European Single Market: Origins and Evolution

The Single Market is a product of an era when both the EU and the world were “smaller”, simpler, and less integrated, and many of today’s key players had not yet entered the scene. When Jacques Delors conceived and presented the European Single Market to the world in 1985, the EU was known as the European Communities. The number of Member States was less than half of what it is today. Germany was divided into two, and the Soviet Union still existed. China and India together constituted less than 5% of the global economy, and the acronym BRICS was unheard of. At that time, Europe, on par with the US, was at the centre of the world economy, leading in terms of economic weight and innovation capacity, representing a fertile ground for development and growth.The Single Market was established to strengthen European integration by eliminating trade barriers, ensuring fair competition, and promoting cooperation and solidarity among Member States. It facilitated the free movement of goods, services, people, and capital through harmonisation and mutual recognition, thereby enhancing competition and fostering innovation. Furthermore, to guarantee that all regions could equally benefit from market opportunities, cohesion funds were introduced. This comprehensive approach has been pivotal in driving economic integration and development across the EU.Tailored for the world of that time, the Single Market proved from the beginning to be a formidable boost for the European economy, as well as a powerful factor of attractiveness. Today, more than thirty years after its inception, the Single Market continues to be a cornerstone of European integration and values, serving as a powerful catalyst for growth, prosperity and solidarity. However, the international scenario has profoundly changed, highlighting the need to develop a new Single Market.The Single Market has always been intrinsically linked to the EU’s strategic objectives. Often perceived as a project of a technical nature, on the contrary it is inherently political. Its future is tied to the EU’s strategic objectives and thus to the context in which the EU acts. Therefore, it should never be considered a completed endeavour, but rather an ongoing project. Still, an immediate boost is needed to bring the Single Market at a par with the current context and to prepare it for continuous evolution in line with the dynamics of our time.It is precisely because of its constantly evolving nature that the Single Market has always been called to adapt to the evolving European and global context. Since the elaboration of the Single European Act, a constant and gradual work of conceptual reflection, involving the elaboration of Reports and Action Plans, was carried on, specifically by the European Commission and its Commissioners. Along these lines, in 2010 the Monti Report provided critical reassessments and set forth recommendations for its reinvigoration. My report is positioned within this continuum, with the objective of conducting a thorough examination of the Single Market’s future following a succession of crises and external challenges that have fundamentally tested its resilience.
Eurovoc Subjects
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The unifying theme of this collection is ‘The Internal Market Ideal’. It is an implicit reference to one of Steve’s recent books, The Internal Market as a Legal Concept (OUP 2016), but also reflects our hope that a close examination of the legal issues surrounding the semi-integrated market of the European Union could assist in finding, and perhaps delivering, its most desirable version: a Union which benefits from economic growth and pursues non-economic objectives, all whilst carefully balancing respect for Member States’ autonomy and the European Union’s self-sufficiency. Chapters in this collection are divided into five parts, addressing many facets of European internal market law. Each chapter offers a different perspective on select aspects of the internal market, its regulatory framework, and legal principles. We hope you will enjoy the intellectual journey through the chapters as much as we have done: it offers a panoramic view of the many elements of the Union’s internal market, and, most importantly, an opportunity to appreciate the breadth of Steve’s contributions to the field.

Die europäischen Wirtschaftsgrundrechte wurden stark fortentwickelt, indem der EuGH die immer wieder beklagte grobmaschige Prüfungsdichte deutlich erhöht hat. Daraus ergeben sich wichtige Konsequenzen für die Verwirklichung des Klimaschutzes auf EU-Ebene, die mit dem BVerfG-Klimabeschluss abgeglichen werden. Wie können damit die UN-Ziele für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung erreicht werden, zu denen Maßnahmen zum Klimaschutz gehören (SDG 13)? Insoweit von Bedeutung sind auch die solidarischen Grundrechte vor allem in Gestalt des Umweltschutzes. Die sozialen Grundrechte hatten ihre Bewährungsprobe im Zusammenhang mit Covid 19. Ausführlich behandelt werden auch die Gleichheits- und Bürgerrechte, die justiziellen Rechte unter starkem Rückgriff auf die insoweit vielfältige EGMR-Judikatur, aber auch die jüngere EuGH-Rechtsprechung in Kartellsachen. Insgesamt erfolgt eine nähere Bewertung mit Blick auf die konkreten Konsequenzen.

Depuis les années 1990, le droit d’établissement des sociétés, au sein du marché intérieur, a connu une évolution sans précédent. En tant qu’opérateurs économiques, les sociétés devaient être les premières bénéficiaires de ce marché, mais leur circulation est restée longtemps entravée, faute d’un encadrement juridique satisfaisant à l’échelle de l’Union. Cette carence a été comblée dans un premier temps par l’activisme de la Cour de justice de l’Union européenne, offrant aux sociétés la possibilité de jouir des moyens nécessaires à leur circulation. C’est ce qui ressort de la jurisprudence qui est allée bien au-delà d’une simple coordination des droits nationaux. Depuis l’arrêt Centros du 9 mars 1999, la Cour de justice a en effet profondément modifié la condition juridique des sociétés, en bouleversant la notion même d’établissement. Si le rattachement des sociétés au territoire d’un État membre constitue une condition inhérente à leur existence, l’exercice du droit d’établissement permet de faciliter la circulation de celles-ci sans pour autant remettre en cause la compétence normative des États membres, lesquels restent les seuls à pouvoir déterminer les conditions de création, de fonctionnement et de dissolution des sociétés. La jurisprudence de la Cour de justice se montre cependant favorable à ce que les sociétés puissent fusionner, se scinder ou transférer leur siège social d’un État membre à un autre sans être tenues de subir une liquidation et la perte de leur personnalité juridique, comme l’a reconnu la Cour de justice dans son arrêt Polbud du 25 octobre 2017. Dans un second temps, le législateur de l’Union a enfin pris le relais de la Cour de justice, aux fins d’offrir aux entreprises les outils nécessaires à leur circulation. Le premier texte devant être mentionné en ce sens est la directive (UE) 2019/2121 en ce qui concerne les transformations, fusions et scissions transfrontalières. Le deuxième texte est la directive (UE) 2019/1151 en ce qui concerne l’utilisation d’outils et de processus numériques en droit des sociétés. Enfin, il y a la directive (UE) 2019/1023 relative aux cadres de restructuration préventive, à la remise de dettes et aux déchéances, et aux mesures à prendre pour augmenter l’efficacité des procédures en matière de restructuration, d’insolvabilité et de remise de dettes, dite « restructuration et insolvabilité ». L’objectif de ces textes est de favoriser la circulation des sociétés tout en offrant aux États membres des gardefous contre des risques d’abus, notamment à l’encontre des droits des travailleurs, des actionnaires et des créanciers. Ce nouveau cadre législatif influence ainsi le droit des sociétés, mais aussi le droit social, le droit de la concurrence, le droit fiscal, ou encore le droit financier.

Der hundertste Jubiläumsband der Heidelberger Schriftenreihe zum Wirtschaftsrecht und Europarecht spiegelt mit seinem Titel das proprium der Reihe und enthält Beiträge zum Binnenmarktrecht vor mitgliedstaatlichen Gerichten (Peter-Christian Müller-Graff), zu neuen Perspektiven einer Europäischen Privatgesellschaft (Stephan Harbarth), zu einem europäischen Gruppenrecht für den Binnenmarkt (Peter Hommelhoff), zu Grundfragen des Austrittsrechts der Gesellschafter bei einer grenzüberschreitenden Spaltung (Dirk A. Verse), zu der Figur der Datentreuhand zu Forschungszwecken (Stefan J. Geibel) und zu einer kollisionsrechtlichen Betrachtung des Einheitspatentrechts (Christian Heinze).

L’étude du droit matériel de l’Union européenne couvre l’ensemble des normes de droit qui prescrivent, interdisent ou autorisent un certain comportement dans le cadre de la réalisation des objectifs de cette organisation supranationale particulière. Parmi les multiples objectifs que posent les traités fondateurs de l'Union, l’établissement d’un marché intérieur reste toujours l’un des plus importants. Le marché intérieur comporte un espace sans frontières intérieures dans lequel la libre circulation des personnes, marchandises, capitaux et services est garantie selon les dispositions du traité sur le fonctionnement de l’Union européenne. Ce dernier traité consacre directement et explicitement la liberté de circulation des marchandises, capitaux, travailleurs et prestataires indépendants d’activités non salariées et, plus généralement, de tout ressortissant d’un État membre en tant que citoyen de l’Union européenne. Grâce à l'effet direct dont bénéficient les libertés de circulation, la Cour de justice a réussi à mettre sur pied et affiner un cadre permettant aux particuliers et entreprises de s’appuyer directement sur le traité contre toute mesure restrictive émanant des autorités publiques ou de certains acteurs privés agissant dans l’intérêt collectif au sein des États membres de l’Union européenne. La deuxième édition complètement revue et augmentée de cet ouvrage expose le cadre juridique relatif à ces libertés de circulation ainsi qu’aux domaines connexes de la citoyenneté de l’Union européenne et de l’espace Schengen. À travers une analyse de la jurisprudence tant fondatrice que récente de la Cour de justice, les différentes libertés de circulation seront analysées et comparées. Des tableaux synthétiques complètent l’analyse de jurisprudence et permettent de visualiser la structure du raisonnement juridique caractéristique du droit du marché intérieur.

Le droit matériel de l'Union européenne semble souvent complexe pour l'observateur extérieur. Cette complexité s'explique essentiellement par la technicité et la densité des domaines régis, et la nature du processus d'intégration, toujours plus intense. À cela, s'ajoute la délicate mise en œuvre de plusieurs réformes relatives aux procédures, comme en témoigne le droit de la concurrence. Pour autant, le droit matériel de l'Union demeure soumis à des principes et mécanismes précis et identifiables que l'auteur s'emploie à expliquer et à mettre en évidence. Aussi l'ouvrage s'articule-t-il autour de deux grands axes qui se prêtent, chacun, à un examen minutieux : l'espace de libertés (1re partie), au travers des quatre libertés de circulation, supports fondamentaux du marché intérieur, et l'espace de concurrence (2e partie), dont les règles sont opposables aux entreprises privées et publiques ainsi qu'aux autorités nationales. Dans cette 7e édition, l'auteur s'attache à mettre en lumière les développements législatifs et évolutions jurisprudentielles les plus récents de la matière, s'agissant notamment des libertés de circulation, particulièrement des marchandises et des personnes, ainsi que du droit de la concurrence et plus largement du droit économique. L'ouvrage s'adresse aux étudiants de licence et master et aux candidats aux différents concours et examens d'entrée, ainsi qu'à celles et ceux qui souhaitent saisir et maîtriser au mieux un droit en constante évolution.

La începutul anului 2023, Piaţa Unică Europeană a împlinit 30 de ani defuncţionare în forma pe care o cunoaştem astăzi şi, fără îndoială, acestaeste un moment de reflecţie atât asupra oportunităţilor pe care le-a oferit,fără discriminare, membrilor Uniunii Europene, cât şi asupra capacităţiisale de a face faţă cu brio încercărilor viitorului. Nicio interpretare asustenabilităţii Uniunii Europene nu poate ocoli beneficiile de careproducătorii, consumatorii, investitorii, lucrătorii şi finanţatorii se bucură,ca rezultat al existenţei Pieţei Unice. Creşterea ofertei de locuri de muncă,a avuţiilor naţionale şi personale, a productivităţii, competitivităţii şicalităţii sunt intrinsec legate de Piaţa Unică, cea mai solidă şi longevivăconstrucţie europeană. Se poate spune că 30 ani sunt puţini în istoria relaţiilor europene, dar nutrebuie uitat faptul că piaţa comună a clădit, începând din 1957, temeliapieţei unice, care, la rândul ei, a devenit suportul real al înfăptuirii UniuniiEuropene. Prezentul, marcat de o puternică revigorare a influenţei geopoliticuluiasupra economiei, de resuscitare a suveranismului şi naţionalismului -care frânează capacitatea economicului de a da soluţii într-un mediupolitic instabil –, face ca existenţa fiecăruia dintre noi să depindă degăsirea de soluţii la încercările comune legate de mediu, energie,alimentaţie, sănătate. Acelaşi prezent solicită Pieţei Unice să întăreascăcoeziunea Uniunii Europene cu forţa pe care i-o dau sutele de milioane deeuropeni care au ales să trăiască şi să prospere împreună, să punăcreativitatea lor în slujba competitivităţii crescute în domeniiletehnologiilor noi, biotehnologiilor sau inteligenţei artificiale.

Exploring the importance of the EU Services Directive (Directive 2006/123), this book provides an expansive insight into the controversial legislation regulating the internal market in services, whilst examining the challenges of positive harmonisation. In addition, by analysing the functioning and judicial interpretation of the directive, it considers EU trade regulation values and the broader significance of EU regulation in global regulatory standard setting. The book analyses the directive's contribution to the fundamental freedoms and to the completion of the internal market, with particular focus on the remit of EU and national regulatory autonomy and general interests protection in the context of positive harmonisation. Through the lens of the directive, the study evaluates the status of EU integration and appraises the resilience of the internal market regulatory paradigm, including the interaction between primary and secondary law and the effectiveness of administrative law reinforcement, for the governance of the modern economy, as well as exploring more broadly the import and international influence of EU trade regulation. The book considers a variety of policy themes, including the relationship between national autonomy and supranational competence; the interaction of economic advancement and related general interests, such as environmental and consumer protection; market harmonisation techniques and enforcement challenges, along with potential mechanisms for regulatory enhancement. Discussing a central legal and economic framework for the regulation of trade in services, from regulatory, constitutional and policy perspectives, this book will be of significant interest to students, academics, practitioners and officials on European Union policy and law, as well as to anyone interested more generally in business regulation in evolving technological contexts, international trade law and comparative market integration themes.

This book examines the role of the European Court of Justice in the regulation of the internal market from a competence perspective. However, rather than focusing on the Court's role in enforcing the limits of EU competence in the EU's political decision making, it explores a related, albeit understudied, question: to what extent does the Court observe the constitutional limits of EU competence and its own institutional powers in the interpretation of EU internal market law laid down in the Treaties? The book provides an answer to this question through the analysis of EU free movement case law in light of the constitutional principles that govern the allocation of competences and powers in the EU: conferral, subsidiarity and proportionality, on the vertical level, and institutional balance, on the horizontal level. Why should the Court be bound by these principles? What do they mean when applied to judicial practice? To what extent are they observed in the free movement case law? The book argues that the Court's observance of the four principles has been inconsistent, thereby creating substantive and constitutional tensions in the EU's relationship with the Member States and upsetting the institutional balance of powers between the EU legislature and judiciary. Shortlisted for the UACES Best Book Prize 2023 Runner-up of the 2024 Peter Birks Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship

The clearest and most up-to-date account of the achievements—and setbacks—of the European Union since 1945. Europe has been transformed since the Second World War. No longer a checkerboard of entirely sovereign states, the continent has become the largest single-market area in the world, with most of its members ceding certain economic and political powers to the central government of the European Union. This shift is the product of world-historical change, but the process is not well understood. The changes came in fits and starts. There was no single blueprint for reform; rather, the EU is the result of endless political turmoil and dazzling bureaucratic gymnastics. As Brexit demonstrates, there are occasional steps backward, too. Cutting through the complexity, Richard Pomfret presents a uniquely clear and comprehensive analysis of an incredible achievement in economic cooperation. The Economic Integration of Europe follows all the major steps in the creation of the single market since the postwar establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community. Pomfret identifies four stages of development: the creation of a customs union, the deepening of economic union with the Single Market, the years of monetary union and eastward expansion, and, finally, problems of consolidation. Throughout, he details the economic benefits, costs, and controversies associated with each step in the evolution of the EU. What lies ahead? Pomfret concludes that, for all its problems, Europe has grown more prosperous from integration and is likely to increase its power on the global stage.

This edited volume brings together leading authors and actors in EU internal market law and policy, revisiting the classic themes in a contemporary context and considering (re-)directions for the future. The EU would not be where and what it is today without its internal market. It is the cradle of the EU's most important legal doctrines and the source of the most significant amount of European integration. And, as Brexit has underlined, it remains the primary political reason for EU membership. Considering the well-established and fundamental nature of internal market law, it is striking to find many crucial doctrinal questions still unanswered today, as explored by this book. Furthermore, these questions now find a new legal, social and political context: one that is acutely aware of the contested nature of the EU and its policies and the need to embed the internal market project in a broader setting of constitutional norms and values. This need is made all the more pressing by the rapidly changing and often disruptive technological context. The various contributions to this book contribute to finding a new direction for continued European integration in changing times, by rethinking, and where necessary reinventing, the role and purpose of this area that remains the EU's beating heart.

Law of the Internal Market provides a wide-ranging review of the European rules: free movement of goods, persons, services capital, liberalization directives. Extensively referencing case law and legislative and regulatory sources, Law of the Internal Market interprets the various complex rules for a better understanding of how they can interact and develop.

Partant du constat d'un discours critique sur l'Europe libérale en France, l'enquête sur l'évolution des politiques de l'UE depuis les années 1980 met en évidence le statut ambigu du marché dans la construction européenne. La relance par le marché apparaît non pas comme une simple manifestation du tournant libéral mais comme le produit historiquement d'une stratégie politique a priori improbable.