Since its creation in 1993, the single market has helped to make everyday life easier for people and businesses, fuelling jobs and growth across the EU. In 2023, the EU commemorated&nbsp;the 30th anniversary since its creation.&nbsp;

Three decades since its creation,&nbsp;&nbsp;MEPs called for renewed commitment and political will from member states and EU institutions, as well as a specific action plan for 2030 and beyond, in order to further strengthen and develop the single market, especially in areas such as services, energy, telecommunications and the digital single market.

The single market is generally considered to be the cornerstone of the EU economy and one of the greatest achievements of the European Union. Comprising nearly 450 million people and 20 million enterprises, it constitutes the largest integrated market in the world, worth €14 trillion in 2018.

The free movement of persons, goods, services and capital is the pillar on which the single market is built. The cross-border movement of the first three has been severely affected by the pandemic of Covid-19. Soon after its outbreak, the majority of Member States reintroduced internal border controls on grounds of an immediate threat to public health. These have been accompanied by restrictions or bans on international passenger transport and bans on entry and exit.&nbsp;

Single market

Compared to the rest of the world, Europe has the best levels of social protection and also ranks highly in terms of quality of life and wellbeing. However, it faces a wide range of challenges, including impact of the COVID situation.

The EU has only limited competence when it comes to social issues as most of it is up to national governments. The responsibility for employment and social policies lies mostly with the member states and their governments. This means that national governments - and not the EU - decide on issues such as wage regulations, including minimum wage, the role of collective bargaining, pensions systems and retirement age, and unemployment benefits.

However, over the years, the EU has been working on social issues throughout the European integration process and come up with a series of instruments in the social sector. These include EU laws, funds and tools to better coordinate and monitor national policies. The EU also encourages countries to share best practices on issues such as social inclusion, poverty and pensions.

One of the supporting tools is the European Social Fund+, with a total budget of €88 billion for next 7 years. It will play an important role in the implementation of the action plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights and in countering the socio-economic effects of the pandemic. It integrates the former European Social Fund, the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), the Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived (FEAD) and the EU programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) into one fund.

Social Europe

In March 2021, the European Commission adopted the Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030. The Strategy builds on the results of the previous European Disability Strategy 2010-2020, which paved the way to a barrier-free Europe and to empower persons with disabilities so they can enjoy their rights and participate fully in society and economy.

Despite the progress made in the past decade, persons with disabilities still face considerable barriers and have a higher risk of poverty and social exclusion.

The objective of this Strategy is to progress towards ensuring that all persons with disabilities in Europe, regardless of their sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, age or sexual orientation enjoy their human rights, have equal opportunities, equal access to participate in society and economy, are able to decide where, how and with whom they live, move freely in the EU regardless of their support needs and no longer experience discrimination.

The EU and its Member States are committed to improving social and economic situation of disabled people building on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and on the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. The European Union and all its Member States are party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

European Disability Strategy

Launched in 1962, the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) is a partnership between agriculture and society, and between Europe and its farmers. It aims to: support farmers and improve agricultural productivity, ensuring a stable supply of affordable food; safeguard European Union farmers to make a reasonable living; help tackle climate change and the sustainable management of natural resources; maintain rural areas and landscapes across the EU; keep the rural economy alive by promoting jobs in farming, agri-food industries and associated sectors.

The CAP is a common policy for all EU countries. It is managed and funded at European level from the resources of the EU’s budget. CAP 2023-27 To consolidate the role of European agriculture for the future, the CAP has evolved over the years to meet changing economic circumstances and citizens’ requirements and needs.

The CAP 2023-27 entered into force on 1 January 2023.&nbsp;Support for farmers and rural stakeholders across the 27 EU countries is based on the CAP 2023-27 legal framework and the choices detailed in the&nbsp;CAP Strategic Plans, approved by the Commission. The approved Plans are designed to make a significant contribution to the ambitions of the&nbsp;European Green Deal,&nbsp;Farm to Fork Strategy&nbsp;and&nbsp;Biodiversity Strategy.

Common agricultural policy (CAP)

Euroscola

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Verona (Italy) - G7 Speakers conference

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to Verona (Italy) - G7 Speakers conference - Bilateral Meeting with Mike JOHNSON, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States of America

European Parliament Stockshots 9th Parliamentary Term: Use your vote

European Parliament Stockshots: Drone views - Buildings in Brussels by night

President Sassoli once addressed the EP staff saying that every single person is crucial to building a healthy democracy. He embodied this principle not only in his political activity, but also in his daily relationship with people, by gifting everyone with the same care, warmth and regard. The tribute film to President Sassoli was the occasion for the EP staff to respond with the same warmth and to remember him beyond his political persona. Through a series of anonymous interviews, the staff depicts President Sassoli’s portrait, dwelling on his extraordinary warmth and humanity. Beyond remembering him, the film presents President Sassoli as an inspiration and an example for the present (some of his words on Ukraine were prophetic) and the future.

A beloved President - David Sassoli through the eyes of EP staff

This stockshot shows external views of the European Parliament's building in Brussels during spring. Views of the crowd passing by the Solidarność esplanade and the passerelles during rainy days.

European Parliament Stockshots 9th Parliamentary Term: Exterior views of the EP in Brussels during spring (rainy weather)

This stockshot shows external views of the European Parliament's building in Brussels during spring. Views of the crowd passing by the Solidarność esplanade and the passerelles during sunny days.

European Parliament Stockshots 9th Parliamentary Term: Exterior views of the European Parliament in Brussels during spring (sunny weather)

This stockshot shows MEPs voting during the plenary session in the hemicycle in the European Parliament, in Brussels. Voting is by show of hands or by roll call (electronic voting system).

European Parliament Stockshots 9th Parliamentary Term: Brussels - Votes and ambiance shots in the hemicycle

This stockshot shows several debates taking place in the hemicycle in the European Parliament in Brussels. During the debates in plenary session, Political group speakers are invited to give a speech in an order determined by the relative size of those political groups (European People's Party (EPP), Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D), Renew Europe (RE), Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), Identity and Democracy (ID), European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), European United Left - Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL)).

European Parliament Stockshots 9th Parliamentary Term: Brussels - Internal shots and leaders of Political groups

This stockshot shows external views of the European Parliament's building in Brussels during autumn. Views of the crowd passing by the Solidarność esplanade and the passerelles during rainy days and during the night.

9th parliamentary term

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