Highlights

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The first Single Market Forum brought together businesses, citizens and authorities in the Polish city of Krakow on 3 and 4 October to discuss the future of the single market. On 5 December, the Council conclusions stressed the importance of turning the Forum into a regular event.

The single market, with its 27 member states and approximately 500 million citizens, is the largest integrated marketplace in the world. Barriers have been brought down to give individuals the right to work or live in another EU country and to make it easier for businesses to operate across borders.

Next year it will have been in existence for 20 years. However, the process is not finished and work is in progress to improve its functioning.

At the Single Market Forum, organised jointly by the Polish Presidency of the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission, around 1200 citizens, business people, social partners, think tanks, national parliamentarians etc. shared their ideas on the future development of the single market. The Forum Declaration underlined how useful it would be to have a European Professional Card and efficient alternative dispute resolution for consumers and to develop e-Commerce further.

The issues mentioned by the Single Market Forum were taken up and elaborated on by the ministers. The Commission was requested to rapidly present a roadmap on the completion of the Digital Single Market by 2015.

Other EU links:
EU single market - portal website
Your Europe - help and advice on living, travelling or doing business in Europe