News from EPSU - 9 May 2025 - Workers left hungover by Single Market Strategy

Leaked EU Commission Single Market Strategy – leaving us Very Hungover
A problem in the EU, or with Europe’s place in the world? The right-wing and corporate interests in Europe roll out the same answer: we need more Single Market. More competition, more deregulation, more liberalisation. And this has been the record for the past 30–35 years since Delors. Spurred on by the European Roundtable of Industrialists since the early 1990s, again and again, the Commission calls on Member States to deregulate and dismantle barriers to trade. The Single Market is like the Very Hungry Caterpillar—it is never enough. Unlike the Caterpillar, which transforms into a beautiful butterfly, the Single Market and its proponents never define an end goal.
So here we go again. The Commission will publish a new strategy on 21 May. Now the Single Market needs to be “Simple and Seamless”. It is all about making it easier for businesses to extract profits from workers and the environment. There’s nothing in this strategy aimed at improving pay and conditions—we’re expected to believe in the trickle-down effect. Take, for instance, the proposals for the “28th regime”: a single set of rules to set up a European company digitally in less than 48 hours. Not a word about adhering to national and European labour laws, no requirement to respect trade unions and collective agreements, nothing on corporate taxes or tax transparency. It could easily become a vehicle to circumvent labour and environmental regulations, leaving workers Very Hungover.
This draft strategy is not accompanied by an action plan on public services, as proposed by former Italian Prime Minister Letta. Letta’s report is all but forgotten. In the leaked document, there’s much emphasis on enforcement, yet nothing about providing the necessary resources, such as funding for labour inspectorates, including the European Labour Authority. Relentless cuts in public funding, driven by fiscal rules demanding austerity, have left many public agencies, inspectorates, and regulators severely underfunded. The Commission urges public administrations to work more closely together but doesn’t provide the funding to facilitate this cooperation. This lack of funding and investment is one of the major issues facing the EU and Europe—particularly regarding public services, greening our industries, and building public infrastructure. EPSU demands the suspension of fiscal rules and calls for a focus on wealth and corporate taxation.
Strikes
We recently commemorated the defeat of Nazism and fascism in most of Europe 80 years ago. Even during those darkest times, workers rose up and organised strikes against the deportation of Jews, starvation policies, repression, and for wage increases. We can draw inspiration from these workers in our ongoing resistance to fascist and extreme-right forces in Europe. The Commission will not counter the extreme right by repeating the same outdated Single Market Strategy or by pushing for austerity, including wage freezes for public service workers. These approaches will not win the hearts and minds of Europe’s people or secure their support for the European project. This strategy offers no hope or vision for a better future for workers and communities.
Public service unions will stand up against austerity measures in the coming weeks, with actions planned in France (13 May), Belgium (20 May and 27 June), and a national demonstration for non-profit workers (care, health, cultural sectors, etc.) in Brussels on 22 May. There are also ongoing strikes, such as those involving health and care workers in facilities across France, the Birmingham bin workers (approaching two months) fighting massive wage cuts, and the workers at the facility management company CFM of the Charité hospital chain in Berlin (over 20 days). Solidarity to all engaged in actions for higher pay, improved conditions, increased funding, and safe staffing. Success.
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