The SOLVIT Network: State of the Art and Possible Future Developments

Abstract

After two decades from the first policy documents and the setting up of the SOLVIT network, the European Commission adopted an Action Plan on the reinforcement of SOLVIT, as part of a packageof measures aimed at enhancing compliance with EU law and at improving the functioning of the internal market (the 'compliance package'). With the Action Plan the Commission renews its commitment to improving the quality of SOLVIT's services by working from different viewpoints and in strict cooperation with the Member States and the other European institutions. Also, the Action Plan is leading the way towards future developments of the network, having regard to its relations with the Commission, its objectives and its role in the integration of the internal market. Most importantly, however, the Commission is making it clear that SOLVIT is, among other things, a mechanism to enhance 'compliance', in particular by ensuring the effective application of EU law by national public administrations and by helping citizens and undertakings to avail themselves of their European rights and liberties.