Strengthening the Single Market through informal dispute-resolution mechanisms in the EU: The case of SOLVIT
| Author | Evgenia Kokolia |
| Date | 01 February 2018 |
| Published date | 01 February 2018 |
| DOI | 10.1177/1023263X18768680 |
| Subject Matter | Legal development |
Legal development
Strengthening the Single
Market through informal
dispute-resolution
mechanisms in the EU:
The case of SOLVIT
Evgenia Kokolia*
Abstract
SOLVIT is an informal out-of-court dispute-resolution tool between the EU Member States and
Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland to practically help citizens and businesses when encountering
problems in cross-border situations with their rights enshrined in EU legislation. In light of the
recently adopted Commission Communication on the reinforcement of SOLVIT,
1
the authors
analyse its key characteristics and challenges. The authors concludes that an enhanced role of
SOLVIT can efficiently promote a culture of compliance and smart enforcement of EU law in the
Single Market together with the Member States.
Keywords
SOLVIT, problem solving, Single Market legislation
* Evgenia Kokolia (on behalf of the EC SOLVIT team: Anoushka Janssens, Cristina Gime
´nez Estol, Alexander von Cam-
penhausen). Evegenia Kokolia PhD, MSc is a Tax Policy Officer at the Independent Public Revenue Authority, and Greece-
seconded National Expert in the European Commission (DG GROWTH) and member of the EC SOLVIT team.
Corresponding author:
Evgenia Kokolia, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium.
Email: ekokolia77@yahoo.com
1. Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Action Plan on the Reinforcement of SOLVIT: Bringing the benefits of
the Single Market to citizens and businesses, COM(2017) 255 final. It was adopted as part of the compliance package
together with the Proposal for a Regulation to establish a Single Digital Gateway to provide information, procedures,
assistance and problem solving services and amending Regulation (EU) No. 1024/2012, COM(2017) 256 final; and the
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council setting out the conditions and procedure by
which the Commission may request undertakings and associations to provide information in relation to the internal
market and related areas, COM(2017) 257 final. For more information, see European Commission, ‘Commission Takes
New Steps to Enhance Compliance and Practical Functioning of the EU Single Market’, European Commission (2017),
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-1086_en.htm.
Maastricht Journal of European and
Comparative Law
2018, Vol. 25(1) 108–117
ªThe Author(s) 2018
Reprints and permissions:
sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav
DOI: 10.1177/1023263X18768680
maastrichtjournal.sagepub.com
MJ
MJ
To continue reading
Request your trial