eBay welcomes this important consultation on the Single Market Act. eBay's contribution details the company's own experiences and views, but importantly also represents the interests of and feedback received from eBay's many European users, which include some 350,000 SMEs and over 40 million consumers.
An ambitious and pro-actively implemented Single Market policy is needed to boost Europe's economy and its international strength. E-commerce and cross-border trade will be among the key drivers in this process, provided they receive strong political and regulatory support.
In this context, internet intermediaries are essential as they facilitate innovation and support the development of SMEs, who provide the lifeblood of e-commerce. Any policy proposals to adjust the legislative framework applicable to e-commerce "to meet the needs generated by the developement of internet" must carefully balance the interests of internet intermediaries and the users of such services.
Finally, barriers to online commerce have been identified, they now need to be urgently removed to unlock e-commerce's full growth potential.
See the Communication: "Towards a Single Market Act for a highly competitive social market economy"