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The EU Single Market is enormously important to the UK economy. In 2007 half of all the UK’s exports of goods and services (worth £208 billion) were exported to other EU countries, and just over half our imports (worth £238 billion) were imported from the EU. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is committed to ensuring that British firms can take full advantage of the business opportunities that arise as a consequence of the UK’s membership of the EU and its participation in the Single Market. To help companies take advantage of the opportunities on offer, both the UK Government (Business Link Trading in the European Union, Department for Business "Trading in the Global Marketplace") and the European Commission (Your Europe - Business) provide guidance on how to trade in Europe and information on the help that is available.
Sometimes, however, not everything goes smoothly, and occasionally UK businesses are unable to operate in certain Member States. This is often caused by lack of information or confusion about the application of EU Rules by public authorities. When this is the case and British business interests are affected, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) will try to help.
BIS is keen to help businesses overcome barriers they face when trying to trade in the Single Market. It has set up an EU Market Access Unit which works with authorities in other Member States to seek solutions wherever it can, either through the EU network of “SOLVIT Centres” or through its network of British Embassies and their contacts in national governments.
“SOLVIT” is a network of centres across European governments that work together to try to overcome issues faced by companies and citizens that are caused by the misapplication of EU rules. The service is free and informal and is designed to assist any company or citizen having problems exercising their Single Market rights. See How we can help you
When a trade barrier faced by a UK company is not suitable for SOLVIT, BIS will nevertheless be interested to hear about the problems and aim to find a solution.
Contact: solvit@bis.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 0207 215 2800/2833
Examples of UK SOLVIT success stories can be viewed here:
(235KB)In addition to the SOLVIT work, BIS has recently set up a small team to address barriers to trade in the Internal Market which are outside the remit of SOLVIT. These cases generally target national legislation in another Member State that effectively works against UK business interests, but where it is not clear that the national legislation actually breaches EU law. In these instances, BIS will work closely with the affected UK companies to put together a lobbying plan which often involves representations being made by the relevant British Embassy to the lead ministry in the other EU country. This “soft diplomacy” uses the excellent contacts the UK has in other EU countries through its embassy network to enable British firms to be able to put their cases to the relevant authorities in other EU countries.
This work is at an early stage, but already the BIS team has taken forward cases involving ten EU countries, covering business areas as diverse as pensions provision, internet gambling, pharmaceuticals, gas equipment and accountancy standards. For further information about this service, interested companies should contact BIS at solvit@bis.gsi.gov.uk
