MFF: Council adopts partial mandate on the Single market and customs programme regulation 10:05 The Council adopted today an agreement for a partial negotiating mandate on the[...]

The Council adopted today an agreement for a partial negotiating mandate on the proposed Single market and customs programme regulation (SMCP), part of the overall proposals for the next multiannual financial framework (MFF).

It brings together five individual funding programmes of the current MFF in a new programme aiming at supporting activities in policy areas that contribute to the smooth functioning of the single market and customs union and support taxation policy and measures countering fraud. The programme will also cover the development, production and dissemination of European statistics.

The negotiating position is 'partial' because it excludes financial and horizontal issues. These are currently being discussed as part of the negotiations on the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) covering the period 2028 to 2034.

The proposed programme seeks to strengthen the single market by removing cross-border obstacles, enhancing cooperation between national administrations, improving enforcement of EU legislation and supporting Union-level digital solutions.

It will also contribute to the implementation of key customs initiatives, including the proposed EU customs reform. Finally, the proposal intends to support measures with regards to standardisation, consumer protection, market surveillance, combating fraud, tax cooperation and help the development of European statistics.

The SMCP brings together five programmes existing under the current MFF:

• Parts of the Single market programme (SMP)
• The Customs programme
• The customs control equipment instrument (CCEI)
• The Fiscalis programme
• The Union anti-fraud programme (UAFP)

Main changes in the Council mandate

The Council expressed broad support for the overall ambition to combine several existing programmes into a new programme with a unified approach, enabling synergies and flexibility.

In its partial mandate, the Council ensures bigger involvement of member states through the introduction of comitology, creating a committee composed of experts from the member states.

Other changes relate to:

• Underlining the importance of the availability of high-quality European statistics
• The need for the programme to facilitate acquiring customs control equipment for the member states as a priority and with due safeguards.

Next steps

The partial negotiating position approved today is the Council's mandate to start negotiations with the European Parliament on the Single market and customs programme. The decision on the programme's budget for 2028-2034 will depend on the final agreement on the next MFF.

Background

The Single market and customs programme will bring together 5 programmes already existing under the current MFF. It will combine parts of the single market programme, which supports and strengthens the governance of the single market; the customs programme, which protects the financial and economic interests of the EU and its member states and prevents unfair and illegal trade.

Next, it will also incorporate the fiscalis programme, protecting the EU and member states from tax fraud, tax evasion and aggressive tax planning. Finally, it will incorporate the Union anti-fraud programme (UAFP), protecting the EU's and member states' financial interests by preventing fraud, corruption and money laundering.