Facts and Figures

The EU single market has the largest GDP of any economy in the world.

In November 2010, the EU Commission had 1091 pending infringement proceedings against the member states in relation to the single market. This was a reduction of 11% on the previous six months.

" Almost half of the infringement proceedings launched by the Commission relate to the environment and taxation (470 out of the 1091 in November 2010).

In 2010, the 'Eurotariff' limited the cost of making a mobile phone call within the EU to 32 pence, and it limited the cost of sending a text message to 9 pence.

Arguments

For

By standardising national regulations, the single market makes it easier to do business in the EU and contributes to faster economic growth.

Economic ties are good for European stability because they make conflicts like World War II unthinkable today.

A single market helps ensure an open, liberal Europe.

Against

National governments continue to resist single market measures, so the system can't work properly.

A single market can never operate across an area with such different cultures and levels of wealth.

The single market hasn't removed regulations - it has just moved them to a European level.

Quotes

'A fully robust and fully operational single market is the main vehicle for economic union.' - Mario Monti, Internal Market Commissioner, 1999-2004

'That the single market is not yet delivering growth and jobs at its full potential can in large part be put down to the successful defence of established interests to the detriment of society at large.' - José Manuel Barroso, EU Commission President, 2004-09

'The single market is more and more necessary and less and less popular.' - Michel Barnier, EU Internal Market Commissioner, November 2010

Technical Terms

Free Trade: international trade when there is no restriction on the import or export of goods.

Customs Union: a group of economies with no internal barriers to trade and a common external tariff.

Mutual Recognition: the principle that goods sold in one part of the single market cannot be excluded from another.

Value-added tax (VAT): an indirect tax on most sales of goods and services.

Europe 2020 strategy: underpins all EU policy regarding the Single Market. It particularly aims to create jobs and an inclusive society.

Economy of Scale: the increase in profit made by a business when it can produce and sell more without increasing costs.

Questions and tasks:

1. What tasks were set by Article 2 of the EEC Treaty?

2. Why was it necessary to open up borders within the MS?

3. When was the Single market introduced?

4. What measures were taken to make the Single Market work?

5. What year is formally regarded as the date of the Single Market introduction?

6. State the importance of the Single Market for people, for firms, for banks, companies and individuals.

7. Speak on the advantages of the Single Market.

8. Name stages to the Single Act.

9. What are the goals of the Single Market?

10. Comment on the essence of the Single European Act (SEA).

11. What was the key innovation of the SEA?

12. What policies were also included?

13. What CHARTER was proclaimed?

14. Explain how new social and economic cohesion between rich and poor regions was achieved.

15. What were the Research and Development progress aims?

Date: 2015-01-02; view: 842