Non-tariff barriers: untapping full potential of the single market

"Abolishing unjustified non-tariff barriers is a task for both the European Union and its individual Member States. It can be achieved by an enhanced compliance towards the already existing law by the Member States, with the Commission keeping national governments to their commitments", insisted Dariusz Rosati, the shadow raporteur of the report on "Non-Tariff Barriers in the Single Market" adopted today by The Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection.

"The European single market still has great potential to be untapped, especially when economic growth in the EU is unstable. Member states should change a protectionist way of thinking and open their markets for companies and individuals from other countries so that we do not only pay lip service to our strive towards a truly competitive single market", emphasized Dariusz Rosati

The report emphasizes the main burdens that companies or citizens face while engaging in cross-border trade or commerce. Still too many various national regulations pose a challenge for companies and individuals from engaging in cross-border trade. Taking into account that various countries introduce additional barriers to enter their market, companies, especially SMEs, often perceive trade or commerce in another country rather as international trade and cease from extending their activity.

 "Even though tariff barriers within the EU were successfully removed many years ago, it is the non-tariff barriers that keep us away from a truly single market", said Dariusz Rosati.