The road from Rome : a strong, connected single market.
Date: 2017-05-08
Institutions: Directorate-General for Communication
Subjects: EEC Treaty, EU Member State, EU policy, European Union, European integration, consumer protection, electronic commerce, euro, free movement of capital, free movement of goods, market access, single market, the EU's international role

tHe roAd FroM roMe
A Strong, ConneCted Single MArket

“I believe that we must make much better use of the great opportunities 
offered by digital technologies, which know no borders. If we do this, we can 
ensure that European citizens will soon be able to use their mobile phones 
across Europe without having to pay roaming charges. We can ensure that 
consumers can access services, music, movies and sports events on their 
electronic devices wherever they are in Europe and regardless of borders. 
We can create a fair level playing field where all companies offering their 
goods or services in the European Union are subject to the same data 
protection and consumer rules.”

President Jean-Claude Juncker, 15 July 2014

The Treaties of Rome established a common market where people, goods, services and capital can move freely 
and created the conditions for prosperity and stability for European citizens. Thanks to the Single Market, citizens 
benefit from broader choices as consumers and lower costs for many products and services. The EU offers high 
standards of consumer protection, including product safety, food safety and other important contractual rights. 
For business, the Single Market offers access to 500 million potential customers. The euro – the single currency 
of 19 out of 28 EU countries – is used by over 330 million people every day. It has become the second most used 
reserve currency in the world. 

online services have a huge potential but it is largely unused at eU level

54% US-based 
online 
services

315 million
Europeans use 
the internet  
every day

4% EU -  
cross - border online  
services

42% national - 
Member Sates 
online services

only 15% of  
consumers shop  
online from another 
EU country

Only 7% of SMEs sell 
cross-border

Source: JRC/Institute for Prospective Technological Studies Digital Economy Working Paper, 2015

the rome declaration: 

“A prosperous and sustainable Europe: a Union which creates growth and jobs; a Union where a strong, connected 
and  developing  Single  Market,  embracing  technological  transformation,  and  a  stable  and  further  strengthened 
single  currency  open  avenues  for  growth,  cohesion,  competitiveness,  innovation  and  exchange,  especially  for 
small and medium-sized enterprises; a Union promoting sustained and sustainable growth, through investment, 
structural reforms and working towards completing the Economic and Monetary Union.”

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THE CHALLENGE

Unless it strengthens its Economic and Monetary Union, Europe could miss out on opportunities to 
create jobs as well as fair and sustainable growth in a competitive social market economy aimed at 
full employment and social progress.

Addressing the legacy of the crisis, from long-term unemployment to high levels of public and private debt,  
remains an urgent priority. For the first time since the Second World War, there is a real risk that the generation of 
today’s young adults ends up less well-off than their parents. Making Europe’s economy more inclusive, competitive, 
resilient and future-proof will be a top priority in the years ahead.

THE WAy FoRWARd

Recognising  the  jobs  and  growth  potential  of  a  fully-functioning  Single 
Market,  the  Commission  has  initiated  various  Single  Market  strategies, 
focusing  in  particular  on  the  opportunities  stemming  from  completing 
the  Digital  Single  Market.  A  fully  functional  Digital  Single  Market  could 
contribute €415 billion a year to the EU’s economy and create hundreds of 
thousands of new jobs. Significant progress has already been made since 
May  2015.  However,  there  is  still  much  to  do,  notably  on  strengthening 
investment  in  digital  infrastructures  and  high-performance  computing, 
e-privacy, boosting e-commerce and modernising copyright rules.

2007 2012 2015 2017

€ 0.49

€ 0.29

€ 0.19 Domestic

price

Voice call made (1minute)

The  White  Paper  on  the  Future  of  europe  recognises  that  whatever  scenario  the  Union  decides  to  follow, 
the single currency is fundamental, and must ensure benefits for all citizens, businesses and Member States. To 
address its remaining weaknesses and divergences and to prepare for future crises, the foundations of Europe’s 
Economic and Monetary Union have to be strengthened. The Five Presidents’ Report of June 2015 mapped out 
the  path  towards  completing  the  Economic  and  Monetary  Union.  The  European  Semester  of  economic  policy 
coordination has been revamped and now includes stronger social dimensions. We are working on simplifying and 
improving the transparency and predictability of the current economic and fiscal rules.

KEy DATES

May 2017

European  Commission  reflection  paper  on  the  deepening  of  the  Economic  and  
Monetary Union

June 2017

European Council to review progress on the various Single Market strategies

15 June

Mobile roaming charges abolished in the EU

Summer 2017

Updated EU guidelines for national telecoms regulators on intervention in markets

early 2018

Citizens will be able to enjoy their online subscriptions when travelling in the EU

May 2018

A new single set of EU rules on data protection and privacy in electronic communications

ISBN: 978-92-79-67139-5
doi: 10.2775/3924