The Free Movement of Goods on the European Single Market

Abstract

The main objective of the European economical community treaty was to remove the economical barriers between the European member states. For this purpose, the treaty established the single market which has at the base of its function the fourth liberties: the free movement of goods, persons, services and capitals. The free movement of goods from a European member state to another member state of EU imply the elimination and the interdiction of custom duties and other taxes with an equivalent consequence and the interdiction of quantitative restrictions to the good exchanges and other measures with equivalent consequence to these restrictions between the member states. So, because of the fact that the single market means the meeting place of supply with demand concerning a product, this means that it is not necessary to impose limits or conditions to the entrance of product on the national market of a member state. These limits or conditions could be represented by the custom duties or other taxes. But, these are not the only obstacles in front of a product entrance on a market. The member states, through the adopted legislation for national markets protection, could alter the movement of goods in a way which could reduce the economical activity, without, at first sight, this could be discriminating. Although, the Treaty permits the restriction of the free movement of goods in order to protect of that values which are recognized by the community law, such as protection of environment, health or consumers.