REPORT: Ever closer, never single

On 12 November 2019, Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the European Union together with EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy and CEBRE - Czech Business Representation to the EU in Brussels organised a high-level lunch debate. The meeting was attended by representatives of European Commission, Member States, MEPs, private sector as well as trade unions and research institutes. The debate focused on assessing the current state of the Single Market based on various survey conducted among businesses earlier this year - and draw recommendations for the new Commission.

The meeting was hosted and moderated by H.E. Jaroslav Zajíček, Deputy Head of the Czech Permanent Representation to the EU and Permanent Representative to COREPER. 

In the introductory remarks, it has been reflected on conducted surveys that had investigated the perceived problems connected to the deepening of the Single Market. 

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The discussion covered a wide range of remarks surrounding the obstacles of deepening of the Single Market. Majority of participants agreed on above mentioned problems, which seems to be interlinked to one another. Additionally, during the discussion the obstacles around posted workers has been raised several times. Also, geoblocking was mentioned as an example of regulations that has not been assessed properly and which lacked consideration of combined impact. The different approaches of Member States to the cause and their variety of protectionist tendencies has been addressed by some as well.