In Denmark, householders can get a government subsidy of 20,000 Danish kronor if they replace their old oil heating system with a heat pump system.

However, the customers of a Swedish company installing such pumps in Denmark were not getting the subsidy because it was only granted to firms based in Denmark, with a Danish registration number (CVR-number).

After action by SOLVIT, the Danish authorities announced that systems installed by firms without a Danish CVR-number are also eligible for the subsidy.

Solved in 3 weeks

Under EU law, some goods from specific countries can be imported to the EU with lower tariffs than would normally be the case.

A Belgian company had been importing green beans (via Amsterdam airport) from Tanzania with such a low tariff for over 20 years, without any problems with the paperwork.

But in 2004, when the company shipped some beans through Brussels airport, the Belgian customs claimed they could not be sure the goods originated from Tanzania – a prerequisite for the lower tariff.

Thanks to SOLVIT's intervention, the Belgian finance ministry immediately ordered the customs to review their decision and the beans were granted the low tariff.

Solved in 6 months

A French national studying to become a pilot at a Belgian flight school could not register as a student with the Belgian authorities because the school was private and not recognised by the Belgian regional authorities (the "French Community").

However, because the certificates issued by the school were approved by the Belgian transport ministry, under EU law anyone enrolled there should have student status.

Thanks to SOLVIT's intervention, the French Community authorities agreed to register the student.

Solved in 2 months

Under a new rule in Poland, an Italian company operating 4 landfills had to apply for authorisation to continue its activities in one of the landfills.

The authorities refused to grant the authorisation, saying the landfill failed to meet the appropriate environmental standards – even though the company's operations had already been approved by the Polish environment ministry.

Thanks to action by SOLVIT, the company was given the authorisation it needed.

Solved in 9 weeks

A Turkish national wanted to join his Danish wife in Germany, where she was about to give birth and thus not able to travel. The Turkish father-to-be needed a visa to travel and was struggling to get the necessary paperwork.

SOLVIT intervened and the German authorities issued a certificate attesting the couple's financial situation, which was needed by the consulate in Istanbul to issue the visa.

Solved in 8 weeks

A Bulgarian national wanted to study architecture in Germany. His Bulgarian high school diploma (enough for access to any Bulgarian university) showed he had followed the general curriculum.

But because he'd studied some additional arts subjects, the diploma also mentioned a specialisation in arts and painting. The German authorities claimed this specialisation restricted his access to just certain universities, which did not include architecture colleges.

Thanks to SOLVIT, the German authorities changed their decision and recognised that his diploma qualified him to study architecture in Germany.

Solved in 13 weeks

A British national resident in Bulgaria was incorrectly charged for a consultation despite presenting the documentation entitling her to free healthcare at the point of delivery.

Her doctor refused to accept her papers, claiming he had not received any guidance about treating patients from other EU countries.

After action by SOLVIT, the Bulgarian authorities sent the patient a letter confirming her rights (which the doctor accepted) and provided a contact person in case of further problems.

Solved in 4 months

EU regional funds can be used to fund purchases of agricultural machinery. In 2009, Lithuania introduced a new rule that such funding would be granted only for purchases of new machinery (i.e. machinery that had not been registered anywhere before, regardless of whether it had been used or not).

This new rule had the effect of barring access to funding for companies that imported and leased such machinery.

Thanks to SOLVIT intervention, this new rule was revoked.

Solved in 6 months

A patent lawyer based in Liechtenstein was refused permission to register a European patent by the Irish Patent Office because his address in Liechtenstein was outside the EU.

The decision was wrong – although not an EU country, Liechtenstein is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and part of the European patent system.

SOLVIT intervened and the Irish Patent Office registered the patent.

Solved in 3 weeks

A Hungarian who'd worked in Romania for 20 years and then in Hungary for 18 years applied to the Hungarian authorities for his pension. They started by asking the Romanian authorities to calculate the Romanian part of the pension but got no reply for almost a year, despite several reminders.

Thanks to intervention by the Romanian SOLVIT centre, the Romanian pension authority has now taken a decision on the Romanian portion of the pension and the Hungarian can finally enjoy his retirement.

Solved in 9 days

A Slovak living and working in Iceland applied for Icelandic child benefit for his 2 children. His application remained unanswered, and meanwhile he left Iceland and returned to Slovakia, where he again applied for child benefit. The Slovak authorities refused to pay him for the period he was working in Iceland.

SOLVIT discovered that the Icelandic authorities had not acted as they were missing some documents in his file. At SOLVIT's request, the applicant provided the documents and shortly after received the Icelandic benefit payments.

Solved in 3 months

A Polish national who obtained his engineering qualifications in Ireland was having difficulties getting them recognised in Poland. They insisted that he needed to take additional exams, due to differences between Irish and Polish engineering degrees.

This requirement was not in line with EU law. Following SOLVIT's intervention, the Polish authorities agreed to recognise the Irish qualifications without further conditions.

Solved in 4 weeks

Rafting companies from Hungary and Slovakia complained that cheaper, year-long access (€420) to a particular river in Slovenia was reserved for Slovenian companies.

Foreign companies not only had to pay more (€56 a day) but had the daily inconvenience of buying tickets.

Thanks to SOLVIT, the discriminatory rules were changed and foreign companies can now ply their trade on Slovenia's rivers on the same basis as local companies.

Solved in 10 months

A Frenchman living in Poland who had worked both in France and in Poland, asked the French authorities to count his time working in France towards his Polish retirement pension.

As he had not received an answer after several months, SOLVIT intervened to speed up the process. The man can now enjoy his retirement in Poland.

Solved in 6 weeks

Qualified physiotherapists from Romania used to suffer long delays getting recognised to practise in France.

SOLVIT intervened, and recognition is now granted much more quickly.

Solved in 7 weeks

An Austrian student had to have an operation while studying in the Netherlands. Under EU rules, the bill should be paid directly by healthcare insurers in either the Netherlands or Austria – but the hospital asked the student to pay herself.

SOLVIT intervention clarified the situation and there was no need for the student to pay, her bill was settled by the relevant insurance body.

Solved in 8 weeks

A Swedish manufacturer of mobile cleaning pumps for public swimming pools was denied access to the French market. Although their machines comply with a European standard - max. 12V AC when people are in the pool - the French rules said the maximum voltage applied whether swimmers are in the pool or not.

SOLVIT discovered that the French rules only cover immovable products. Since the company's machines are portable and not to be used while people are in the pool, the manufacturer was given the green light to sell in France.

Solved within 15 weeks.

A British couple legally residing in Cyprus applied for permanent residence status. Almost a year later, the authorities informed the couple that they must first get a 3-month residence permit, to prove the continuity of their stay.

SOLVIT notified the authorities that this was illegal under EU law and that the couple were entitled to permanent residence as they had legally resided in Cyprus for over 5 years. This was subsequently granted.

Solved within 10 weeks.

A Norwegian ship carrying fertiliser from Norway to Northern Ireland was charged higher tax than ships from EU harbours.

As Norway is in the EEA, its vessels should be treated the same as those from any EU country. SOLVIT managed to persuade the harbour authorities of this and they changed their tariffs accordingly.

Solved within 14 weeks.

A Swede, lliving in Austria was prevented from playing his favourite sports of curling. The. Austrian Curling Federation rules stipulated that non-Austrian players could only participate in the Austrian championships if they had been living in Austria for the previous18 months. Moreover, only one non-Austrian player was allowed in each team. SOLVIT pointed out that these rules were discriminatory and persuaded the federation to remove the quota for foreigners from their regulations

Solved within 18 weeks.

A French citizen with a Hungarian nursing diploma applied for recognition of her professional qualifications in France so that she could take up employment. However, the competent authority did not react within the six-month deadline laid down by EU law. This delay was jeopardising her chances of accepting the job she had been offered. Thanks to SOLVIT's intervention, the committee responsible for the decision assessed her file and proceeded swiftly to fully recognise her qualifications.

Solved within 9 weeks.

An Austrian producer of varnish and paints was having difficulties marketing his products in Poland. The Polish authorities insisted that the name of the Polish distributor must appear on the label, as well as that of the manufacturer. SOLVIT pointed out that, under EU rules, only one name was required on the label: i.e. that of the manufacturer, importer or distributor. The Polish authorities duly confirmed that the producer was not obliged to indicate the contact details of the Polish distributor on the package.

Solved within 17 weeks.

A UK manufacturer of medical scales wished to expand its market to France. The company was already selling its product in the UK and other EU countries in compliance with EU rules. However, French authorities refused to accept the product on their market and requested additional testing. For over a year, the company tried to have the scales accepted and finally asked SOLVIT UK for help. The UK company and SOLVIT UK worked closely together to obtain market entry for the product in France in a matter of weeks. According to the company, SOLVIT helped them prevent a considerable loss.

Solved within 11 weeks.

A Polish occupational therapist wanted to work in Ireland and applied to get her qualifications recognised. However, the Irish authorities refused to consider the Polish diploma since it had not been recognised by the World Federation of Occupational Therapist (WFOT).This requirement was not in line with EC law. Thanks to SOLVIT Ireland, the competent Irish institution accepted the application and announced that from now on all applications, including those not approved by WFOT, would be accepted for validation.

Solved within 13 weeks.

A German enterprise charters four yachts under German flag to tourists in Italy. The business-owner was fined for not having registered its commercial yachts with local port authorities according to recent Italian regulations. Five months later, after repeatedly trying to obtain registration, the business-owner was told that registration would only be possible if the business was established in Italy. SOLVIT Italy stepped in to clarify that this condition was not in line with EU law and that the authorities should accept the registration in the German Chamber of Commerce. All four yachts were registered and charter licences were issued. Solved within 9 weeks.

A French citizen complained about discriminatory entry fees for tourists to Romanian monastries. The ticket price for non-Romanians was twice as high as that for Romanian citizens. As this policy was contrary to EU principles, the Romanian SOLVIT centre persuaded the church authorities to establish non-discriminatory entry fees for the monastries. Solved within 9 weeks.

A Bulgarian citizen had worked in France for ten years and paid contributions to the French health insurance. He then returned to Bulgaria and wished to join the national health insurance system. However, his application was rejected and he was asked to pay arrears to regain his health insurance rights. SOLVIT Bulgaria explained to the Bulgarian competent authority that since the citizen had paid his contributions in France, he was entitled under EU law to inclusion in the Bulgarian health insurance system without additional fees. Solved within 2 weeks.

A Czech company distributes construction products in Slovakia, including washbasins from Romania. The products were imported to the Czech Republic and tested by an authorised Czech body. However, the Slovak Trade Inspection ordered to withdraw the products from the market unless the company submitted a certificate of conformity issued by the Romanian producer. SOLVIT convinced the authorities that the Czech certificate of conformity should suffice for selling the washbasins in Slovakia. The products were released for sale immediately. Solved within 6 days.