According to the last data released by the European Commission regarding the functioning of the services Your Europe Advice and SOLVIT, social security stand as the issues which European citizens and business are most concerned and have requested information about to both services. In 2010 Your Europe Advice reached an all-time high of 12.000 questions, and SOLVIT helped 1.363 citizens and businesses in their difficulties regarding the implementation of Single Market rights.

Your Europe Advice and SOLVIT are two different services, in line with the better regulation and law enforcement principles, put in place by the European Union in order to provide support and guidance for citizens and businesses in issues related to the implementation of their rights under the Single Market. By providing guidance and helping to solve citizens' problems, they contribute to identity areas where larger structural problems within the Single Market may arise or further progress in required.

Your Europe Advice, formerly Citizen Signpost Service, not only informs citizens about their rights in the EU, but it also provides the European Commission with important information about areas where the Single Market is not operating as well as it should. On its side, the solutions provided by SOLVIT often extend well beyond the individual cases and can lead to structural changes in the behaviour of public authorities or to a change in national legislation. SOLVIT is a successful example of a close partnership between Member States and the European Commission, which will be reinforced in the coming months.

Your Europe Advice activities in 2010

Your Europe Advice has been operating since 1996, and is currently managed by the Commission through an external contractor, European Citizen Action Service (ECAS). This services which provides free, personalised advice to EU citizens on legal questions or problems they may encounter when in another EU country, has received total number of eligible enquiries of 12.000 questions in 2010, a 15% increase from the previous year.

Thanks to the explanations and advice from around 50 experts across the Member States, these individuals are now able to take full advantage of their rights in the Single Market. Through its network of experienced multilingual lawyers from all 27 EU Member States, Your Europe Advice provides answers in any of the official EU languages within one week of receiving the request.

About a quarter of the questions Your Europe Advice received in 2010 related to social security issues, including health insurance, pensions, and unemployment benefits. Other frequently asked questions related to residence rights (21%) and working rights (15%). Replies to 91% of queries were provided within three working days.

The team is composed of experts in EU law, who also have an excellent knowledge of national and local rules and regulations. Any individual can ask questions about his/her EU rights. Most often, questions relate to cross-border situations. Enquiries can be submitted on-line, and replies are provided in the citizen's own language.

SOLVIT activities in 2010

SOLVIT is an online network operational since 2002, which enables EU Member States to work together on the problems that arise when public authorities fail to adequately apply Internal Market rules. The network itself is coordinated centrally through the European Commission, but is operated individually by the Member States.

In 2010, SOLVIT helped 1.363 citizens and businesses who ran into difficulties getting their Single Market rights recognised by national public administrations. Of the cases filed in 2010, 34% related to social security issues, 23% were about residence rights and 16% concerned recognition of professional qualifications. 90% of cases were successfully resolved, and the average time for treating a case was 66 days. Such a high success rate achieved under tight deadlines would not be possible either under infringement proceedings or formal judicial procedures, which can take up to several years.