Promoting the development of electronic commerce is one of the key factors in the effort to make the European Union the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world.

Directive 2000/31/EC created the basic legal framework for electronic commerce in the Internal Market. The Directive removes obstacles to cross-border online services in the European Union and provides legal certainty to business and citizens alike.

The work of the European Commission in the context of this legal framework consists of ensuring:

• that information society services benefit from Internal Market principles of free movement of services and freedom of establishment in an enlarged European Union.
• monitoring and follow-up of Directive 2000/31/EC, including regular reports on its application.
• that both the existing and the new Member States correctly implement and apply the legal framework for electronic commerce as provided by Directive 2000/31/EC.
• appropriate follow-up to complaints concerning information society services.
• general monitoring of legal, technical and economic developments of electronic commerce and the internet.