By Martin Banks - 10th March 2010
We need to get member states more engaged on this
Malcolm Harbour
EU commissioner John Dalli has pledged to increase public awareness of an EU scheme designed to resolve disputes without resorting to legal action.
The so-called Solvit initiative, launced in 2002, is supposed to solve problems that arise for citizens and businesses due to "misapplication" of internal market law.
However, a report by Romanian Liberal MEP Cristian Silviu Busoi says many people are unaware of it and, therefore, turn to the European ombudsman for help.
The report, debated by parliament's plenary on Tuesday, calls for the scheme's "capacity" to be increased.
Speaking at a news conference in parliament on Wednesday, Dalli, the commissioner for health and consumer policy, agreed with the report's recommendations, saying that member states should increase awareness of Solvit.
He also agreed to arrange for the creation of a common European institution website that will refer EU citizens directly to the institution, or competent body, to handle their complaint.
At present, anyone looking for information about the scheme first has to navigate the commission's complex website
But Dalli said he hopes a website will "streamline information, advice and problem-solving assistance services" and make them more accessible.
Speaking at the same news conference, UK Tory deputy Malcolm Harbour called for more member state support for the EU's objective of completing the single market.
Harbour, who chairs parliament's internal market and consumer affairs committee, said, "We need to get member states more engaged on this, particularly those countries who persist in keeping in place restrictive legislation."
There are two areas, he said, where such action was particularly needed: the single market for services and goods.
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