Barriers to E-commerce within the EU and the Role of Standards and Common EU Rules.

What is it about?

This article deals with the problems associated with online international trade, i.e. e-commerce, within the EU. The authors examine the potential barriers to cross-border online selling and online buying with the focus on problems related to standards. The problems associated with interoperability and labelling can be seen as clearly related to standards. Using data from the flash Eurobarometer (413) survey, logit and ordered logit regressions are estimated. Interoperability problems, when selling online, are more frequently reported by wholesale firms and those in the information and communication sector. Firms who are part of an international group are more likely to sell online and have slightly fewer problems with interoperability. The majority of the firms in the sample believe that common rules of e-commerce within the EU could be beneficial for their online business. This is especially true for those reporting problems with interoperability, different labelling or copyright issues. This then provides justification for the EU to adopt such rules.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This paper aims to idetify most significant barriers to e-commerce in the EU with the focus o standards and regulations.