On 13 April the European Commission agreed on twelve key actions for re- launching the Single Market, a transversal tool that will support the implementation of the EU 2020 strategy. The Communication on the Single Market Act (SMA) confirms that the European Commission will present a Regulation on a European Foundation Statute as part of its “Social entrepreneurship” objective. The key action and measures proposed under this objective include: a European framework for mutual and social investment funds to be set up by the end of 2011, a Regulation on a European Foundation Statute, a review of the Cooperative statute, the promotion of social economy as a tool for integration and a policy paper on corporate social responsibility.

The twelve key actions set out by the Commission are:

1. Access to finance for SMEs: help SMEs to use venture capital 
2. Worker mobility in the Single Market: improve the recognition of professional qualifications
3. Intellectual property rights: set up a unitary patent protection and a unified patent litigation system
4. Consumers: simplify dispute resolution for consumers and protect relations between business and costumers
5. Services: strengthening standardisation
6. Stronger European networks: support projects for efficient energy and transport infrastructures
7. Digital Single Market: promote mutual recognition of electronic identification and authentication services
8. Social entrepreneurship: set up of a European framework for mutual and social investment funds
9. Taxation: ensure a energy common tax base for companies and a revision of the VAT applicable to cross-border taxation
10. Social cohesion: reinforce the freedom of establishment, of providing services and fundamental social rights
11. Regulatory environment for business: simplify accounting rules for SMEs
12. Public procurement: simplify procurement procedures and strengthen clauses for environmentally friendly, socially responsible and innovative good, services and works

According to the Commission, four conditions are also needed to ensure an efficient implementation of SMA. These include a better dialogue with civil society, and a close partnership with the single-market stakeholders, an efficient provision of information to citizens and enterprises, a closer monitoring of the enforcement of single-market legislation.

In February 2010, the EFC had submitted its contribution to the European Commission’s public consultation on the Single Market Act, stressing the need for a European Foundation Statute. 

More than 850 contributions from European Institutions and various stakeholders have been sent to the Commission to identify the necessary measures to stimulate growth and to boost citizens’ confidence in the Single Market. Out of the 50 proposals set out in the EC initial proposal for a Single Market Act, the actions considered the most important by the respondents were consultation and dialogue with civil society and social innovation, which included the proposal for a European Foundation Statute Regulation.

The next steps for the Commission are to obtain the approval for the proposed key actions from the European Parliament and the Council before the end of 2012, in time for the 20th anniversary of the Single Market.

Further information