The Internal Market Information system (IMI) is a multilingual electronic information exchange network aimed at improving day-to-day cooperation between competent authorities (at national, regional or local level) in the application of internal market legislation.

In the field of information society services contact points for the so called 98/34 procedure have been set up at national level (one in each Member State). Cooperation between these 98/34 contact points and the Commission in this area is ensured within the 98/34 Committee. The public database Technical Regulations Information System provides information to industry.

In the domain of passenger rights the National Enforcement Bodies (concerning air passengers at the moment, but concerning rail passenger later this year) are both competent to analyse individual passenger complaints and to enforce the relevant regulations.

In the transport sector, the Commission has set up or is setting up several networks for administrative cooperation.

– Tachonet: In the framework of the introduction of the digital tachograph, the Commission has developed an electronic network to exchange information between the Member States on the issue of personal smart cards for drivers.

Co-ordination between national surveillance authorities mainly takes place in working groups (i.e. traditional committee structures i.e. Administrative cooperation groups, so called ADCOs) created under specific Directives (ADCOs exist for the majority of sectoral Directives; for example, there are separate committees for low voltage equipment, machinery, electromagnetic equipment, etc. For other sectors see the Commission website on industry sectors). While the main aim of these working groups is to discuss issues of interpretation, questions relating to market surveillance are also dealt with.

The Rapid Alert System for non-food consumer products (RAPEX) is a system for exchanging information across the Community about dangerous consumer products (with the exception of food and feed, pharmaceuticals and medical devices).

Other rapid alert systems managed by the Commission, dealing with other products and risks for consumers, include the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), the Rapid Alert System for Biological and Chemical Agent Attacks (RAS BICHAT) and the Rapid Alert System for Chemical Agents (RAS CHEM), of which the latter two enable rapid notification of attacks and events involving biological, chemical and radio-nuclear agents.

To deal with risks posed by medical devices, a comprehensive monitoring system has been set. Under that system, manufacturers of medical devices are required to report all incidents causing death or injury to patients or users.

In the field of products, the same obligations are imposed on Member States and the cooperation between 98/34 contact points is organised in the same way as in the field of information society services described above.

The TRAde Control and Expert System (TRACES) was introduced to notify the exchanges of live animals, semen/embryos and a few products of animal origin and to allow control at destination without preventing free circulation for traded goods.

The Consumer Protection Cooperation network of competent authorities – is a framework for cooperation amongst national enforcement bodies, with a view to ensuring effective enforcement of consumer protection law across Europe.

The main tools for supporting administrative cooperation in the area of taxation and customs are the programmes Fiscalis 2013 and Customs 2013. Their overall objective is to support and improve the efficient functioning of the internal market by increasing co-operation between Member States’ customs and tax administrations.

Other examples of numerous IT systems facilitating administrative cooperation in the internal market in the area of taxation and customs are:

Community Risk Management System (CRMS) enabling the exchange of information on risk consignments and the management of Common Risk Criteria (CRC). At present, more than 450 customs offices and 70 national risk analysis centres from the Member States are connected to the system;

Economic Operator System for the registration of economic operators interacting with customs along with their customs authorisations;

Export and Import Control Systems allowing for an electronic exchange of information about imported and exported goods;

VAT Information Exchange System (VIES) allowing the exchange of data between national administrations to let them verify whether their traders have declared intra-Community acquisitions;

Taxation on Savings Exchange System allowing electronic exchange of information between national administrations on interest payments by paying agents established in their territories to individuals residing in other Member States.

The ‘Administrative Commission on Social Security for Migrant Workers’ is a committee of national officials issuing, amongst others, ‘interpretations’ of the Community social security rules, as well as establishing common forms (e.g. E-101; the health insurance card).

The EURES network is a co-operation network between the European Commission and the Public Employment Services of the EEA Member States (The EU countries plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and other partner organisations. Switzerland also takes part in EURES co-operation. The joint resources of the EURES member and partner organisations provide a solid basis for the EURES network to offer high quality services for both workers and employers.

The Committee of Senior Labour Inspectors (SLIC) uses a mechanism for the rapid exchange of inspection related problems and solutions amongst the EU-27 Member States and EFTA countries and conducts European inspection campaigns, which contribute to promoting the effective and equivalent respect by all the Member States of national legislation transposing Directives in the field of health and safety at work.

The Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men helps the Commission formulate and implement Community measures aimed at promoting equal opportunities for women and men, and to encourage the continuous exchange of information on experience gained and policies undertaken in the field of equal opportunities between the Member States and the various actors involved.

Equinet, the European network of Equality Bodies, develops co-operation and facilitates information exchange between Equality Bodies across Europe to support the uniform implementation of Community anti-discrimination law and the levelling-up of legal protection for victims of discrimination.

Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR), Committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS) and Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Supervisors (CEIOPS) – so-called ‘Level 3’ committees in the Lamfalussy process – aim to improve co-ordination among national regulators,act as advisory groups to assist the Commission,in particular in preparation of draft implementing measures of EU framework Directives, and work to ensure more consistent and timely day-to-day implementation of community legislation in the Member States. CESR is composed of high-level representatives from the national public authorities competent in the field of securities, including for undertakings for collective investments in transferable securities (UCITS); CEBS is composed of high level representatives from the national banking supervisory authorities; and CEIOPS – of high level representatives from the insurance and occupational pensions supervisory authorities of the Member States.

European Regulators Group for Electronic Communications Networks and Services (ERG), established on the basis of a 2002 Commission Decision, is composed of the heads of the 27 national regulatory authorities and aims to assist and advise the Commission in the development of the internal market for electronic communications networks and services.

Contact Network of Spam Enforcement Authorities (CNSA) was set up in 2004 to facilitate the development of cooperation on cross-border complaints and the sharing of information and best practices in enforcing anti-spam laws between the national authorities of all EU and EEA Member States.

European Group of Regulators for Electricity and Gas (ERGEG), a body of independent national energy regulatory authorities was set up as an Advisory Group to the Commission on energy issues, following the second energy markets package in 2003.

European Network for Transmission System Operators follows from the 3^rd energy markets package and aims for closer cross border collaboration between grid operators within the Community regarding commercial and technical codes, security standards and planning the investments needed at Community level. European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity is already in place.

European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG), established in 2007, is composed of senior regulators or heads of national authorities in charge of nuclear safety from all Member States, and is mandated to develop a common understanding in nuclear safety and to ensure the enforcement of commonly recognised safety principles and practices.

European Competition Network (ECN), composed of designated national competition authorities and the Commission, has been established as a forum for discussion and cooperation of European competition authorities in cases where Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty are applied. It allows national competition authorities to inform each other of new cases and envisaged enforcement decisions, coordinate (and help each other with) investigations, exchange evidence and discuss various issues of common interest, and aims to ensure an efficient division of work and an effective and consistent application of EC competition rules.

Members Statesand the Commission have established a European Public Administration Network (EUPAN) as a network supporting the continuous development of national public administrations including those tasked with the conception and the implementation of the single market.