Completing the Single Market is Europe's next historic achievement

One Market One Law, a civil society association founded by business and legal practitioners, officially launches in Brussels today. The association aims to champion the development of a European Business Code, promoting legal harmonisation, clarity, and certainty for businesses across the Single Market.

The European Single Market is one of the EU's greatest achievements. It has driven growth, unlocked opportunities, and created a unique space of economic integration and prosperity. Yet this success remains incomplete. Across Europe, businesses still navigate 27 different systems of business law. This fragmentation is not inevitable - it results from political choices - and it can, and must, be overcome.

One Market One Law brings together entrepreneurs, lawyers, academics, economic actors, and citizens from across Europe. Its vision is straightforward: complete the Single Market through pragmatic legal solutions, starting with the creation of a European Business Code. The Code would provide a common European business framework that is optional, complementary to national laws, and designed specifically for cross-border activities - a tool that is simple, clear, and operational. The goal is not to standardize Europe, but to make it fully functional.

For years, Europe's business community has warned that legal fragmentation undermines investment, penalizes SMEs, and weakens competitiveness. In today's era of intensified global competition, the cost of inaction outweighs the cost of reform. Recent debates on a “28th regime” and renewed discussions on European competitiveness show that this challenge is widely recognized. The time for half-measures is over.

Completing the Single Market would be as impactful as its creation. Europe has proven it can deliver ambitious projects; now it must prove it can see them through. This is the message that the founders of One Market One Law send to EU political leaders ahead of next Thursday, February 11 informal European Council retreat, where discussions will focus on strengthening the Single Market, reducing economic dependencies, and boosting EU competitiveness in a rapidly changing global landscape.

In the coming weeks, One Market One Lawwill launch an open civil society campaign, inviting business leaders, legal professionals, policymakers, academics, and engaged citizens to join the effort. The association will also register in the EU Transparency Register, signalling its commitment to actively participate in forthcoming legislative discussions on the 28th regime and related initiatives.

The Single Market has been a success. Completing it will be a historic - and necessary - achievement.