The European Union today launched its website to draw attention to the events of Single Market Week in October 2012, marking 20 Years of the European Single Market.
Single Market Week will run from the October 15 to 20, 2012, and will be marked with events taking place across the 27 Member States of the European Union. These events will bring together European citizens and businesses with Members of the European Parliament, the European Commission, other EU institutions and the Member States to celebrate and reflect on the past, present and future of the Single Market. These events will include forums, fairs, conferences, exhibitions, radio, TV programmes, quizzes and other activities.
A major launch event to kick off Single Market Week will take place in Brussels on the October 15, 2012. This is a unique opportunity for the citizens of Europe to have their say on the Single Market. Eight hundred people from across Europe will have the opportunity to take a seat in the Hemicycle of the European Parliament to share their experiences and express their views on 20 years of the European Single Market. The event will be focussed on real stories and experiences of people and businesses from across the 27 Member States of the EU.
The website launched today, www.singlemarket20.eu, is an interactive site that provides interesting information about the Single Market including its achievements over the past 20 years and the challenges that it currently faces. The website also allows visitors to register to participate at the launch event of Single Market Week in Brussels.
The launch event promises to offer a key opportunity for lively, interactive dialogue, discussions and exchanges of views between citizens, businesses, stakeholders and guests including President of the European Commission , José Manuel Barroso; President of the European Parliament , Martin Schulz; President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy ; European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, Michael Barnier; former President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors and Members of the European Parliament.
At the event, Europeans citizens, students, experts, businesses, national and local public authorities will be provided with opportunities to discuss the main achievements of the Single Market during the last 20 years but will also look ahead, and share their views and expectations on the main challenges that the Single Market must overcome in the future.
To find out more about the 20 Years of the Single Market, Single Market Week and to register to attend the launch event of Single Market Week, please visit http://www.singlemarket20.eu