Intro in Polish. The conversation in English starts at 00:20.
The conversation with Mary Veronica Tovšak Pleterski from the European Commission was one of the key moments of the European Labour Mobility Congress 2026.
The discussion focused on the future of the Single Market for services and the growing importance of addressing regulatory and administrative barriers that affect cross-border service provision within the European Union. It also highlighted the broader context of labour mobility, competitiveness and the role of services in the European economy.
From the perspective of the European Commission, the conversation addressed the direction of ongoing policy work, as well as the challenges related to balancing national regulations with the need for a more coherent and effective internal market.
The discussion was moderated by Marek Benio (European Labour Mobility Institute) and reflects the ongoing debate on how to ensure that the freedom to provide services can function effectively in practice.
An important takeaway from the discussion is the growing awareness within the European Commission, particularly in DG GROW, of the barriers affecting cross-border service provision and the economic potential lost as a result. Many of these barriers originate at Member State level and do not necessarily constitute a direct breach of EU law, which makes them more difficult to address. At the same time, the Commission has been collecting good practices aimed at reducing administrative burden and promoting their wider adoption. These soft instruments of change can, however, face political resistance at national level, despite expert recommendations.
