The Council adopted conclusions on the "Single Market Act" (SMA), a two-year plan (2011-2012) of 50 initiatives aimed at ensuring continuous optimisation of the internal market and contributing to the successful implementation of the EU 2020 objectives on stimulating employment and economic growth.
The conclusions endorse the general approach of the SMA, according to which the single market must rest upon a strong economic and social basis with a view to building a highly competitive economy.
In particular, the conclusions will address:
· business and citizens’ concerns that prevent them from taking full benefit of the advantages of the single market;
· the use of tools to develop new sources of growth in both services and industrial sectors;
· European international competitiveness and;
· the design of a new collective strategy to ensure a successful relaunch of the internal market.
The conclusions also commit the Council to continue to examine the SMA with a view to defining the priority measures that should be in place before the end of 2012, in order to facilitate access to the single market, support businesses, encourage growth and help to create jobs.