The Next Step for the Single Market: A Geo-economic Shelter

"China and the USA are fighting tooth and nail for supremacy over strategically important supply chains and pioneering technologies. They are not playing by the rules. This battle threatens Europe's geopolitical sovereignty and industrial base," warns cep single market expert Matthias Kullas, who authored the study with cep lawyer Anja Hoffmann. According to Kullas, the interdependence of international trade, technology, security and geopolitical power will continue to increase.

The cep researchers advise the new Commission and the political decision-makers for the period after the European elections to protect the EU single market against geo-economic risks. According to Kullas and Hoffmann, the necessary measures include protection against disruptions in the supply of critical resources and technologies, protection against external coercive measures and protection against competitive disadvantages due to strategic third-party subsidies. "In order to achieve this triple protection, it is essential to strengthen the single market," emphasises Kullas. The geo-economic protection of the single market must be on par with the other protective purposes of the single market, such as consumer protection, data protection and environmental protection.

The study on the EU single market is part three of the cep series on the challenges for the period after the European elections on 9 June.