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Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
30th anniversary of the single market

1993 – 2023

In 2023, Europe’s single market turns 30!

What are the key benefits of the single market?

See the success stories

  • General publications
  • Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

The stories featured in this brochure illuminate how the four fundamental freedoms of the Single Market—free movement of goods, persons, services, and capital—have simplified daily business operations, fuelling growth and prosperity across the European Union.

Key achievements of the single market

Single Market Programme (SMP)

The Single Market Programme (SMP) is the EU funding programme to help the single market reach its full potential and ensure Europe’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

With €4.2 billion over the period of 2021-2027, it provides an integrated package to support and strengthen the governance of the single market.

Single market activities throughout 2023

Want to find out what the single market does for you or join the celebrations?

Look no further.

To mark the 30th anniversary of the single market, you’re invited to join us at one of the many events, talks and exhibitions organised by the Commission and many different stakeholders that will take place throughout 2023 across the EU.

They will gradually appear on the map below.

Flagship events

  1. 7-8 December 2022
    Prague academic and policy conferences
    • 7 December, an academic conference, 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. Speakers' presentations and recordings of all sessions are now available.
    • 8 December, a political conference, focused 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 was dedicated to how we can further remove barriers for SMEs in the single market.
  2. 16-17 January 2023
    January EP plenary session: debate

    During the plenary, 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.

  3. 24-25 January 2023
    EESC 575th Plenary session - 30 years of the Single Market, our greatest success but also the biggest challenge for the next generation
  4. 16 March 2023
    Adoption of the "Single Market at 30" communication

    See the adopted communication and factsheet.

  5. 17-21 April 2023
    Hannover Messe 2023

    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 the DG, 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.

  6. 2 May 2023
    Single Market Forum

    On 2 May, the European Commission together with the Swedish Presidency co-hosted the Single Market Forum conference (SIMFO) to mark the 30th anniversary of the EU single market. A high-level panel discussed what can be done now and in the long term to improve the functioning of the single market. The panel also discussed what the EU single market has achieved in its first 30 years and emphasised the importance of long-term competitiveness for continued success. Issues discussed during the conference included the future of the single market, with a focus on the digital single market, standardisation and skills supply. The business sector, trade organisations, representatives from the EU and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Member States and other actors gave their views on how the single market can be improved.

    Watch the replay of the conference

  7. June 2023 - July 2023
    Social media campaign
  8. September 2023 – June 2024
    Single Market Tour

    Check out the Single Market Tour page for more information and its itinerary

  9. 15 September 2023
    The Single Market in its 30th anniversary and beyond

    Two panels have been held in the European Commission Representation in Madrid.

    Panel 1: 30 years of the Single Market: achievements and challenges ahead

    In this first panel, speakers reflected on the achievements of the Single Market throughout the past 3 decades, while delving into the challenges facing the EU's continued influence in the world today, and how the Single Market can contribute to sustain European values and prosperity.

    Panel 2: The next 30 years: The citizen at the core of the Single Market agenda

    This second panel analysed the EU’s priority areas, policies and tools to contribute to more resilient, cohesive, inclusive and sustainable societies across EU countries.

  10. 4-6 October 2023
    EU Industry Days 2023 in Málaga

    The Commission’s flagship event dedicated to EU industry was held in Málaga, Spain and gathered approximately 1,200 participants both on site and online, including more than 200 speakers. Discussions took place over 3 days and featured industrial leaders, policymakers, SME representatives, start-uppers, researchers, and civil society representatives. The event offered an opportunity for participants to meet with both EU and local experts to discover funding and business advisory programmes and visit an exhibition with 16 EU-funded projects. In addition, the EU Industry Days provided a platform for stakeholders to share their views with EU policymakers. See the report of the event with key takeaways from all 40 sessions. It is also possible to watch the recordings of all the sessions on GROW’s Youtube channel.

  11. 13-15 November 2023
    SME Assembly 2023 in Bilbao
  12. 15-17 November 2023
    EEN Annual Conference in Bilbao

Business Planet

Episode 1 - EU single market prepares to celebrate its 30th birthday

Episode 2 - Energy security: How innovation is driving Europe’s race for solar renaissance

Episode 3 - Setting the standard: How LEGO ensures its toys are child-proof and cybersecure

Episode 4 - Europe in race to secure raw materials critical for energy transition

Episode 5 - How public spending in Oslo is driving zero-emissions building sites

Episode 6 – Bridging the gap: Boosting Europe’s green workforce to keep pace with net zero energy ambitions

Episode 7 – Europe's Unitary Patent: Boosting innovation and simplifying patent protection

Episode 8 - Are short-term rentals the cause of Porto's housing crisis?

Episode 9 – Quarter of European bankruptcies blamed on late payments. What is the Commission doing about it?

Episode 10 – From trash to treasure: Europe's journey to 'infinitely' recyclable textiles

Episode 11 – Enterprise Europe Network helps Greek textiles firm push the boundaries of innovation

Episode 12 – Europe’s SME Assembly: Big ideas for a sustainable economic climate

Episode 13 – Reach for the sky: How clusters are helping Europe's aerospace industry take off

Episode 14 – Progress or hot air: Is Europe on track to meet its wind energy targets?

Episode 15 – What's stopping Europe from reaching its clean hydrogen goals?

Episode 16 – How does the EU protect businesses from unfair trading practices? | Euronews

Episode 17 – 20th anniversary of EU expansion that opened new business horizons

Episode 18 - 'I start from a big, red alarm' - Enrico Letta urges radical EU single market shake-up

Online quiz: What are the benefits of the EU single market?

The single market enables people, goods, services and capital to move freely across EU countries. There are also many other benefits to discover. You can find out more about your single market rights and it will also help you with the quiz!

Please note that the competition to win a prize ended on 12 July. But you can still play for fun!

Take the quiz

Competition rules

Data protection notice

Single Market Tour

The Single Market Tour, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the single market, successfully engaged citizens across the European Union from September 2023 to June 2024. It was a milestone in promoting the single market’s benefits while visiting 44 cities across 24 EU countries. 

This travelling exhibition showcased the many benefits and opportunities of the single market. It featured engaging and interactive activities, challenging games, and insightful interviews.

The tour's successful engagement with people across Europe highlights the Commission's commitment to connecting with citizens and gathering valuable insights on their views of the single market. As we reflect on the tour's achievements, we also look forward to future initiatives that can build on these successes.

Check out the Single Market Tour page for more information and its itinerary.

Promotional materials

Communication toolkit

The style guide was last updated on: 29 March 2023.

  • 29 MARCH 2023
30th anniversary of the single market - visual style guide

Templates for print

Digital and social media

Videos

The single market turns 30 in 2023, the European Parliament continues to work to adapt the single market further to respond to current challenges and make full use of its potential (16 January 2023)

Discover how Enterprise European Network experts can provide tailored advice on product compliance, taxation and regulatory rules, international business opportunities, intellectual property, and more (9 January 2023)

Related links

The EC Library has produced a Library Guide, which contains a selection of information and sources on the history of the European single market.

EU competitiveness beyond 2030: looking ahead at the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the single market - EC press release (16 March 2023)

2023 Annual Single Market Report and 2022 Single Market Scoreboard Report confirm the single market underpins Europe’s ability to tackle key challenges - EC press release (31 January 2023)

30 years of the EU single market: Time to face new challenges - EP resolution (18 January 2023)

European single market is turning 30 - press release (2 January 2023)

Commissioner Breton's speech at the conference on the 30th anniversary of the single market (8 December 2022)

Celebrating 30 years of the EU single market - Eurostat infographics (6 December 2022)

EP Internal Market Committee hearing celebrating 30 years of the single market - event details, press release (27 October 2022)