The Effects of COVID-19 on the European Single Market: New Challenges, New Responses

Purpose The main purpose of this paper is to explore the impacts and challenges of the current COVID-19 pandemic situation on the European Single Market and its responses. Design/Methodology/Approach Based on literature research and archival sources, this exploratory study examines an overview of the European Single Market, including its core principles and legal framework. It subsequently sheds light on the major challenges caused by COVID-19 to the European single market and its responses to this pandemic and suggests practical proposals for the European Single Market to overcome the global pandemic and grow into a new engine of global economic growth. Findings This paper studies the current circumstances of the EU and the European Single Market to fight against one of its biggest challenges since its establishment. This study found that the pandemic has a negative impact on most of the sectors of the Single Market, such as a decrease in trade and labor mobility within the Market. Furthermore, segmentation within the Market has started since Member States have begun to individually control their affairs without relying on the Single Market and EU. To respond to this crisis, the EU has revealed its recovery plan, ‘Europe’s Moment: Repair and Prepare for the Next Generation’to strengthen the European Single Market and to foster solidarity within the EU and its Member States. Research Implications This study has significance in understanding current circumstances and trends in the European Single Market under the Pandemic, which will also offer a reference for other scholar’s follow-up studies. KCI Citation Count: 1