Marketing and Doing Business in Europe

Knowing more about the European Union (EU) and the programmes that are in place to help small and medium-sized businesses could be vital for your future success. The FAQs and resources in this section will help you identify opportunities and support programmes that relate to your business and to find the advice you might need to take advantage of them.

What difference will EU enlargement make to my business?

Twelve countries, mainly from Central and Eastern Europe, are currently involved in negotiations to join the EU. It looks likely that there may be as many as ten new members of the union in 2004 with a further two countries joining in the next 6 years.

EU enlargement will:

• Bring down remaining barriers to trade and business. UK companies will benefit from access to the largest single market for trade and investment in the world, with over 500 million consumers.
• Increase the international competitiveness of UK companies. They will benefit from cheaper inputs, a larger and more diverse labour market, additional opportunities for technology transfer and greater economies of scale.
• Ensure a level playing field for business across the wider single market. The same rules, standards and legislation will apply to everyone.
• Increase demand for UK goods and services because of enhanced economic growth in the new member states.

To find out more about how EU enlargement and the Single Market can help your business, visit EU Enlargement and the Single Market at the Department of Trade and Industry.

This article based on Crown Copyright © 2002