Join us!
  • PL
  • EN
    • szukaj

    What's new

    EU digital single market: a catalyst for business growth in the CEE region



    14 November 2024, Warsaw

    EU digital single market: a catalyst for business growth in the CEE region

    The e-commerce sector in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region has experienced dynamic growth in recent years, mainly due to the increasing digitalisation of economies and integration into the European Union’s Single Digital Market (DSM). This integration enables companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to access new markets, which has a positive impact on their competitiveness and cross-border trade opportunities. The Digital Single Market plays a key role in their development, eliminating barriers to online trade and promoting the harmonisation of regulations across the European Union, resulting in a better operating conditions for companies in the CEE region. In this report, we take a broader look at the main aspects of the development of the e-commerce sector and the challenges faced by companies seeking further expansion.

    As the data shows, countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovenia are experiencing significant growth in e-commerce. In 2023, the value of the e-commerce market in the region increased by 29%, reaching EUR 104 billion. Forecasts indicate that by 2026, the share of e-commerce in retail sales in Poland and the Czech Republic could reach 23% and 24% respectively, highlighting a strong growth potential. The growth is also being driven by investments in modern digital infrastructure and the development of logistics, which enables companies to fulfil orders efficiently.

    The Digital Single Market makes it much easier for companies in the CEE region to operate internationally. Previously, companies had to struggle with discrepancies in the legal regulations in their respective countries, which made expansion into other markets difficult. The harmonisation of online trading regulations reduces operational costs and simplifies procedures. In 2021, the value of cross- -border e-commerce sales in Europe amounted to EUR 237 billion, 59% of it coming from marketplace platforms. Standardised regulations give companies from the CEE region the opportunity to expand rapidly into European markets, resulting in their increased competitiveness.

    See the full report: EU digital single market: a catalyst for business growth in the CEE region

    Najnowsze artykuły

    Open Letter on the Digital Omnibus Proposal

    On behalf of the undersigned organisations, we express our strong support for the direction the European Commission has taken with its “Digital Omnibus” package proposal. However, we must unequivocally state that its current scope remains insufficient. This initiative marks a promising and much-needed first step toward meaningful deregulation in Europe, but it stops short of the bold, pragmatic, and forward-looking measures required to unlock Europe’s digital potential and secure its long-term economic prosperity.

    ZPP Position on the EU Defence Industry Transformation Roadmap

    The European Commission presented its new European Defence Industry Transformation Roadmap, which seeks to apply lessons learned from the war in Ukraine for adapting Europe’s defence capabilities to the realities of modern warfare. While we believe some of the findings presented in the Roadmap to be of merit, we are concerned that it may reflect a shift away from established and proven defence industry actors, which could both reduce European preparedness in the face of ever-growing threats and undermine competitiveness.

    ZPP Position – The State of the Energy Union’s Need for Nuclear Considerations

    On 6 November 2025, the European Commission published the 2025 edition of its State of the Energy Union Report. While the Report gives an overview of the progress being made in achieving Europe’s energy targets and outlines the next steps needed, the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers (ZPP) finds it sorely lacking in one field: nuclear energy.
    Powrót do listy

    For members of the ZPP

    Bulletin of Law and Legislation
    Knowledge base

    Our websites

    Subscribe to our newsletter