As Adam Bartha, director of EPICENTER, argues in this article, since the Maastricht Treaty, EU legislation has surged, coinciding with sluggish economic growth in many older member states. To regain competitiveness against the US and China, the next European Commission must drastically reduce regulations and strengthen its Single Market. Excessive regulations have hindered the Single Market's growth potential, while voter support in countries like France and Italy has shifted right due to economic discontent. Rising state aid and high compliance costs from new regulations further impede competitiveness. The EU must prioritize the Single Market, reduce regulatory burdens, and liberalize trade and labor markets to ensure future prosperity and well-being.