At the time, probably nobody could have guessed that economic integration would advance through various phases and over such a long period. But the Single European Act followed in 1986 and the “Single Market Programme” in 1992. In short, the Single Market is now becoming a reality. Work on the remaining imperfections of the Single Market is also advancing.
We must not forget that this process has required many decades and continuous political support. Why, in the last 50 years, did economic integration face fewer obstacles and actually keep in motion the process of European integration? The main reason is that, from the outset, economic integration removed barriers and thereby secured material and economic benefits.