European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for the completion of the European single market during a Wednesday address to the European Parliament [1].
This push represents a strategic effort to increase the competitiveness of the European Union by removing systemic barriers to trade and digital integration. By streamlining the market, the Commission aims to foster economic growth while ensuring the bloc remains resilient against global economic shifts.
Speaking in Strasbourg during her State of the Union address, von der Leyen focused on the necessity of cutting red tape to reduce bureaucracy [1]. She said that removing these administrative hurdles is essential for businesses to operate more efficiently across borders [2].
Beyond deregulation, the Commission President emphasized the role of the digital transition in modernizing the economy [1]. She said that integrating digital services and infrastructure is a primary requirement for a fully functioning single market in the modern era [3].
Von der Leyen also noted that economic integration must not come at the expense of the workforce. She said that maintaining social inclusion is a critical component of the process, ensuring that the benefits of a completed market reach all citizens [1].
Despite the proposed technical and regulatory changes, the President warned that the transition is not merely a matter of policy. She said that success requires constant political will from member states to move past national interests for the collective benefit of the union [2].
The address outlined a vision where the EU operates as a seamless economic entity, reducing the friction that currently hampers small and medium-sized enterprises [3]. By aligning regulations and digitizing trade, the Commission believes the EU can better compete with other global economic superpowers [1].
“Success requires constant political will”
The call to complete the single market indicates a shift toward deeper economic integration to counter stagnating growth and competition from the U.S. and China. By linking digital transition with social inclusion, the Commission is attempting to balance neoliberal efficiency with the social protections required to maintain political stability across diverse member states.
