4.3  Market integration  Even in the UK, I think, few would doubt that the single market has been a great success benefiting the entire EU. It has simplified trade in goods, intensifying competition and narrowing margins. Nevertheless, market integration remains incomplete. In the area of services, cross-border competition is under-developed.
Mark-ups on the cost of services are, on average, higher than in the USA. One could say that the European Commission’s Services Directive has failed to live up to expectations. In a nutshell, the single market for services is not yet delivering its full potential. Thus, completing the single market for services and ensuring the unhindered cross-border provision of services promise significant economic benefits.