The "Terrible Ten": the barriers SMEs know too well and the EU's plan to remove them

The European Commission has launched a new Single Market Strategy to make Europe's home market simpler, more seamless and stronger. At its heart is a commitment to dismantle the ten barriers businesses report as most damaging to cross-border trade: the so-called "Terrible Ten", identified through comprehensive stakeholder consultations.

The barriers holding businesses back

The Terrible Ten cover the full range of friction points SMEs and clusters encounter across borders: complicated business establishment and operations; complex EU rules; lack of ownership by Member States; limited recognition of professional qualifications; lack of common standards; fragmented packaging rules; lack of product compliance; restrictive national services regulation; burdensome posting of workers rules in low-risk sectors; and unjustified territorial supply constraints. Together, they make it harder and costlier for businesses to scale, trade and invest across the EU.

What it means for SMEs

A bigger, better-resourced market. The Single Market has already increased EU GDP by 3–4% and created 3.6 million jobs. Fully completing it could double those gains.

Less red tape, lower costs. A fourth simplification omnibus package cuts €400 million in annual administrative costs, including allowing companies to submit documents and product instructions digitally.

Better support for scaling up. A new SME ID tool simplifies verification of SME status, and a new small mid-cap company category extends some SME benefits to slightly larger businesses ready to grow.

Preventing new barriers before they emerge. 

The Commission has published practical guidance under the Single Market Transparency Directive to help national authorities design rules that are strictly necessary and proportionate, ensuring new national measures do not create fresh obstacles to the free movement of goods and services.

👉 Explore the guidance: Guidances | TRIS - European Commission

Further Resources

👉 Read the Commission's strategy for making the Single Market simple, seamless and strong