European Market and Still Remaining Barriers to Genuinely Free Movement of Goods: the Role of Technical Regulations
European Market and Still Remaining Barriers to Genuinely Free Movement of Goods: the Role of Technical Regulations

Summary/Abstract: In this paper the authors analyze the metamorphosis of understanding trade in Europe: from Antics, from the first systemized economic attitudes in early middle ages through mercantilists and Adam Smith who laid down the basement of classical political economy. Free trade was considered as one of motive powers in the whole economic process. Physiocracy, Classical economics, Marxist economy, Historical School, Marginalists and Neoclassikes proceeded, supplemented or disputed that theory until the XX century, discovering main principles in microeconomics. XX century was mainly devoted to macroeconomics and global problems. Great Depression proved that trade restrictions depending on its size lead to economic disaster. In the second half of XX century Europe decided to achieve free trade at least between the member states. The idea of Single Market was born and formally completed. The EU internal market is supposed to be an area without any trade barriers. It is supposed to be but there is still much to do in achieving a really unhampered flow of goods and services in Europe, and not only enlargement leaves the problem open. The legal basis of the EU permits the possibility to misuse health and safety requirements as a hamper of full economic integration of the expanding EU family.

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