39. Calls on the Commission to begin formulating European standards to facilitate cross-border e-commerce, to bridge variations between the laws in force within the various Member States and to remove the obligation within a selective distribution network of having an off-line shop prior to selling online, where it is shown that such an obligation is in contradiction with competition law, or is not justified by the nature of the contract for goods and services sold, thus enabling consumers and small and medium-sized enterprises to fully exploit the internal market's potential in the electronic environment; expresses concern regarding th ...[+++]e Commission's decision on the obligation of having an off-line shop prior to selling online as this requirement radically hampers online sales;

39. Calls on the Commission to begin formulating European standards to facilitate cross-border e-commerce, to bridge variations between the laws in force within the various Member States and to remove the obligation within a selective distribution network of having an off-line shop prior to selling online, where it is shown that such an obligation is in contradiction with competition law, or is not justified by the nature of the contract for goods and services sold, thus enabling consumers and small and medium-sized enterprises to fully exploit the internal market's potential in the electronic environment; expresses concern regarding th ...[+++]e Commission's decision on the obligation of having an off-line shop prior to selling online as this requirement radically hampers online sales;

It includes the creation of EPAs aimed at building regional markets and facilitating trade between and within regions plus external trade with partners beyond Africa.

Of the 12% of European citizens who purchased a financial service of some kind by distance marketing, 10% did so from providers in their country, while only 1% purchased distance financial services from EU providers outside their country, and 1% from providers outside the EU.[10] The most recent statistics show cross border trade in general to be stalling.[11] This finding is reinforced by the Economic Study which noted that the level of distance marketing of financial services cross border is extremely low .

This review will in particular aim at extending existing e-commerce friendly rules to the off-line delivery of goods and services in order to create a level playing field between the different trading modes (on-line/off-line).

30. Believes that a genuine single market in financial services, whether on or off-line, cannot be achieved without consistent and timely implementation and enforcement of legislation; calls upon the Commission to enforce the e-commerce directive proactively and vigorously; calls upon financial services regulators in different Member States to work closely together to ensure consistent implementation and interpretation of all legislation relating to e-commerce and financial services;