The Internal market and its opportunities for consumers

The European Internal market was effectively introduced in 1993, but it had already been suggested 10 years before by Jacques Delors who had written about it in a surprisingly bright and innovative White Paper.

The need for the harmonization of different economies and the idea of a monetary union has since then become a concrete reality. 

Physical, customs and administrative borders have slowly been disappearing, but the road is still long ahead since several important fields have not yet been harmonized nor subject to Community legislation.

One year after the introduction of the Euro, the Union has extended its horizons, offering new opportunities to the people living in Europe as citizens or consumers. Today’s 25 Member countries mean an internal market of more than 400 millions consumers, with great expectations of growth and development.

Internal market means, first of all, more freedom, that is to say free movement of goods, services, people and capital. As a matter of fact, thanks to the Schengen Agreement, most of the frontiers within Europe have been abolished while controls on external frontiers have been intensified in order to facilitate citizens’ freedom of movement.

However, this does not yet mean that those who wish to live in another country or start a new job can do it without obstacles. As a matter of fact, for example, academic degrees and vocational qualifications are not mutually recognized among all EU countries.

Internal market also means freedom to purchase, since today people can buy goods in another country, maybe saving some money and without having to pay for customs duties. Moreover, the introduction of the single currency has strongly favoured economic trade since the comparison among prices has become much faster, there is no need for currency exchange and commissions for this exchange are no longer paid.

Member countries have also been encouraged to dismantle monopolistic markets, such as telecommunications and the distribution of electricity, gas and water. On the other side, services such as transportations and finance have been changing more slowly.

Legal cooperation between countries has been increased and a European Police Office has been created in order to prevent criminals from taking advantage of all these freedoms.