The Government has announced a significant new programme of reform aimed at strengthening Ireland’s engagement with the EU Single Market and addressing barriers that continue to limit growth opportunities for Irish businesses operating across Europe.

Led by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, the initiative sets out a new national approach to advancing the EU Single Market agenda and strengthening Ireland’s role in shaping reform. The announcement comes ahead of Ireland taking on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union later this year, where competitiveness and reducing barriers to cross-border business activity are expected to be key priorities.

The reforms are intended to tackle persistent regulatory and administrative barriers that continue to affect cross-border trade and business expansion. While services account for approximately 70% of EU GDP, they represent only around 20% of intra-EU trade, highlighting the scale of untapped opportunity within the European market.

At the centre of the Government’s approach is a new governance structure aimed at improving coordination and accelerating delivery, including:

• A Single Market Taskforce to drive cross-government implementation and address barriers;
• A dedicated Single Market Office within the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to coordinate engagement and problem-solving across Government;
• A new Advisory Panel bringing together business, academic and stakeholder expertise to identify priority reforms; and
• The appointment of the Department’s Secretary General as Ireland’s Single Market Sherpa to support delivery at both national and EU level.

Dublin Chamber welcomes this renewed focus on strengthening the Single Market and supports efforts to reduce unnecessary regulatory complexity and improve market access, recognising the significant economic benefits that deeper integration can unlock. As Ireland prepares to hold the EU Presidency, there is an important opportunity to help shape reforms that strengthen European competitiveness and support Irish businesses to scale across the European market.

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