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One of the main aims of the Single Market has been to create an environment in which businesses can flourish. And in a number of small but practical ways, it has been achieving its aim. For example, copyright regulations introduced recently protect copyright owners whilst still ensuring that innovation and creativity are not hampered. They also promote technology transfer between developed and developing countries.
Regulations setting up the Community Trade Mark and the Community Design have enabled UK companies to protect their trade marks and designs throughout the EU by making a single application for EU-wide registration. This cuts down bureaucracy - avoiding the need for trade marks or designs to be examined in 25 different jurisdictions each with its own rules. In (2003), UK firms made 6,300 such trade mark applications. Registration of designs at the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) was introduced on 1 April 2003 and by the end of the year UK firms had also applied to register around 12,000 designs.
At the end of May 2006, EU Ministers agreed to open up the market for services across the EU, in a deal that could boost UK GDP by as much as £5 billion – for more information see the EU Services Directive webpages.
For further information, please see the webpage on ‘EU Membership’ and also the related link to Commission’s website on ‘Business Environment’
