(28 October 2015) – Today the European Commission has presented a roadmap to unleash the full potential of the Single Market and make it the launchpad for Europe to thrive in the global economy.
The Single Market enables people to travel, live, work and study wherever they wish. But these opportunities do not always materialise, because single market rules are not known, not implemented or simply jeopardised by unjustified barriers. And the Single Market needs to adapt to reflect today’s realities: innovative ideas and new business models must find their place too.
The actions agreed today will deliver results for:
• Consumers: The Commission will take action to ensure that consumers seeking to buy services or products in another Member State, be it online or in person, do not face diverging prices, sales conditions, or delivery options, unless this is justified by objective and verifiable reasons.
• SMEs and start-ups: The Commission intends to simplify VAT regulation and intellectual property rules, reduce the cost of company registration, put forward a proposal on business insolvency and make all information on regulatory requirements accessible in a single digital gateway.
• Innovative services: The Commission will develop a European agenda for the collaborative economy.
• Professionals: The Commission will improve the opportunities for businesses and professionals to be mobile across borders. It will improve the recognition of professional qualifications and facilitate the cross-border provision of business services, construction and other services that generate growth.