Welcome to the European Parliamentary Research Service Podcasts.

In this podcast, we'll take a look at the single market emergency instrument proposed by the European Commission

to ensure that essential goods and services continue to flow when the next crisis hits us,

a move that some see as an essential step to prevent shortages and others as a power grab by the

European Commission. Stay with us.

No flower, no sunflower oil.

Gaming consoles on new cars.

The COVID-19 crisis first and Russia's war on Ukraine later made it crystal clear.

For 30 years, the single market has been the cornerstone of European integration,

aiming to ensure the free movement of goods and services, capital and persons.

But it is not infallible.

No, it isn't. Recent shocks jammed the until now

well-oiled machine showing not only how vulnerable to crises the single market is, but also the

extent to which the EU economy relies on it functioning smoothly. The answer to such disruptions

was also crystal clear. It's time to make it stronger.

But how?

With new tools that allow the EU to react faster and collectively when the next crisis hits us,

so that essential goods and services stay available and shortages are prevented.

And that's exactly what the new single market emergency instrument proposed by

the European Commission September 2022 aims at. Let's hear Vice President Margaret Vestager.

We need new tools that allows us to act fast and collectively at whatever kind of risk

we face so that we can ensure two things.

...