The Future of the Single Market 113 During these debates, and among the many topics discussed, one stood out as predominant in all instances: the issue of support and funding for the objectives that the EU has identified as central for the coming years and which it now seems to have embraced irreversibly: — The commitment to a fair ecological and digital transition; — The decision to continue with enlargement; — The need to strengthen the Union's security. The report aims to contribute to a reflection on the future of the Single Market with concrete proposals. To this end, it has been organised into six chapters, which explore technical aspects and present practical policy recommendations. 2. A 5th Freedom to enhance Research, Innovation and Education in the Single Market The Single Market was built on four fundamental freedoms: the free movement of goods, services, people and capital. However, given the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, these four freedoms are not enough to realise the European Union's full potential in the field of global innovation and a knowledge-based economy. It is therefore proposed to add a 5th Freedom, enshrined in Title XIX of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. This fifth freedom should cover several areas, including research, innovation, data, skills, knowledge and education. It is crucial to fully exploit the potential of our research and development capabilities and maximise the opportunities offered by the Single Market. Europe faces an urgent need to prioritise the establishment of technological foundations that promote knowledge and innovation, equipping individuals, businesses and Member States with the skills, infrastructure and investments necessary to enable widespread prosperity and industrial leadership. The 5th Freedom goes beyond simply facilitating the circulation of research and innovation outputs. Crucially, it also involves integrating the drivers of research and innovation at the heart of the Single Market in order to promote an ecosystem in which the dissemination of knowledge drives economic vitality, social progress and cultural enlightenment. The operationalisation of the 5th Freedom requires a multifaceted approach encompassing policy initiatives, infrastructure improvements, collaborative structures and a commitment to promoting innovation, open science and digital literacy. 3. A Single Market to finance strategic goals Although the European Union has firmly established a series of ambitious objectives, one decisive challenge remains unresolved: the financing of these aspirations. The solution to this challenge lies in a strategic approach that harnesses the potential of the Single Market to mobilise private and public resources more effectively. Firstly, the focus must remain on mobilising private capital, as this is the area where the EU lags furthest behind: a more integrated and robust European financial market capable of channelling savings towards investment needs. It is therefore essential to form a Savings and Investment Union, based on the incomplete Capital Markets Union, with a view to retaining European private savings, but also attracting additional foreign resources. The next step involves the debate on state aid. We must develop bold and innovative solutions that strike a balance between, on the one hand, the need to quickly
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTgxOTE4Nw==