Croatia: Non-Paper on Blueprint for new horizontal single market strategy was adopted

On 7 March 2025, the Council of the European Union published a joint non-paper initiated by 15 Member States, including Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. The document outlined a proposed blueprint for the European Commission's new horizontal Single Market Strategy, which is anticipated to be presented by June 2025. The blueprint is built on three principles: concreteness, holism, and political ownership. The states emphasise the need for tangible results that benefit businesses and citizens, with a focus on improving the services sector, coordinating the implementation of Single Market rules, and enhancing enforcement mechanisms. The document highlights various horizontal barriers, such as regulatory complexity and administrative burdens, and suggests actions to streamline processes and reduce unnecessary obligations. It also addresses the issue of gold-plating, where member states add national requirements that hinder the Single Market's effectiveness. The member states call on the European Commission to prioritise these barriers and actions in developing the new strategy.