Next year should see the enactment of the Single Market Act by the European Parliament. This important legislation is being developed by a group of 10 commissioners chaired by Commissioner Michel Barnier and follows the publication of a report by MEP Louis Grech entitled Delivering A Single Market To Consumers And Citizens.
Even before the publication of a White Paper on this subject next October, Mr Barnier took up a suggestion made in the Grech report “to identify the top 20 single-market-related sources of dissatisfaction and frustration which citizens encounter every day”. He requested his staff that handles citizens’ complaints to draw up a list “from the real experiences of citizens, consumers and European entrepreneurs”. Mr Barnier promised that the causes of these frustrations will be addressed in the new Single Market Act. It is interesting to discover what makes EU citizens cross because some of the gripes identified by the Barnier team sound familiar to us living in the southernmost part of the EU.
The complaints raised by EU citizens living and working abroad include the confusion resulting from different social security systems. “Social security systems are different in all EU countries which can sometimes make it difficult for citizens to understand procedures when moving abroad.” Some rightly ask whether the single market really makes the freedom of movement feasible for EU citizens.
Another serious frustration expressed by EU citizens relates to “the recognition of professional qualifications”. The mutual recognition of professional qualifications in EU states is hindered by “substantial problems with both the EU law and with its application”. There also seems to be an “expectations gap” as citizens expect their qualifications to be accepted anywhere in the EU when clearly, this is not what happens in reality.
A similar complaint relates to the “mutual recognition of academic diplomas”. Students find that their diplomas cannot easily be accepted by another EU country as EU law does not cover this important area. Our educational institutions should comment on this important matter when the White Paper on the Single Market Act is issued. Yet another problem associated with citizens’ movement within the EU relates to cross-border healthcare. “Europeans sometimes encounter problems with recognition of European health Insurance cards and reimbursement of medical expenses from another country”. The Single Market Act is expected to clarify the rules and procedures in this area.
An irritation identified by Mr Barnier’s team is surely shared by many Maltese citizens and relates to buying a car abroad. “Measures are needed to simplify buying a car abroad, and reduce differences in taxation rates for importing a second-hand vehicle”. Many will wait to see how the new Act will handle this controversial issue that has made quite a few of us hot under the collar in the past year.
Cross-border online shopping also features in the top 20 issues that seem to make EU consumers cross. At present, “Europeans still do not feel comfortable buying things online mostly due to perceived problems with payment fraud and access to means of redress if problems occur”. Hopefully, the Single Market Act will make online shopping less stressful.
The provision of cross-border services is still hampered by the existence of national requirements which go beyond what can be considered necessary and thus limits cross-border business. This mainly applies to small service providers. Past attempts to liberalise the market for services has so far had limited success. So, Europeans expect this issue to be addressed to encourage more competition and choice for those needing particular services.
Setting up a business in another EU country is more of a headache than one imagines. EU citizens are demanding “a less burdensome process by ensuring that member states do not ask non-nationals to comply with a series of unnecessary requirements. Administrative procedures should also be shorter and less burdensome.”
A most interesting proposal that came out of this exercise is the need to inform more effectively EU citizens about their rights. “Information on EU rights must be improved by presenting in a clear format and in an accessible manner in different languages so that Europeans know where to turn when they need help.”
The publication of an EU citizens’ magna carta any time soon will mark an effective breakthrough in getting EU politicians in contact with the reality that ordinary people are experiencing. Thanks to the Grech Report, when the new Single Market Act is enacted fewer EU citizens will be cross about the single market weaknesses.
jcassarwhite@yahoo.com