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Review of the Single Market

The Government believes that Single Market policy must be modernised to take account of the new challenges that Europe faces – in particular the increased competition from the newly emerging economic powers of India and China. As the pace of global changes intensifies, there will be an even grater premium on ensuring that both policy and policy makers can adapt to take account of changing circumstances. To rely on EU legislation that takes years to negotiate, years to implement and years to take effect is no longer appropriate.

To build a consensus around this approach, Europe needs to demonstrate how it is responding to the concerns raised by its citizens, consumers and businesses. The Government believes that this objective is best achieved by ensuring open and competitive markets that deliver choice and value to consumers, higher levels of employment and greater business opportunities. This will involve both empowering consumers and businesses, by providing more information and choice and an effective means of redress where Single Market rights are impeded and supporting citizens at a national level through modern and flexible social policies.

Between 2003 and 2006, the Commission published a number of reports on the issue of improving the Single Market. Please see the related document links for further information.

In addition the Commission publishes an annual policy strategy, gives an annual strategic framework at Commission level and defines, early in the previous year, political priorities and key initiatives for the following year. To see the annual policy strategy for 2007 and 2008 see the related external links.

There are also initiatives for simplifying national and Community rules include SLIM (Simpler Legislation for the Internal Market) and the European Business Test Panel which allows for consultation of business during the drafting stage of new legislation.

In addition, a framework for ensuring the even and effective enforcement of Single Market rules has been established. This involves encouraging co-operation between national administrations, setting up contact points for businesses and citizens, and improving the efficiency of the Commission’s complaints procedure. In the UK, BERR’s Action Single Market -

UK SOLVIT acts only as a contact point for UK business and citizens.

For further information on the Single Market, the European Business Test Panel, Better EU Regulation or SOLVIT, please see the related page links and relevant documents