"A well functioning single market is extraordinarily important for Slovenia as a small and open economy since it provides a large space for Slovenian companies and protects the rights of Slovenian consumers," the Slovenian permanent representation to the EU said on Tuesday.

The statement has been signed by Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.

The countries emphasise the importance of a well functioning single market for the EU's competitiveness and the implementation of the EU Commission's new green growth strategy.

They want a fair, open and competitive market that will preserve equal conditions within the EU, and a strong and independent competition policy.

The statement comes as France and Germany has started pushing for an industrial policy that would cast aside existing competition rules in favour of a more lenient approach to the creation of global champions.