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EU Single Market - Introduction

The Single (or “Internal”) Market is the result of the EU’s policies on trade, industry, employment and consumer affairs.  Since its launch on 1st January 1993, the Single Market has brought major benefits to businesses, consumers and employees alike. Some of the changes have been very noticeable - border controls have been abolished, cutting costs to business and speeding up the physical movement of goods and people across the Union.

The EU is the world's largest international single market.  Following the expansion of the EU on 1st May 2004 and 1st January 2007, the Single Market now includes the 27 Member States and also the three European Free Economic Area countries - Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.  Its population numbers around 490 million people – a bigger trading area than the US and Japan combined.

See the related documents section on right of this page for further information on the benefits of the EU.

Further information can also be obtained from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office's web site click on link below:

Single Market Achievements

In 2003, the Commission published an assessment of achievements during the first ten years of the Internal Market. The report provides a broad picture of the main benefits accumulated and the main achievements made in the last 10 years since the result of the 1985 White Paper which set out a comprehensive list of that needed to be done to remove borders in Europe and the established 31st December 1992 deadline for doing this. To read the report, see the related external link panel on the right hand side.

It is not just at the national level that we can see evidence of the Single Market making a real difference – evidence of the benefits for business, individual consumers and employees is also clear.

Greater competition

Much has been done to eliminate anti-competitive practices since 1993 – all thanks to the single market. The EU has been able to tackle many anti-competitive practices such as cartels, monopolies, and excessive and unnecessary regulation. For example, an investigation into price fixing in the UK for replica football kits resulted in large price reductions and wider consumer choice.

Where next for the Single Market?

In a global economy, markets never stay the same for long.  So in turn, the Single Market has had to change, and continues to change, in response to new economic developments.  In the future, the Single Market has the real potential to help raise EU productivity and growth further - for more information see the related pages on What's next for the Single Market? and the Single Market Review.