Single market programme mid-term evaluation : supporting study annexes : final report

The Single Market Programme (SMP) is an EU funding programme providing EUR 4.2 billion over the period of 2021-2027 for an integrated package to improve the functioning of the internal market and protect and empower citizens and businesses, in particular SMEs. It brings together six predecessor programmes and a number of predecessor budget lines from the previous period (2014-2020). The programme is implemented in six pillars, the first of which (Pillar 1) relates to making the internal market more effective through prevention and removal of obstacles and supporting the development, implementation and enforcement of Union law. An indicative amount of EUR 557 million is allocated by the SMP Regulation to Pillar 1 for the 2021-2027 programme period. Support is offered via four sub-pillars, namely: 1a) Competition policy; 1b) Market surveillance; 1c/1d) Digital services for citizens, consumers, businesses and public administrations; 1e) Support effective policymaking, standard-setting and enforcement. This report presents the findings of the mid-term evaluation in relation to activities supported by Pillar 1 during the years 2021-2023. It is one of six pillar reports, which serve as annexes to the main report for the overall programme.