Improved civic education, a single gateway to access easily all relevant information and proactive consultations, organised in partnership with NGOs and concerned stakeholders. These are some of the concrete proposals endorsed by participants in the final declaration of the Single Market Forum  (SIMFO) held in Krakow on 2-4 October 2011 to help bridge the gap between citizens and the Single Market

The Krakow Forum marks the starting point of a debate among EU institutions and stakeholders on the development of the Single Market to complement the European Commission’s action plan, adopted earlier this year to revive the Single Market by 2012 . The creation of a European legal status for foundations is of one the complementary measures announced in the Commission’s action plan.

The Forum outlined that the Single Market has brought tremendous benefits to citizens in Europe, prosperity and jobs; but they often believe it serves primarily big businesses, and do not always see these benefits in their day to day lives.  This was confirmed in a report on citizens' and businesses' main 20 concerns compiled by the Commission , the results of the EU-wide competition "Tell us your story" and the Declaration from Polish Youth which all pointed to problems which citizens, workers, businesses, and public authorities – experience in their daily lives.

As a general matter, the report confirms that there is still a divide between expectations and reality in the single market and that this divide stems from inter-related gaps:

• An information and communication gap: people often do not sufficiently know or understand their rights and do not know where to look for information or help;
• An implementation gap: In many areas, a gap can be noted between the EU legal framework and the way it is implemented and applied in practice;
• A legislative gap: In some areas, the EU legal framework itself does not match citizens' and businesses' expectations.

Forum participants were invited to examine the different barriers, to share their ideas to overcome them and to fuel the debate on the future of economic integration in Europe. Solutions were debated and put forward in a series of thematic workshops addressing the following issues

• Bridging the gap between citizens and the Single Market
• The added value of a European Professional Card to advance the recognition of qualifications and facilitate mobility of workers across the Union.
• Promoting safe and effective E-commerce
• Alternative dispute resolution tools and online dispute resolution for consumers and businesses
• Doing business made easier
• The posting of workers and fundamental social rights
• Improving the functioning of EU public procurement legislation; and
• Ensuring the proper implementation of  single market rules

Organised jointly by the European Parliament, the Polish Government (holding the Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers in the second half of 2011) and the European Commission, this year's Single Market Forum brought together 1,000 citizens, businesses, consumers, NGOs, representatives of the Member States), national parliaments, stakeholders, journalists and European institutions.

Read more: Single Market Forum 's Final declaration & operational conclusions

Background documents:

-- SIMFO programme and presentations 

- The Single Market Act, adopted by the European Commission, covers key areas to revive the Single Market by 2012 and 12 key drivers for growth, competitiveness and social progress.

-  Report on the 20 most frequently encountered problems faced by EU citizens and businesses when travelling, moving or working abroad. The report, which was requested in the Single Market Act (IP/11/469), deals with issues such as professional qualifications, social security, tax barriers, and access to finance and on-line shopping, to name just a few. Read the Snapshot here

- Eurobarometer survey on the Single Market, September 2011. European citizens are, in general, satisfied with the possibilities that the Single Market offers in terms of a bigger choice of products (74%), more jobs (52%) and fair competition (47%). On the other hand, the Single Market is perceived as only benefiting big companies (62%), worsening working conditions (51%) and not benefiting poor and disadvantaged people (53%). 28% of those interviewed are considering working abroad in the future. The Eurobarometer survey also shows that many Europeans are not aware of the Single Market and its benefits (35%).