Internal Market Emergency and Resilience Act

Negotiating team present at the trilogue on the single market emergency instrument proposal of 1 February 2024
Negotiating team at the trilogue on the single market emergency instrument proposal of 1 February 2024 © European Union (2024)

On 24 April 2024, Parliament formally adopted the package on the the Regulation establishing the Internal Market Emergency and Resilience Act. The package now has to be formally approved by the Council as well. After that, rules will be published in the Official Journal and become a binding law for all member states.

In a nutshell:

  • The new Internal Market Emergency and Resilience Act (IMERA) will put in place a three-tier crisis preparedness system for next emergencies.
  • Cross-border movement of essential goods and workers should not be restricted even in a crisis.
  • Companies can prioritise Commission's orders without being liable for other dropped contractual obligations.
  • Countries should inform companies and citizens better of their crisis measures.

Rapporteur Mr Andreas Schwab (EPP) said: "With IMERA we avoid repeating the mistakes of the COVID crisis. The Member States and the Commission will now prepare together for a possible future crisis and identify potential risks at an early stage. In particular, they must keep the supply and service chains in the internal market open, as these are the basis of our prosperity and security. Also, a future digital platform will simplify cross-border services and will solve the problems around the A1 certificate."