While modern and often successful, European business and industry cannot afford to rest on their laurels. It is a constant challenge to remain competitive, and keep up with technology, and the pace of growth in competing countries. Meeting the challenge successfully is essential for sustainable growth, for job creation and for our greater prosperity.

Within the European single market, people, goods, services and money move around as freely as within one country. We travel at will across the EU’s internal frontiers for business and pleasure or, if we choose, we can stay at home and enjoy a vast array of products from all over Europe. Although we now take it for granted, the single market is one of the EU’s greatest achievements.

Access to financial services.

Millions of EU citizens do not have access to a basic bank account, a form of financial exclusion which increases their risk of social exclusion and poverty. Prevention and elimination of over-indebtedness and financial exclusion are major elements in the fight against social exclusion and poverty.