the single market will soon be friendlier to the environment, circular, and energy efficient throughout their whole lifecycle. This is thanks to the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products (ESPR) proposal which aims to make sustainable products the norm by setting product requirements on e.g. durability, reusability, reparability, resource and energy efficiency. The proposal was put forward by the European Commission in March 2022, in the context of the Circular Economy Action Plan and the European Green Deal.

Get Digital awards (09/12/2022)

On 24 November, DG GROW alongside DIGITAL SME and EISMEA hosted an award ceremony for the winning solutions of the Get Digital competition. The awarded  companies are Climate Choice, Dropslab, Eturnity and PoINT. These winning start-ups and SMEs operate in the digital, energy-renewables, energy-intensive, mobility and construction ecosystem.  The solutions they put forward demonstrate high-impact potential to the greening and digitalisation of European industry. As a follow-up to the initiative, The Commission will launch the Get Digital matchmaking series, starting in 2023. These series will focus on further connecting promising European digital start-ups and SMEs with potential business partners and industrial users.

One more step towards a modern tourism industry (09/12/2022)

On 1 December, we celebrated our long collaboration with the Member States and EU Presidencies with the adoption of the EU Agenda for Tourism 2030 by the Council of the European Union. The Agenda is based on the Commission’s Transition Pathway for Tourism and includes a programme with actions to be taken by the Member States, the Commission, as well as the tourism ecosystem. It sets the EU-level agenda for transition to greener, digitally enabled and resilient tourism.

DG GROW helps Ukrainians as they face a difficult winter (09/12/2022)

We’ve all seen the pictures: Ukrainians huddled around braziers or open fires; power cuts and rationing; devastated power stations wrecked by Russian missiles. And we are only at the start of what could be a vicious winter. As part of the Commission’s wider effort, colleagues in DG GROW have been working to help Ukraine rebuild its energy infrastructure and tackle the hardships of winter by doing what we do best: working with SMEs and industry.

The Supply Chain Task Force Bulletin - December (25/10/2022)

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

Help us grow our newsletter community by sharing it! (15/12/2022)

Do you know someone who would be interested in getting information or updates on DG GROW’s files and policies? Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter and invite them to sign up by subscribing here or by scanning the QR code!

Academic and Political conferences on the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Single Market (07/12/2022)

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the single market, DG GROW and the Czech Presidency of the EU are organising, in a hybrid format, on:

• 7 December, an academic conference, which will bring together top researchers from academia and policy makers from EU and national institutions to present research findings and policy insights related to the single market. You can register for both in-person and online participation here;
• 8 December, a political conference, which will focus on the further development of the Single Market and the vision for the next 30 years, its opportunities and risks for further integration. One panel will be dedicated to how we can further remove barriers for SMEs in the Single Market. It is no longer possible to register for in-person participation, but if you would like to follow the conference online, please write an email here.

Commission acts to promote transparency in the short-term rental sector to the benefit of all players (08/11/2022)

Short-term accommodation rentals are now widespread in the EU, boosted largely thanks to online platforms. This Regulation proposal defines an EU framework which allows public authorities to collect data on short-term rentals from hosts and online platforms. It will help to enhance transparency in the sector, support better policy making and ensure a more sustainable development of the tourism sector.

1st Annual Big Buyers Symposium (15/11/2022)

Big Buyers for Climate and Environment is a European Commission initiative for promoting collaboration between big public buyers in implementing strategic public procurement for sustainable solutions. On 9 November, more than 60 public procurers, technical experts and policy members from over 15 EU Member States met in Brussels for the First Annual Big Buyers Symposium to draw the conclusions of a two-year collaboration.

Single Market Economic Papers (16/11/2022)

This collection will encompass the evidence-based analytical papers of DG GROW, at times in collaboration with other Directorates General. The Chief Economist Team is responsible for the series’ publication, including the peer review of the papers.

EURO 7 proposal for Motor Vehicles: Balanced EU standards for improved Air Quality and Mobility Industry Competitiveness (16/11/2022)

On 10 November, the Commission adopted the Euro 7 proposal for a pollutant emission standard for both light-duty (cars and vans) and heavy-duty vehicles (lorries and buses). This hotly anticipated proposal should be the last one in the Euro series of standards and a key milestone for the whole Mobility Ecosystem, from car manufacturers to suppliers, on their way to green transformation and e-mobility. It comes with a number of novel, future proofing elements (such as being the first region worldwide to regulate particle emissions from brakes and tyres and setting minimum battery durability).

The European Solar Photovoltaic Industry Alliance High-Level Launch Conference and website (16/11/2022)

In our last edition we announced the launch of the European Solar Photovoltaic Industry Alliance, in this edition we are happy to inform you of the launch of its website.  It also coincides with the announcement of the high-level launch conference that will take place in Brussels on 9 December. Commissioner Thierry Breton will be delivering a key-note speech and welcome a host of high-level speakers from across the photovoltaic (PV) value chain, high-level EU and Member State politicians and policy makers, offtakers, innovators, investors and financial institutions. Please visit the European Solar PV Industry Alliance launch conference registration form if you like to participate in the launch conference, either in person or online.

Highlights from the Critical Raw Materials Week 2022 (21/11/2022)

Last week, the Raw Materials Week ended and gathered a wide range of relevant parties to discuss policies and initiatives in the field of raw materials. Among the events of the week, was the 9th annual High-level Conference of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Raw Materials where Maive Rute, DG GROW's Deputy Director General, reiterated the need for an integrated energy system for a sustainable & resilient Single Market. They also discussed renewable energy, supply chains and REPowerEU opportunities.

Highlights from the EU Hydrogen Week 2022 (15/11/2022)

On 28 October, the 3rd European Hydrogen Week 2022 came to an end. The Commission and all participants have exchanged on the work and achievements of the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance. In particular, the Commission has showcased the new hydrogen projects supported by the Alliance, updated the participants about the new Electrolyser Partnership and informed about the roadmap to develop hydrogen-related standards.

DG GROW Fellowship Programme (16/11/2022)

DG GROW launched in September a Call for Expression of Interest for expert economic advice from top economists/academics of recognised reputation. This yearly initiative aims to support DG GROW’s economic and policy analysis by providing academic advice. Tapping into such an external and independent economic “state of the art” intelligence is expected to allow DG GROW to stay “ahead of the curve” in terms of ability to analyse, anticipate (whenever possible) and adjust (when needed) to the numerous challenges within its remit. Around 50 submissions were received in only two weeks after publication, about half of them of exceptional quality. A maximum of 10 expert fellows will be part of the first cycle that will kickstart in early 2023. DG GROW’s Chief Economist Team is responsible for the smooth running of this new and exciting initiative.

A successful edition of the Enterprise Europe Network Annual Conference in Prague (08/11/2022)

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Annual Conference, held in Prague and online on 25-27 October, ended after three days of enriching conversations, thematic sessions, and business matchmaking opportunities. The event was a success, gathering 183 speakers, over 1,000 on-site and online participants across 55 countries, and with more than 350 business meetings organized.

Enterprise Europe Network helps SMEs to be more resilient and prepared for future (15/11/2022)

The recent crises triggered a chain of disruptions to value chains in EU businesses and put the EU SMEs under great pressure, losing valuable export markets, facing supply chain disruptions and high-energy prices and restricted energy supply. Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), the largest SME support network in the world has been very active and supportive to SMEs in these challenging times considered necessary to come up with a more systematic approach to help SMEs be better prepared and more resilient. Therefore, a group of dedicated experts from this network have worked on specific recommendations to adjust the services of EEN in support of the resilience of SMEs by turning the challenges into business opportunities.

Eurobarometer surveys show strong support among EU citizens and SMEs for competition policy (08/11/2022)

On 25 October, the European Commission published the 2022 Eurobarometer surveys dedicated to EU competition policy. The surveys show strong support among citizens and SMEs for both competition policy and its enforcement. The surveys published today show that Europeans support the main goals of competition policy, recognising its important contribution to the European economy.

Strategic Partnerships signed between the EU and Kazakhstan and between the EU and Namibia on sustainable raw materials, batteries and renewable hydrogen value chains (16/11/2022)

On 7 November, in the margins of COP27, in Egypt, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Alikhan Smailov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a partnership between the EU and Kazakhstan. The agreement aims to ensure the development of a secure and sustainable supply of raw materials and refined materials. It also aims to develop renewable hydrogen and battery value chains, to boost the green and digital transformation of both sides' economies. On 8 November, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of Namibia Hage Geingob signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a strategic partnership between the EU and Namibia at the COP27 in Egypt. The partnership aims to ensure the development of a secure and sustainable supply of raw materials, refined materials and renewable hydrogen to support the green and digital transformation of the partners' economies.

DG GROW side-events at COP27 (15/11/2022)

People around the world are feeling the growing impacts of the climate crisis. On 9, 10 and 17 November, DG GROW hosted/co-hosted four online side-events as part of COP27. The four online side-events addressed sustainable investing with InvestEU, critical raw materials, the solar photovoltaic industry alliance and local green deals. Did you miss them? Watch it here.

Highlights from the Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC) conference and Mayors Forum (17/11/2022)

Cities are the beating heart of Europe’s economy and society. On 15-16 November, the Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC) conference and  Mayors Forum brought together Mayors, City Leaders, academics and technology experts, in Barcelona as part of the Smart City Expo World Congress. Valentina Superti, Director for Tourism, Proximity and Digitalisation in DG GROW, set the scene for cities and local economies as brokers of the green and digital transition. ICC, Local Green Deals and Local Skills Partnerships are crucial to make them a true engine of these transitions. Mayors shared ideas on how to bring the cities’ vision into tangible action and focused attention on Local Green Deals, as integrated, multi-level, cross-disciplinary action plans to orchestrate the green and digital transition.

Tourism organisations take concrete steps for the green and digital transition (15/11/2022)

In the frame of the Transition Pathway for Tourism, 142 tourism organisations have already committed to the transition of EU tourism. After two rounds of collecting commitments, 260 pledges altogether show the strong interest and willingness of EU tourism players to work on the transition of EU tourism. The pledges cover 25 out of the 27 Topics of the Transition Pathway for Tourism, including areas such as policy and governance, sustainable mobility, green transition, digital transition, skills, resilience and inclusion, and stakeholder support.

Call for tenders - Transition Pathway Stakeholder Support Platform: Implementation for Tourism Ecosystem (15/11/2022)

Under this tender, the implementation of the EU-level tourism portal would provide tourism industry, SMEs and other stakeholders an easy access to the resources that support them in their transition towards more green and innovative services and operations in order to enhance the position of the EU as the leading tourist destination globally. The platform should be developed so that it can support separately managed content types for different industrial ecosystem communities, while the first implementation under this tender would focus on content implementation for the tourism ecosystem.

Setting out the path to make the EU's social economy and local businesses more resilient, green and digital (16/11/2022)

On 14 November, Commissioner Thierry Breton presented the Transition Pathway for proximity and social economy. A co-created path engaging relevant parties to help social economy entities and small local businesses become greener and more digital. The pathway is the results of 10 months of intensive discussions and collaboration in 12 workshops attended by over 400 participants. The pathway puts forward 14 action areas and 30 concrete actions for green and digital transition. It also identifies most relevant public and private actors to act as a lever to make the transition happen. To kick-off the implementation phase, the European Commission opened a call for pledges, inviting relevant parties to present their concrete commitments and to express interest in working together on the 30 actions identified.

The European Union and Ukraine (15/11/2022)

Ukraine is a priority partner for the European Union. The EU stands united in its unwavering support to Ukraine in the face of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified aggression and the illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory by the Russian Federation and continues to condemn this violation of international law. The EU remains steadfast in its commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The EU has stepped up its political, humanitarian, financial support and military assistance to Ukraine and is imposing massive sanctions against the Kremlin to cripple its war machine.

EUR 1 billion mobilised for Solidarity Lanes to increase global food security and provide a lifeline for Ukraine's economy (15/11/2022)

As part of the European Union's response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the European Commission and bordering EU Member States established on 12 May 2022 the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes. The Solidarity Lanes are essential corridors for Ukraine's agricultural exports, as well as the export and import of other goods. Up to now, Solidarity Lanes have allowed to:

• export over 15 million tonnes of grain, oilseeds and related products from Ukraine;
• export 15 million tonnes of non-agricultural products (ores, iron and steel, wood);
• generate over 15 billion euro for Ukrainian farmers and businesses

Commission initiates feasibility study to better connect Ukrainian and Moldovan railway networks with EU (15/11/2022)

On 21 October, the Commission together with the EIB launched a pre-feasibility study to assess how to better connect the Ukrainian and Moldovan railway networks with the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The rail gauge used in most of the EU is different to the one in Eastern Europe, which makes it difficult to ship goods in both directions. This could be solved by extending the EU railway gauge across the borders from Poland and Romania into Ukraine and Moldova. Today's study is a key step in preparing for better EU–Ukraine and Moldova connectivity after the war.

The internal DG GROW Supply Chain Task Force Bulletin - November (25/10/2022)

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

EU FINANCE DAYS 2022 - ROMANIA - Last chance to register! (23/11/2022)

The EU FINANCE DAYS are organised by the European Commission and implementing partners to present new financial and support programmes such as InvestEU, Single Market Programme and the European Innovation Council to businesses and relevant stakeholders. Join us at the next EU FINANCE DAY targeting Romania on 23 November. Registration here.

Let’s Get Digital – Join the Get Digital award ceremony - Last chance to register! (24/11/2022)

On 24 November, DG GROW alongside DIGITAL SME will host an award ceremony for the winning solutions of the Get Digital competition. Startups/SMEs from across industrial ecosystems will showcase innovative models at the intersection of the digital and green transition. Join the workshop and get inspired.

Co-creation roundtable event on the mobility transition pathway (28/11/2022)

On 28 November, the Commission will hold a roundtable event on the transition pathway for the mobility ecosystem. The pathway was designed as a co-creation process to help identify the transition’s main challenges and opportunities as well as possible forward-looking solutions and commitments. This event aims to pursue this co-creation process launched earlier this year with the public consultation on the staff working document ‘For a resilient, innovative, sustainable and digital mobility ecosystem – Scenarios for a transition pathway’.

Save the date - SME Assembly 2022 in Prague (28/11/2022)

The SME Assembly is the most significant event for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe. The conference takes place once a year during the European SME week. Together with the network of SME envoys, the assembly creates the governance structure of the small business act. The 2022 SME Assembly will take place from 28 to 30 November 2022, together with the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The event will take place in Prague, with the option for additional delegates to attend online.

The European Small and Mid-Cap Awards 2022 (29/11/2022)

On 29 November, the winners of this year’s European Small and Mid-Cap Awards will be announced and celebrated in an award ceremony at the SME Assembly 2022 in Prague. The Awards, organised by the European Federation of European Securities Exchanges (FESE), EuropeanIssuers and DG GROW, highlight excellent SMEs from 27 EU countries that have accessed capital markets via Initial Public Offerings (IPO) and aim at promoting stock listings in EU public markets. The awards also includes a Special Mention aiming at recognising an initiative, an individual or a company which has had a significant impact on small and mid-cap issuers accessing capital markets.

EIF Masterclass Empowering equity: Investing in female representation (05/12/2022)

For every euro VC funds raised by European companies, 90 cents go to all-male founder teams, 9 cents are invested in mixed founder teams and only 1 cent go to all-female founder teams. General Partners, Limited Partners, Business Angels, VC funds interested in InvestEU will discuss how to change it and learn about the new InvestEU gender criteria. Good to know: at least 25% of the funds supported by the InvestEU equity product should be gender diverse and include women in decision-making.

European Clusters Collaboration Platform events in November and December (17/11/2022)

In September 2022 the ECCP hosted the 8th edition of the European Cluster Conference 2022 in Prague, which gathered over 600 participants from 40 countries. In November 2022, it was a Matchmaking event in Singapore, and a Clusters Meet Regions event in Katowice, Poland. Moreover, the ECCP organised the Cluster Booster Academy 2022-2023 which will kick off on 1-2 December and will gather 40 clusters managers from different EU countries to increase their skills, expertise, and exchange best practices. DG GROW through its project, European Clusters Collaboration Platform (ECCP), is continuously organising in person and online events to support clusters in their work. Discover all upcoming events in November and December.

Help us grow our newsletter community by sharing it! (21/11/2022)

Do you know someone who would be interested in getting information or updates on DG GROW’s files and policies? Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter and invite them to sign up by subscribing here or by scanning the QR code!

Commission kicks off work on a European Solar Photovoltaic Industry Alliance (11/10/2022)

The Commission has formally endorsed a new Solar Photovoltaic Industry Alliance, with the aim of scaling up manufacturing technologies of innovative solar photovoltaic products and components. This will contribute to accelerating the deployment of solar power across the EU and improving the resilience of the EU's energy system.

Call for evidence and public consultation in preparation of the European Critical Raw Materials Act (18/10/2022)

The Commission has launched a call for evidence and a public consultation in preparation of the European Critical Raw Materials Act. A secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials is key for the green and digital transition as well as for the EU's security.

New EU legislative initiative on cross-border activities of associations: last chance to give your views! (13/09/2022)

DG GROW has launched a call for evidence and public consultation on a proposal for a legislative initiative on cross-border activities of associations. Feedback from stakeholders will be collected until 28 October.

Highlights from the European Cluster Conference in Prague (19/10/2022)

On 26-27 September, more than 500 persons from 40 countries participated onsite in the 8th EU Cluster Conference in Prague. The objective of the event was to reinforce the role of clusters in the implementation of the updated EU Industrial Strategy to lead the green transition, implement the digital transition and build resilience. Cluster representatives discussed how emerging clusters and mature clusters could support each other and their different policy needs.

The Industrial Forum stressed the importance of the twin transition to overcome emerging challenges and ensure our long-term success (19/10/2022)

On 21 September, the Commission hosted the 5th meeting of the Industrial Forum, which gathers experts who help the Commission implement the EU's Updated Industrial Strategy. Due to skyrocketing energy prices, the discussion focused on energy measures, synergies with defence, green & digital transition in key ecosystems and strategic dependencies.

2022 European Angel Investment Summit – Fuelling Europe’s Growth (19/10/2022)

On 11-12 October, the 2022 European Angel Investment Summit facilitated 30 start-ups to pitch with investors and enabled over 200 one-to-one meetings between companies, investors and policy makers. During the Summit the Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a cooperation between the InvestEU Portal and the European Business Angel Network.

New liability rules on products to better protect consumers and foster innovation (18/10/2022)

On 28 September, the Commission adopted a proposal to adapt product liability rules to the digital age, circular economy and new global value chains. The updated rules are designed to ensure that consumers have effective access to compensation when products, including smart products and artificial intelligence (AI), cause harm, and to give businesses legal certainty so they can invest in new and innovative products across the EU.

Commission welcomes political agreement to improve the governance and integrity of the European standardisation system (18/10/2022)

The purpose of the updated standardisation regulation is to strengthen and modernise the governance of the European standardisation system. Standards give confidence that a product or a service is fit for purpose, is safe, and will not harm people or the environment. Compliance with harmonised standards guarantees that products placed on the single market are in line with EU law.

Commission seeks members of the future High-Level Forum on European Standardisation (18/10/2022)

On 17 October, the Commission launched a call for applications for the High-Level Forum on European Standardisation. The forum’s key tasks will be to help set priorities, advise on future standardisation needs and contribute to the EU's role as a global standard-setter. The call for applications is open until 14 November. 

SOLVIT's Helping Hand in the Single Market celebrates 20 years ! (18/10/2022)

SOLVIT was created in 2002 as a network of national centres designed to help businesses and citizens to overcome cross-border issues. It is an online, free-of-charge service operating in all EU countries, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. It provides a way to remove obstacles that still hold our small companies back. This report celebrates 20 years of SOLVIT and shows how it is developing into a multi-faceted single market tool.

Why are the transparency principles for the Single Market so important? (21/10/2022)

On 26 September 2022 the Commission adopted the report on the implementation of the Single Market Transparency Directive (SMTD) showing that Member States are becoming more transparent in adopting national technical regulations for products and information society services. We asked Francesca Stefania Condello, Legal Officer from DG GROW's Notification of regulatory barriers unit, who is the face behind this report and in charge of this exercise since 2019, speaks to us about the importance of transparency principles for the Single Market and where she sees the trends in the notification procedure.

Commissioner Breton -Youth Dialogue on Entrepreneurship (19/10/2022)

On 20 September, Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market, participated in a policy dialogue with young people on the topic "Entrepreneurship". This event took place in the framework of the 2022 European Year for Youth (EYY). The participants shared the challenges they face when starting a new business but also spoke about the need for cooperation with big players already active in the EU market.

EU Annual Budget Conference 2022 - Enhancing EU strategic autonomy: a budget for a geopolitical Europe (10/10/2022)

On 10 October 2022, Commission President von der Leyen, Commissioner Thierry Breton – together with Commissioner Johannes Hahn in charge of the Budget and other high-level speakers - participated in the 2022 edition of the Annual EU Budget Conference. During the panel “Investing in deterrence – a budget for security and defence”, Commissioner Breton explained the key role of the EU budget amidst the Russian aggression and pushed for a reinforced European strategic autonomy in the area of security and defence, in the name of a stronger and more resilient Union. The recording of the event is available here, while photos can be seen here and here.

A new tourism Dashboard to support EU destinations to become greener, more digital and resilient (20/10/2022)

The Commission has launched the EU tourism dashboard, a new tool to help policy makers at national and regional level to steer policies and strategies in the tourism sector. It aims to improve access to statistics and policy-relevant indicators for tourism, in particular supporting destinations and public authorities in tracking their progress in the green and digital transition.

Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) investments and industrial ecosystems (21/10/2022)

Most industrial ecosystems have suffered significant shocks from the recent health and economic crises and the ensuing restrictions. Discover the results of Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs’ analysis on how the approved national plans contribute to recovery for a number of industrial ecosystems. You will find estimates as well as some striking examples of measures taken by EU countries in each area.

The internal DG GROW Supply Chain Task Force Bulletin - October (25/10/2022)

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

2022 Annual Conference of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) - Supporting SMEs in challenging times: Enterprise Europe Network starts Annual Conference in Prague (25/10/2022)

Yesterday, the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) - the world’s largest support network for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), opened its annual three-day conference in Prague. Through a range of workshops and networking sessions, participants will be able to discuss new EU policies relevant to SMEs, exchange best practices and build synergies as well as reflect on improving the quality and visibility of EEN services. For the live streaming of the opening session of the conference, please click here.

COP27 DG GROW online side-events open for registration ! (09/11/2022)

Don't miss the opportunity to follow DG GROW's side-events during this year's COP27.
9/11/2022 - Sustainability funding under InvestEU: supporting greener business practices
10/11/2022 - The Critical Raw Material Act 
10/11/2022 - Presentation of the Solar Photovoltaic Industry Alliance
17/11/2022 - Local Green Deals – Implementing global ambitions at the local level 

Conference: “The Unitary Patent System - A Game Changer for Innovation in Europe” (17/11/2022)

The EU Single Market is about to enter a new era of promoting investment in innovation. The long-awaited arrival of the Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court, set to become operational in early 2023, will boost the development and trade of IP-intensive goods and services, spark up FDI flows and facilitate the scaling-up of European innovative SMEs. The conference is organised to mark this milestone in the completion of the EU’s single market for innovation.

EU FINANCE DAYS 2022 - ROMANIA (23/11/2022)

The EU FINANCE DAYS are organised by the European Commission and implementing partners to present new financial and support programmes such as InvestEU, Single Market Programme and the European Innovation Council to businesses and relevant stakeholders. Join us at the next EU FINANCE DAY targeting Romania on 23 November. Registration here.

Let’s Get Digital – Join the Get Digital award ceremony! (24/11/2022)

On 24 November, DG GROW alongside DIGITAL SME will host an award ceremony for the winning solutions of the Get Digital competition. Startups/SMEs from across industrial ecosystems will showcase innovative models at the intersection of the digital and green transition. Join the workshop and get inspired.

State of the Union address by President von der Leyen (13/09/2022)

On 14 September, the President of the European Commission delivered the State of the Union address to the Parliament. The address takes stock of the achievements of the past year and presents the priorities for the year ahead. DG GROW will play an important role in delivering many of these flagship initiatives, among others: the European Critical Raw Materials Act; the SME Relief Package, including the Late Payment Directive; the recognition of professional qualifications of third country nationals; the proposal for the creation of an EU Hydrogen Bank ...

SMEI - The new EU instrument to guarantee the functioning of the single market during emergencies (13/09/2022)

On 19 September, the Commission presented the new Single Market Emergency Instrument (SMEI). This crisis governance framework aims to preserve the free movement of goods, services and persons and the availability of essential goods and services in the event of future emergencies, to the benefit of citizens and businesses across the EU. While the Single Market has proven to be our best asset in crisis management, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted structural shortcomings hampering the EU's ability to effectively respond to emergency situations in a coordinated manner. Unilateral measures caused fragmentation, worsening the crisis and affecting particularly SMEs.

The Commission adopted the regulation on effectively banning products produced, extracted or harvested with forced labour (13/09/2022)

On 14 September, the Commission proposed to prohibit products made with forced labour on the EU market. The proposal covers all products, namely those made in the EU for domestic consumption and exports, and imported goods, without targeting specific companies or industries. The proposal builds on internationally agreed definitions and standards, and underlines the importance of close cooperation with global partners. National authorities will be empowered to withdraw from the EU market products made with forced labour, following an investigation.

European Year of Youth - Entrepreneurship with Commissioner Thierry Breton (13/09/2022)

On 20 September, Commissioner Thierry Breton participated in an EU Youth Dialogue with young people in the framework of the EU Youth Strategy. This is a way to ensure that the opinion, views and needs of young people and youth organisations are taken into account when defining the EU's youth policies. The EU Youth Strategy contributes to realising the vision of young people by mobilising EU-level policy instruments as well as encouraging stakeholders to take actions at national, regional and local level.

30 Euroclusters have been launched to implement the EU Industrial Strategy (15/09/2022)

On 1 September 2022, 30 Euroclusters were launched to implement the EU Industrial Strategy. Euroclusters are cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary and trans-European strategic initiatives of industry clusters and other economic actors such as research organisations, companies, etc. €42 million from the Single Market Programme have been allocated to this first batch of Euroclusters, composed of 171 partners, covering 23 different countries and all 14 industrial ecosystems.

What is OOTS, the Once Only Technical System? (13/09/2022)

OOTS will be the first EU-wide data space, which will enable the sharing of information between public administrations across borders between EU countries. Available as from the end of 2023, the Once Only Technical System (OOTS) will allow public authorities across the EU to exchange official documents and data at citizens' and businesses’ request in a simplified and efficient manner.

Improving reciprocal access to international procurement for EU companies (14/09/2022)

A crucial tool of the EU resilience toolbox entered into force on 29 August 2022: the International Procurement Instrument (IPI) (Regulation (EU) 2022/1031) gives the EU important leverage to open public procurement markets outside the EU. The primary objective of the IPI is to provide an open, level playing field for EU companies that are or would like to be active in public procurement markets abroad.

InvestEU implementation has started! One of its first deals is the female-led Green Generation Fund (14/09/2022)

The Green Generation Fund (GGF) founded by Manon Littek and Janna Ensthaler has raised €100 million for investments in innovative food tech and green tech startups. The European Investment Fund (EIF) contributed €25 million backed by an EU budget guarantee from the new InvestEU programme. The Green Generation Fund invests exclusively in sustainable startups that make significant progress in CO₂ avoidance, the circular economy, climate and resource protection, health promotion and biodiversity. The EIF contribution is in line with the InvestEU priorities for enhancing venture capital in Europe, and for supporting female entrepreneurship and sustainability investments. Within the spirit of the European Green Deal, it will help companies engage in more sustainable business models.

Discover the EU Support Tools for SMEs on Your Europe (14/09/2022)

The easiest and fastest way to search for the right EU support tools for SMEs available to help you find funding, information and guidance, training and partnerships, or help and advice.

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs stands firmly by Ukrainian entrepreneurs (14/09/2022)

The EYE programme continues to support its Ukrainian local contact points and entrepreneurs in this crisis. We took measures, implemented by the entire network, to help these organisations match Ukrainian entrepreneurs with their hosts outside of Ukraine and allow them to continue realising their ambitions to start and grow their companies.

EU-Ukraine Business Matchmaking Platform open new opportunities for buyers and logistics companies (20/09/2022)

In record time, a Business Matchmaking Platform was set up early June by the Ukrainian Enterprise Europe Network partner. This platform aims to bring EU and Ukrainian businesses together quickly so that they may find swift and pragmatic solutions for the export of agricultural produce from Ukraine.

The internal DG GROW Supply Chain Task Force Bulletin (20/09/2022)

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

Save the date - The European Cluster Conference in Prague is coming up (26/09/2022)

The 8^th edition of the European Cluster Conference will take place on 26 - 27 September 2022 in Prague, Czech Republic. The conference will bring together cluster managers, policymakers and experts from across the European Union to discuss the latest trends in cluster policies. The event aims to stimulate a high-level policy discussion on the challenges that need to be addressed in order to reinforce the role and added value of clusters in the implementation of the updated EU Industrial Strategy as well as in other core European initiatives impacting industry.

Save the date - 2022 Annual Conference of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), on how the network can best accelerate the industrial transition through its services (25/10/2022)

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) helps businesses innovate and grow on an international scale. It is the world’s largest support network for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with international ambitions. The Network is  active worldwide and brings together experts from member organisations that are renowned for their excellence in business support.

Their Annual Conference is the main event of the network, providing participants with an interesting and stimulating mix of EU policy updates, workshops, and networking sessions. This year, the conference is taking place in Prague from 25 to 27 October with around 500 people onsite and 3,000 people participating online. The overarching theme for this year's event is "New Network, new realities, new impact": with the European economy dealing with the cumulative shock of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, it is vital that the services offered by EEN Network evolve to meet these challenges.

What DG GROW has put in place to strive for a Union of Equality (14/09/2022)

President Ursula von der Leyen has made Equality one of the main priorities of the European Commission. To fully play its part in that endeavour, DG GROW has prepared an Equality Mainstreaming Work Plan with operational actions and initiatives covering the external dimension focusing on our different policy areas. 

Informing you about DG GROW policies and files (06/07/2022)

The first issue of this newly created newsletter is sent to you because you are a partner within the European Institutions, you are an industrial or a business stakeholder or you have attended, in the past, a relevant event in which the European Commission participated and agreed to receive information. The newsletter will be providing every month information on the files and policies under the responsibility of DG GROW.

If you have not received this newsletter directly and would like to subscribe, please do so here. You won’t regret it, we promise.

4th Industrial Forum Plenary Session, 29 June 2022 (06/07/2022)

The Industrial Forum, launched as part of the Industrial Strategy, consists of a wide array of stakeholders, including industrial representations, EU countries’ authorities, NGOs, research institutions and social partners representing different industrial ecosystems. The Forum aims to deliver on transition pathways in different ecosystems and deepen the systematic analyses of industrial ecosystems presented in the updated Industrial Strategy. It also intends to identify cross-border and cross-ecosystem investment needs and cooperation opportunities, improve understanding of the EU economy’s strategic dependencies and vulnerabilities, as well as tap into the expertise of all its members.

REPowerEU with Clean Industry (06/07/2022)

The Russian invasion of Ukraine highlighted the need to accelerate the reduction of our fossil fuel dependencies from Russia. Replacing coal, oil and gas in industrial processes will help cut this dependency, while transitioning to cleaner energy sources, strengthening industrial competitiveness and supporting international technology leadership. Energy intensive industries can significantly contribute to and benefit from REPowerEU efforts.

Commission approves up to €5.4 billion of public support by fifteen Member States for an Important Project of Common European Interest in the hydrogen technology value chain (15/07/2022)

The Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, an Important Project of Common European Interest (‘IPCEI') to support research and innovation and first industrial deployment in the hydrogen technology value chain. As part of this IPCEI, 35 companies with activities in one or more Member States, including small and medium-sized enterprises (‘SMEs') and start-ups, will participate in 41 projects.

Conference on the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Single Market 7 December 2022, Prague: Call for papers (07/07/2022)

The conference will bring together top researchers from academia and policy makers from EU and national institutions to present research findings and policy insights related to the Single Market. Authors interested in presenting their research should submit their papers to GROW-SM-CONFERENCE@ec.europa.eu.

Save the date – 17.11.2022 Conference: “The Unitary Patent System - A Game Changer for Innovation in Europe” (17/11/2022)

The EU Single Market is about to enter a new era of promoting investment in innovation. The long-awaited arrival of the Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court, set to become operational in early 2023, will boost the development and trade of IP-intensive goods and services, spark up FDI flows and facilitate the scaling-up of European innovative SMEs. The conference is organised to mark this milestone in the completion of the EU’s single market for innovation.

Commission seeks views and input on compulsory licensing of patents (12/07/2022)

On 7 July, the Commission has launched a public consultation on compulsory licensing of patents, inviting interested parties to express their views on the topic. In particular, the Commission looks for suggestions on how to build a more efficient and coordinated compulsory licensing scheme in the EU, reduce current fragmentation and improve Europe's resilience in managing crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The consultation also gathers views on improving harmonisation, coordination between EU Member States and coordination with the Commission.

The updated Blue Guide on the implementation of the product rules 2022 is published (06/07/2022)

On 29 June, the Commission published the ‘Blue Guide on the implementation of the product rules 2022’. The Guide is meant for a better understanding of EU product rules and facilitation of their uniform application across sectors throughout the Single Market. The Blue Guide is a non-binding instrument and it was published in 2000. It has been subsequently updated twice, in 2014 and 2016.

SME Envoys Network meeting 21 June 2022 (06/07/2022)

On 21 June, the French Presidency concluded its competitiveness-related work with a conference on SMEs in the Single Market. This conference included a meeting of the SME Envoy which acts as the interface between European SMEs and the Commission. The Envoy's role is to improve the Commission's awareness of the problems facing SMEs. The network continues working on reports detailing the impact of sanctions and high energy costs on European SMEs and will be providing policy recommendations, both related to the current situation and to increase preparedness for future crises.

5th EU-Ukraine High-Level Industrial Dialogue (12/07/2022)

On 6 July, the EU and Ukrainian representatives met for a High Level Industrial Dialogue to discuss EU support for Ukrainian businesses and industry in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as to address the challenges for Ukraine's reconstruction efforts. The meeting provided a unique opportunity to discuss key areas of EU-Ukraine industrial cooperation.

A new EU-Ukraine Business Matchmaking Platform (05/07/2022)

In record time, a Business Matchmaking Platform was set up early June by the Ukrainian Enterprise Europe Network partner. This platform aims to bring EU and Ukrainian businesses together quickly so that they may find swift and pragmatic solutions for the export of agricultural produce from Ukraine.

The internal DG GROW Supply Chain Task Force (05/07/2022)

DG GROW set up an internal Supply Chains Task Force (SUCH) led by Maive Rute (Deputy Director-General) the day after the Russian military aggression against Ukraine. It gathers DG GROW’s expertise on specific industrial ecosystems and horizontal issues linked to the war. It also provides regular updates with the most relevant news and impact analysis.