See afterwards: Competitiveness through better functioning of the single market – a wish list for the next EU Commission

National Board of Trade Sweden arranged a seminar during the EU Days Lund 2023. The event was organised by the City of Lund, Lund University, the European Commission Representation in Sweden and Europe Direct Lund. Our Director-General Anders Ahnlid talked about the improvements that can be done to develop the single market. Our colleague and head of department Agnès Courades Allebeck moderated the seminar.

The single market is part of our everyday life. For 30 years, it has been the engine of EU growth and employment thanks to free movement of persons, goods, services and capital. Today, the single market is the world's largest integrated market with a share of 18 percent of the world's GDP, 440 million citizens and consumers, and 23 million companies employing almost 128 million people.

See afterwards

Watch the seminar on Youtube

The conditions for the single market are drastically changing due to external factors such as geopolitical challenges, climate and demographic crises, green and digital transition along with future enlargement. Internally, the free movement has been challenged by new sector regulations at EU level and by Member States over-implementing (“gold plating”) legislation, which create new trade barriers and a more fragmented single market.

The European Parliament elections and the appointment of a new European Commission will have a significant impact on how the single market will develop. This will affect the everyday life of citizens and businesses across the EU, which now is being discussed in Brussels and in the Member States.

Speakers

  • Helena Hånell McKelvey, Head of Public Policy, Nordics, Amazon
  • Johan Grip, Chief Economist, Swedish Federation of Business Owners
  • Per Tryding, Vice President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Southern Sweden
  • Anders Ahnlid, Director-General, National Board of Trade Sweden
  • Agnès Courades Allebeck, Head of Department, National Board of Trade Sweden (moderator)

About EU Days Lund

EU Days Lund is an annual open forum for dialogue and exchange of ideas concerning the future of Europe and Sweden. This year's forum took place on 14-15 November.

More about the EU Days Lund 2023