The EU and its workforce are experiencing a polycrisis, encompassing many geopolitical, economic, social and climate challenges. Resilience and open strategic autonomy are being increasingly emphasised by EU political leaders and there has been wave of support in favour of greater European solidarity and a ‘whatever it takes’ mentality since the pandemic and the start of the war in Ukraine. At the same time, European workers are reeling from years of austerity, deregulation, employment insecurity and deteriorating working conditions.

This CEPS Explainer takes a deep dive into the development and current state of the EU’s internal market. It argues that returning to the laissez-faire solutions of the past are now no longer viable or desirable, and that another way is possible. The EU should instead strengthen its internal market by implementing a real European industrial investment plan for clean technology value chains and a ‘good jobs plan’ for every EU region. This is how the internal market can contribute to solving, rather than prolonging, the polycrisis.