A Single European Market for all ELENA GRECH. The Single Market: a success story 1992-2006: approx.1...
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Transcript of A Single European Market for all ELENA GRECH. The Single Market: a success story 1992-2006: approx.1...
A Single European Market for all
ELENA GRECH
The Single Market: a success story
• 1992-2006:
approx.1 840 billion Euros in value added2.75 million extra jobs (1.4 % of total
employment)(figures do not include Services, where
there is a huge potential)
Remember …
• How much you used to pay for roaming charges a year ago – and how the Single Market has brought down prices
• How much you used to pay for a cross-border money transfer – now for free in most countries
Citizens
• Live, work, study, retire in other EU countries
• Wider choice of high-quality products & services
Businesses
• Almost 500 mio potential customers
• Less red tape – reduced costs thanks to an improved regulatory framework
• EU level playing field makingit easier to export worldwide
Photo: Marc Riboux
Today’s challenges…
• Enlargement – from 12 to 27 members
• Shift towards a services economy
• Social and environmental challenges (ageing, climate change, energy)
… the response: a new approach to Single Market policy
• “A Single European Market for All”
• A new approach• Focus on consumers …• … and small firms
Opportunities for consumers
Retail financial services
Improve consumers’ choice and confidence:
• facilitate switching of bank accounts
• improve ”financial literacy”
• a “basic bank account” for everyone
• mortgage credits, transfer of credit data
Opportunities for consumers
Strengthen consumer rights and redress
• Simpler and clearer contractual rights for consumers
• Collective redress
• A consumer scoreboard to monitor progress
Opportunities for small firms
Creating a Single Market for SMEs to grow and add jobs
• A European Private Company statute
• A European Small Business Act
Making Globalisation deliver for Europe
Using the Single Market to defend the EU’s competitiveness and promote its values
world-wide :• Expanding the “competitive space” of the
Single Market• Setting rules and standards• Ensuring that benefits of trade reach EU
citizens.
Foster knowledge and innovation
• “e-single market”:set up e-invoicing, e-procurement;avoid “e-barriers”;
• Promote knowledge and innovation as the “fifth freedom”: Mobility of researchers;
• A modernised frameworks for e-communications, Intellectual Property Rights and fight against piracy.
An Assistance Service for Citizens
Help for citizens and firms to exercise their Single Market rights
• Networks between national administrations to sort out problems - SOLVIT
• Creating a single gateway to advice / problem-solving for citizens and firms
www.europa.eu/solvit
To conclude:• The Single Market helps Europe to meet the
challenges of the 21st century.• It increases opportunities for people and
businesses and brings concrete benefits.• It is not just a means in itself; it is a means to
– advance the interests and values of Europeans in an area of globalisation;
– foster economic growth, which in turn – can deliver more jobs, – universal access to key services,– high social and environmental standards and – high levels of investment in research and education to prepare for the future.
Services of General Interest (SGI)
• Essential for daily life; ensure social, economic and territorial cohesion
• The Single Market helps to ensure that citizens have access to high-quality, accessible and affordable SGIs
• Continue pragmatic approach: modernise where necessary, provide guidance, monitor effects