Cabinet approves “single market” in Spain

 

Yesterday's Cabinet meeting saw the government approve a draft bill creating a single market that will allow companies and professionals in Spain to offer their goods and services across the country.

Under the proposed legislation, it will be sufficient for a company that has obtained a license from one of the regional governments to sell goods that comply with technical specifications to do so in the rest of the country.

The government said the bill is based on the concept of mutual confidence between administrations regarding their respective legislation, and mirrors the EU's own single market. The proposed law could clash with regional legislation.

Companies have been lobbying the administration to cut tape to remove impediments to setting up new companies. The Chambers of Commerce welcomed the move. "This will serve to relaunch the trade, industrial and productive fabric in Spain and increase competition," the Chambers said in a statement.

The CoC said there are currently more than 100,000 rules and regulations relating to business activities in the country, two thirds of which have been issued by the regions.

Announcing the development, Deputy PM Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría estimated that the cost savings entailed could add €1.5 billion to Spain's GDP over the next decade.