Since its inception, some thirty years ago, the Single Market has been affected by a huge compliance deficit. The cost of non-compliance for goods and services alone is today 700 billion euros.
All stakeholders, from the business community to the Member States and the European Commission, regularly lament the untapped potential of the Single Market resulting from this incorrect application of the EU rules.
To address this problem we propose that a Single Market Ombudsman in every EU State is introduced. As a national, independent body, its role would be to protect the EU rights of businesses and citizens at the national level. Being part of the administration of the Member States, the ombudsman would be able to communicate with, and monitor the national and local authorities in charge of applying EU rules in the country. The Single Market Ombudsman would also need to be able to bring cases before the national courts.