The Single Market is seen by many as one of the major achievements of the European project. Its four freedoms (goods, capital, services, and labour) go well beyond a free trade agreement with half of all cross-border trade in goods being covered by harmonised rules at EU level.

Despite clear successes, the Single Market has not yet delivered on all its potential (especially in the services sector) and its regulatory foundations continue to develop and adapt to changing circumstances such as new technologies, new business models, and better evidence and data on what works. Apart from the development of business across the EU, consumer protection is an integral part of the Single Market which ensures that the proceeds of increased competition, specialisation, economies of scale and innovation ultimately benefit everyone.

Our work in this practice covers a wide range of services including regulatory evaluations, assessments of business, market and consumer impacts or sectorial analyses.