Finland scores high in single market enforcement

Finland, along with Latvia, Cyprus, Denmark and Estonia, is one of highest performing countries when it comes to the enforcement of single market rules, said a government press release.

In the transposition of directives, Finland scored its best result ever with a transposition deficit of just 0.1% compared to the EU average of 0.6%.

The Single Market Scoreboard published by the European Commission on 3 July shows that despite improvements in certain areas, member states need to do more to ensure the proper functioning of the single market.

The scoreboard provides a performance overview for all EU member states regarding the enforcement of single market rules and governance of the single market. The scoreboard currently features 11 different indicators. Finland’s performance exceeds the EU average in areas measured by seven indicators.

In addition to the transposition of directives, Finland performed particularly well in cross-border administrative cooperation. According to the European Commission, Finland has one of the shortest case-handling times. Positive feedback is also given for Finland’s systematic work in the implementation of the regulation on a single digital gateway.

According to the scoreboard, the area in which Finland has the most room for improvement is the SOLVIT case-handling time. SOLVIT deals with single market problems experienced by businesses and citizens. Finland also performs below the EU average in terms of the number of ongoing infringement procedures, the functioning of the EURES network, and intra-EU goods trade integration.

The scoreboard aims to give an overview of the practical management of the single market. The single market is based on a large body of EU law, accompanied by national transposition measures. However, it is essential to ensure that the single market does not exist only on paper but also in reality for citizens and businesses that want to work, travel, shop, invest, or do business within the EU. This requires effective governance of the single market and effective implementation in the member states.

The scoreboard shows that while the member states have significantly improved the transposition of EU legislation, the number of infringement procedures has grown. Administrative cooperation in the single market has increased, as has the use of advisory services for citizens and businesses. The European Commission also noted that further improvements are needed to ensure more effective recognition of professional qualifications, and better public procurement. However, Finland is performing above the EU average in terms of the recognition of professional qualifications and public procurement.

The results of this year’s scoreboard support the conclusions of the European Commission’s Communication on the implementation and enforcement of single market rules published in March 2020. Above all, a fully functioning single market needs a partnership between the European Commission and the member states.