Benelux, Economy

Benelux wants to improve the functioning of the European Single Market for businesses and citizens

04 Jun. 2026

Under the Dutch presidency, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg have strengthened their cooperation on measuring the performance of the European Single Market. During a Benelux workshop held at the Benelux Secretariat in Brussels, representatives from governments, businesses, the academic community, and the European Commission came together.

At the heart of the discussions were the so‑called Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): a set of 29 metrics used by the European Commission to assess how well the Single Market functions. These indicators help identify bottlenecks and improve policymaking. At the same time, the Benelux countries clearly aim to better align these KPIs with realities on the ground. They should more accurately reflect the obstacles that entrepreneurs and citizens face on a daily basis.

The workshop provided an opportunity to gather and further develop concrete suggestions, with the goal of strengthening the relevance and usability of the indicators. By pooling their experiences, the Benelux countries seek to contribute to a more realistic and effective picture of the Single Market.

The meeting marks an important step towards a joint Benelux position, to be drawn up by August 2026. This position will be used in the preparation of the European Commission’s 2027 annual report.

In her opening remarks, Secretary-General Ariadne Petridis stressed the importance of a well-functioning Single Market for the European economy. “To act effectively, we must first measure properly. These indicators need to become more relevant and better reflect realities on the ground for businesses and citizens.”

Through this cooperation, the Benelux once again confirms its role as a frontrunner in European integration and its commitment to a strong, competitive, and resilient European economy.