European Added Value in Action: The Added Value of the European Single Market

Part of a series of fact sheets on "European Added Value in Action", this note succinctly presents the added value brought by the European single market as the largest, barrier-free, common economic space in the industrialised world. It gives some historic background on its introduction and development, describes its macro-economic impact, details its benefits in specific sectors -such as airline services or the energy sector-, and describes the opportunities it has brought to citizens. Finally, the fact sheet refers to the short-comings of the single market and the need for further work in order to bring it to its full potential.