30 years of the Single Market: A look into the future
The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) was pleased to invite you to the public debate that took place on September 15 (09:30 – 14:30h) under the title “30 years of the Single Market: A look into the future.” During this event, we brought together representatives of the Spanish and European institutions, the private sector, and civil society to address the achievements of the Single Market on its 30th anniversary and the challenges ahead.
This event, framed within the agenda of the Spanish EU Presidency and under the program of activities “Hablamos de Europa,” sponsored by the State Secretariat for the EU of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, was organized in close collaboration with the Representation of the Commission and the European Parliament in Spain. The aim of this event was to create a space for dialogue between the institutions, the Spanish administration, the private sector, and citizens on the Single Market. After looking back on its first 30 years, the debate reflected upon the future of the Single Market and the central role that European citizens play in it.
The event took place in the Europa Room of the Representation of the European Commission in Madrid (P.º de la Castellana, 46, 28046 Madrid) from 09:30 to 14:30 h. Simultaneous interpretation was provided in English and Spanish, and live streaming was available in both languages. You can watch again the event in English here.
Agenda
09:30 – 10:00 h REGISTRATION AND WELCOME COFFEE
10:00 – 10:15 h INSTITUTIONAL WELCOME
- José Ignacio Torreblanca, Head of Madrid Office and Senior Policy Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations
- María Andrés, Head, Office of the European Parliament in Spain
- Lucas González Ojeda, Acting Director, Representation of the European Commission in Spain
10:15 – 10:30 h OPENING REMARKS
- José Manuel Albares, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain
10:30 – 11:50 h PANEL I: “Thirty years of the Single Market: Achievements and challenges ahead”
Open discussion steered by Tobias Gehrke, Senior Policy Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations.
- Joaquín Almunia, Former Vice-President of the European Commission
- Laura Ballarín, Member of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), European Parliament
- Jakub Boratynski, Director of Network and Governance Directorate (DG GROW), European Commission
- Frank Heemskerk, Secretary General, European Round Table for Industry (ERT)
Front row: Business sector to allow for a discussion on private sector’s views and contributions (first responders).
11:50 – 12:10 h COFFEE BREAK
12:10 – 13:30 h PANEL II: “The next thirty years: The citizen at the core of the Single Market agenda”
Open discussion steered by José Ignacio Torreblanca, Head of Madrid Office and Senior Policy Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations.
- Jaume Duch Guillot, Director General for Communication, and Spokesperson, European Parliament
- Enrico Letta, President, Jacques Delors Institute; former Prime Minister of Italy
- Mª Soraya Rodríguez, Member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), European Parliament
Front row: Civil society representatives with emphasis on youth and topics of major interest to them (first responders).
13:30 – 13:35 h CLOSING REMARKS
- Pascual Ignacio Navarro Ríos, Secretary of State for the European Union, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Spain
13:35 – 14:30 h LUNCH