EU Single Market: Happy Birthday to you!

The European Single Market which provides free movement of people, goods, capital and services, turns 20 this week. "Happy birthday to the cornerstone of the EU which has delivered real achievements and added value for all European citizens", said EPP Group MEPs Andreas Schwab and Róża Thun.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the EU Single Market launched in 1992. The Single Market Week takes place from 15 to 20 October with events all across the EU to mark and reflect on the past, present and future of the Single Market.

"The Single Market has brought about more choice and freedom for consumers and a big market for business. Completing the Single Market is a way to get out of the economic crisis. To do this, Member States must be ready to deliver the full implementation of EU rules anywhere in Europe", said Andreas Schwab, EPP Group Coordinator in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee of the European Parliament.

"Europe has a fruitful cross-border dimension in education and training. We are glad that the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the EU. It would be very wise to donate the prize money directly to the EU Erasmus Programme which has achieved so much for young Europeans to feel the sense of shared purpose", said Róża Thun MEP who received the 2011 Parliament Magazine MEP Award in the Internal Market and Consumer Affairs category.