Canarian Weekly
19-10-2012, 12:10
It was back in 1992 that the then called EEC created the Single Market, which came into being onJanuary 1st 1993. Since then, much has been done. But, as a conference held in the European Parliament to celebrate the 20th anniversary discussed, much more needs to be done. Twenty years ago, the Internet had barely started, today’s all-important social media were not even a glimmer in their inventors’ minds and Europe was dominated by people such as Jacques Delors, Margaret Thatcher, Helmut Kohl, Giulio Andreotti and the like.
Yet the Commission itself and the EU offices seem to be downplaying the Single Market’s achievements.
A handout by the European Parliament, for instance, thus listed the achievements:
Cheaper calls abroad
More rights for passengers
Helping service suppliers to trade across borders
Safer toys for children
Citizens’ savings better protected.
But it had to be a participant fromDenmarkto remind the conference that 20 years ago,Europewas criss-crossed by borders and travellers had to wait to cross each border, showing passports and awaiting clearance by customs. Today, all that is the past and will (hopefully) not return.
Here are the Top 5 single market gains according to the European Parliament:
Cheaper calls abroad
The EU mobile roaming regulation of May 2007 cut the cost of making and receiving mobile phone calls abroad for at least 140 million users. An SMS cost 11 cents in June 2009; it is now 9 cents and will cost 6 cents as from July 2014. A downloaded megabyte today costs 70 cents, will cost 45 cents as from next summer and 20 cents as from July 2014.
More rights for passengers
As from 2005, passengers travelling by air, rail, water and road in the EU enjoy uniform protection of their rights, such as compensation, immediate and proportionate assistance in the event of delay or cancellation, and equal access to means of travel.
Helping service suppliers to trade across borders
Since the end of 2009, service providers, from travel agents to office maintenance staff, can trade anywhere in the EU without needing to establish a new business in each EU country.
Safer toys for children
At the end of 2008, the European Parliament voted in the world’s strictest toy legislation.
Citizens’ savings better protected
If an EU bank fails, each citizen’s savings are protected by up to 100,000 euros, up from 20,000 as it was in 2008.
The aim of the conference, as made clear from the very beginning by Commissioner Michel Barnier, was not to celebrate, nor to wallow in nostalgia but to assess its current state and to look ahead at the challenges facing it.
Commission President Joe Manuel Barroso kicked off by remarking that the single market is bigger than theUS.
The conference’s title, ‘Together for new growth’, pointed out that a refreshed single market could perhaps kick-start the EU economies from the impact of the crisis.
The Commission has now proposed a new set of propositions, called Single Market Act II.
The following are the proposals of BusinessEurope:
Free movement of goods
When a product is sold legally in one European country, it should be allowed in other markets. But a number of national technical requirements can exclude new products from the EU market and limit the free movement of goods. There is thus need to ensure that standardisation does not impede the free movement of goods.
Mobility of workers
There is need to increase the mobility of workers throughout the EU, by reducing the number of regulated professions, simplifying procedures for the recognition of professional qualifications and ensuring uniform quality levels for education and training.
Public procurement made electronic
The introduction of e-procurement can improve efficiency, market openness, transparency and competition, resulting in less public spending. However, its take-up is still very small.
Public services open to competition
In many countries there is a lack of efficiency in the public sector and companies experience many difficulties. Public-private partnerships can provide financial relief for public authorities, innovative solutions, more customer-oriented services and better value for money for the users.
Investment in trans-European transport networks
Unfortunately, only five of the TEN-T priority projects have been completed. Many regions still miss out on development potential and business misses out on valuable opportunities.
E-commerce: moving into the digital single market
The EU could gain 4% ofGDPby creating a true single digital market by 2020. This corresponds to a gain of EUR 500 billion. The diverse rules on data privacy, consumer protection, provision of online services and the divergent way in which they are applied in EU countries are a great challenge for e-business./
More venture capital for SMEs
The EU market is fragmented along national lines. This prevents European venture capital funds from raising capital across the EU. It creates problems and additional costs for venture capital fund managers seeking to raise funds outside their country.
The euro: one currency, many countries
The introduction of the euro made it easier for European companies to develop international strategies thanks to a reduced level of currency risk. Safeguarding and strengthening the euro is fundamental to the future prosperity of Europe.
Towards a common VAT
The increase in cross-border trade has led to an increase in foreign VAT obligations for both small and bigger companies, together with many headaches. VAT must be levied in the country where the product is consumed.
EU trademark and intellectual property rights
The EU must pursue better access to intellectual property rights, in particular for SMEs, including the creation of a unitary patent that meets the needs of all European users.
Integration of energy markets
A well-functioning single market for energy is vital for cost-effective, secure and competitive energy provision acrossEurope.
International dimension of the single market
Regulatory cooperation with the EU’s largest trading partners is important to foster trade, investment and jobs.
Facts about the single market
500 million people
World’s largest economy
GDP= 12.6 trillion Euros
Adds 600 billion a year toEurope’s economy
3 million new jobs created
2.5 million Erasmus students
More competition
Accounts for 20% of global exports and imports
Wider choice of goods and services
Price of airline tickets dropped by 40%
6 million people working in another member state
2,800 billion euros traded in goods in 2011
More... (http://www.canarianweekly.com/eec-celebrates/)
Yet the Commission itself and the EU offices seem to be downplaying the Single Market’s achievements.
A handout by the European Parliament, for instance, thus listed the achievements:
Cheaper calls abroad
More rights for passengers
Helping service suppliers to trade across borders
Safer toys for children
Citizens’ savings better protected.
But it had to be a participant fromDenmarkto remind the conference that 20 years ago,Europewas criss-crossed by borders and travellers had to wait to cross each border, showing passports and awaiting clearance by customs. Today, all that is the past and will (hopefully) not return.
Here are the Top 5 single market gains according to the European Parliament:
Cheaper calls abroad
The EU mobile roaming regulation of May 2007 cut the cost of making and receiving mobile phone calls abroad for at least 140 million users. An SMS cost 11 cents in June 2009; it is now 9 cents and will cost 6 cents as from July 2014. A downloaded megabyte today costs 70 cents, will cost 45 cents as from next summer and 20 cents as from July 2014.
More rights for passengers
As from 2005, passengers travelling by air, rail, water and road in the EU enjoy uniform protection of their rights, such as compensation, immediate and proportionate assistance in the event of delay or cancellation, and equal access to means of travel.
Helping service suppliers to trade across borders
Since the end of 2009, service providers, from travel agents to office maintenance staff, can trade anywhere in the EU without needing to establish a new business in each EU country.
Safer toys for children
At the end of 2008, the European Parliament voted in the world’s strictest toy legislation.
Citizens’ savings better protected
If an EU bank fails, each citizen’s savings are protected by up to 100,000 euros, up from 20,000 as it was in 2008.
The aim of the conference, as made clear from the very beginning by Commissioner Michel Barnier, was not to celebrate, nor to wallow in nostalgia but to assess its current state and to look ahead at the challenges facing it.
Commission President Joe Manuel Barroso kicked off by remarking that the single market is bigger than theUS.
The conference’s title, ‘Together for new growth’, pointed out that a refreshed single market could perhaps kick-start the EU economies from the impact of the crisis.
The Commission has now proposed a new set of propositions, called Single Market Act II.
The following are the proposals of BusinessEurope:
Free movement of goods
When a product is sold legally in one European country, it should be allowed in other markets. But a number of national technical requirements can exclude new products from the EU market and limit the free movement of goods. There is thus need to ensure that standardisation does not impede the free movement of goods.
Mobility of workers
There is need to increase the mobility of workers throughout the EU, by reducing the number of regulated professions, simplifying procedures for the recognition of professional qualifications and ensuring uniform quality levels for education and training.
Public procurement made electronic
The introduction of e-procurement can improve efficiency, market openness, transparency and competition, resulting in less public spending. However, its take-up is still very small.
Public services open to competition
In many countries there is a lack of efficiency in the public sector and companies experience many difficulties. Public-private partnerships can provide financial relief for public authorities, innovative solutions, more customer-oriented services and better value for money for the users.
Investment in trans-European transport networks
Unfortunately, only five of the TEN-T priority projects have been completed. Many regions still miss out on development potential and business misses out on valuable opportunities.
E-commerce: moving into the digital single market
The EU could gain 4% ofGDPby creating a true single digital market by 2020. This corresponds to a gain of EUR 500 billion. The diverse rules on data privacy, consumer protection, provision of online services and the divergent way in which they are applied in EU countries are a great challenge for e-business./
More venture capital for SMEs
The EU market is fragmented along national lines. This prevents European venture capital funds from raising capital across the EU. It creates problems and additional costs for venture capital fund managers seeking to raise funds outside their country.
The euro: one currency, many countries
The introduction of the euro made it easier for European companies to develop international strategies thanks to a reduced level of currency risk. Safeguarding and strengthening the euro is fundamental to the future prosperity of Europe.
Towards a common VAT
The increase in cross-border trade has led to an increase in foreign VAT obligations for both small and bigger companies, together with many headaches. VAT must be levied in the country where the product is consumed.
EU trademark and intellectual property rights
The EU must pursue better access to intellectual property rights, in particular for SMEs, including the creation of a unitary patent that meets the needs of all European users.
Integration of energy markets
A well-functioning single market for energy is vital for cost-effective, secure and competitive energy provision acrossEurope.
International dimension of the single market
Regulatory cooperation with the EU’s largest trading partners is important to foster trade, investment and jobs.
Facts about the single market
500 million people
World’s largest economy
GDP= 12.6 trillion Euros
Adds 600 billion a year toEurope’s economy
3 million new jobs created
2.5 million Erasmus students
More competition
Accounts for 20% of global exports and imports
Wider choice of goods and services
Price of airline tickets dropped by 40%
6 million people working in another member state
2,800 billion euros traded in goods in 2011
More... (http://www.canarianweekly.com/eec-celebrates/)