MEPs mark the Single Market's 20th anniversary by demanding measures to remove the remaining obstacles.

The Single Market: change is now?

There are more than half a billion  consumers in the EU.

If they have a problem,  they contact someone

like the European Consumer Centre  for France and Germany.

The majority of disputes  concern e-commerce.

That represents about 70-75%  of the cases we deal with.

The other predominant areas  concern tourism, i.e. air passengers.

The Single Market is 20  but it's still not complete.

Issues like recognition of qualifications,

bureaucratic social security systems,  discriminatory employment practices

and the difficulty of registering cars in other  states discourage cross-border trade.

MEPs have identified 20 problems  they want addressed now.

In some Member States  there is a tendency during crises

to stop unrestricted trading  of goods between countries,

thinking they are better defended  if they turn inwards,

denying access to imported goods.  That's a mistake.

However, it's very important not to expect  the market to solve the crisis on its own.

To get out of the crisis you need robust  investments aimed at creating new jobs.

Fears about dealing with companies  in another country deter internet sales.

MEPs want a one-stop shop  to provide information

and a simple way to settle complaints  in a consumer's own language.

Not everyone is aware of their rights, nor  how to get redress when things go wrong.

If a French consumer buys products  on the internet from abroad, for example,

and they have a difficulty with the seller,

we can take up the case and send it to our  colleagues in the state of seller concerned

20 years of the Single Market  are worth celebrating

and, most importantly, implementation  by Member States in order to make it work.