Press Release
Embargoed until 00:01hrs
Monday 1 September 2003
Further Action needed on EUInternal Market, says IoD
TheEuropean Unions Internal Market is still failing to deliver barrier-free tradeacross Europe, according to a report out today from the Institute of Directors(IoD).
Thereport, based on a survey of IoD members, highlights concerns aboutbureaucracy, costs and a failure to dismantle obstacles to free trade especially in the services sector.
Nearlyhalf of all respondents to the survey complained that paperwork had increasedas a result of EU initiatives. Only 12 per cent noted a decrease.
TheIoDs Parliamentary and European Adviser, James Walsh, said:
"Doingbusiness across the EU still involves unacceptable levels of red tape.
EUpolicy-makers still have a long way to go before we can say we have a genuinefree market especially in the services sector."
Whenasked about the four freedoms at the heart of the Internal Market (free movementof persons, goods, services and capital), 36 per cent of respondents singledout the Internal Market in services as the area in need of greatest attention.It is essential that EU policy-makers give a high priority to an EU Directivein this area expected later this year, the IoD said.
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Thesurvey also raised concerns about some EU Member States poor records onimplementing Internal Market rules. IoD members identified France as the worstoffender. This backs up the findings of the European Commissions annual Internal Market Scoreboard, which alsoidentifies France as the country with the largest number of EU directives stillawaiting transposition into national law two years after EU deadlines.
JamesWalsh said:
"Whenit comes to the Internal Market, some Member States are still more equal thanothers. Countries such as France are still refusing to play by the rules."
Ends 29.8.03 No.195
Contact Points:
Richard Taylor, PressOfficer, tel: 020 7451 3264
mobile and out of hours: 07721 734886
David Marshall,Director of Public Affairs, tel: 020 7451 3263
mobile and outof hours: 0776 4883420
email: press@iod.com
web: www.iod.com
Notesto editors
1. Full details ofmembers responses are given in an IoD BusinessComment. Copies are available from the IoD Press Office on 020 7451 3264 orpress@iod.com
2. The Institute ofDirectors is a non-party political independent organisation with around 55,000members. In addition to its wide range of business services, the IoD providesan effective voice to represent the interests of its members to government andkey opinion-formers. It also brings the experience of business leaders to bearon the conduct of public affairs.