Press release | Enrico Letta to kick off campaign to complete the Single Market across Europe's major capitals

The “One Europe, One Market” campaign of the Jacques Delors Friends of Europe Foundation, led by Enrico Letta, will launch a tour of Europe’s capitals following a high-level summit in Brussels on 9 June.

Brussels, 8 June 2026– Former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta will tomorrow announce the launch of a major European roadshow across European capitals, including Berlin and Paris, to mobilise political and public support for completing the European Single Market by 2028.

The roadshow will be launched at the Single Market Summit in Brussels on 9 June, where the former Italian prime minister is joined by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, Deutsche Bundesbank Executive Board Member Fritzi Köhler-Geib, and other leading policymakers, business representatives and experts.

“Europe’s core problem today is not ambition, it is delivery,” said Enrico Letta, former prime minister of Italy and Member of the Governing Board of the Jacques Delors Friends of Europe Foundation. “At a time of geopolitical uncertainty and intense global competition, completing the Single Market is the strongest response to securing Europe’s strategic autonomy. I want to bring this debate into the capitals of our member states to build the broad-based political mobilisation withoutwhich no lasting reform is possible.”

Building on the recommendations of the Letta report – formally endorsed by the European Council in March 2026 – and aligned with the European Commission’s Single Market Strategy, the roadshow will engage policymakers, business leaders, trade unions and civil society in each country around a common agenda: completing the Savings and Investments Union, advancing the Energy Union, strengthening innovation and connectivity, and unlocking the transformative potential of the 28th regime.

Why now

In an era of geopolitical volatility and growing economic competition from continental-scale economic blocs, Europe cannot afford fragmentation. EU stock markets are capitalised at roughly 60% of EU GDP, compared with over 200% for the two largest US exchanges alone. In 2024, 72 terawatt hours of renewable electricity were curtailed due to grid bottlenecks – equivalent to Austria’s annual consumption – at an estimated cost of €8.9bn. Meanwhile, digital markets remain segmented, preventing European firms from scaling globally.

The roadshow

The roadshow will promote a concrete action framework structured around three strategic priorities – finance, energy and connectivity – identifying the main barriers to deeper market integration and growth. It will also foster common understanding of opportunities in three strategic areas: simplifying the legal framework for business operating in Europe (EU Inc.), enabling the free movement of knowledge and skills across borders (a ‘5^th freedom’) and ensuring that all regions benefit from deeper integration.

Alongside national dialogues with governments and business communities, the roadshow will feed into a broader programme of events through 2026, including:

• Policy Debate in Berlin (17 September)
• State of Europe in Brussels (30 September–1 October)
• The Jacques Delors Conference in Paris (7–8 December),
• Single Market Policy Debate in Rome/Milan (January 2027)

– ENDS –

About the Jacques Delors Friends of Europe Foundation

Europe is at a crossroads. It is faltering under the weight of seismic global shifts: geopolitical instability and trade wars, technological upheaval, demographic change and climate disruption. We are witnessing the erosion of European values and public trust, the rise of extremism and a dangerous loss of global competitiveness.  Think tanks produce knowledge but lack societal impact or implementation power. Civil society has passion but often lacks influence. The private sector is disjointed across 27 regulatory frameworks.

Political extremes are mobilised, coordinated and generously funded, too often exploiting media and technology to poison public discourse with disinformation and undermine press freedom, civic space, and democratic norms. In contrast, centrist, constructive, democratic actors are underfunded, fragmented and vulnerable.

This is the moment to reclaim the narrative. Europe needs a counterforce of equal ambition to win back the hearts and minds of its citizens and businesses. There is a hunger for inspiration. An open door for reform. This is what we aim to deliver: the joining of forces between Friends of Europe and the Jacques Delors Institutes (Paris, Berlin, Brussels), on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Jacques Delors’ birth, offers a compelling, strategic and urgent response.

Building on our respective legacies and robust networks, we are creating a unique pan-European independent think-tank, advocacy group and communications powerhouse that connects Europe’s brightest minds, boldest leaders and most engaged citizens. We fuse rigorous think tank excellence with deep civic and private sector engagement, accelerating Europe’s response to the world’s grand challenges.

Get in touch:

engagement@jdfoefoundation.eu

www.jdfoefoundation.eu