Parliament calls for removal of obstacles to single market

EU citizens still do not benefit fully from the single market, say MEPs in a resolution adopted on Thursday. They cite difficulties registering cars abroad, opening bank accounts or having professional qualifications recognised and blame these problems on member states’ reluctance to implement EU rules swiftly, coordinate with each other and inform citizens of their rights.

25-10-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — “In certain areas of our daily lives, so many simple things are still very complex, hard and expensive, such as the reimbursement of medical expenses after a temporary stay in another EU country, the opening of a bank account by an Erasmus student, or the recognition of qualifications and of the car number plate in another member state”, said the rapporteur, Regina Bastos (EPP, PT).

The non-binding resolution, passed by a show of hands, calls on the Commission to present “concrete actions and feasible proposals” to tackle the top 20 concerns identified by citizens and businesses. It also points to over 2000 cases in which member states have failed to implement EU single market law correctly or in full.

Cut the cost of vehicle registration

If European citizens decide to move to other member state and want to take their car with them they face complex car registration procedures, including providing documentation that does not exist in their own country and paying additional taxes, says the resolution. MEPs therefore call on the member states to minimise the financial cost of registering vehicles and to recognise each others’ technical controls.

The right to have a bank account

Parliament points out that 30 million European citizens have been prevented by banks from opening a bank account, thus hindering mobility in the single market,, and calls on the Commission to table legislation to ensure consumer-friendly procedures for opening bank accounts across the Union.

Faster recognition of qualifications

The resolution calls for a European professional card, in order to speed up the recognition of professional qualifications and thereby facilitate the mobility of workers between Member States..

Better dialogue with citizens

MEPs recognise that there is a lack of information about the single market and call on the Commission, member states, regional and local authorities, and civil society representatives to launch regular European interactive information campaigns highlighting the benefits of the single market, practical and concrete solutions to their day-to-day problems, and their rights.

Procedure:  Non-legislative resolution

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