Brussels, 22/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has launched an improved Citizens Signpost Service to give people personalised help in finding out about their rights and solving problems encountered in the single market (getting a diploma recognised or getting social security cover in another Member State, transferring pensions, taxation, consumer law, etc). This citizen "signposting" service is has the same freephone number across Europe: 00800.67891011 and it also available on the web at http: //europa.eu.int/citiznesrights/signpost/front_end/singpost_en.htm It can be used in any of the eleven official EU languages. Legal experts will reply within three working days. The Commission points out that guides and factsheets are available from http: //europa.eu.int/citizens
On Monday, a new problem-solving network for citizens and business will be launched, called SOLVIT, linking up Member States' SOLVIT centres that have been dealing with problems encountered by business within the single market since 1997. In a progress report on SOLVIT centres, the European Commission noted that they only dealt with 250 to 300 cases a year. The aim of networking them in this way is to apply peer group pressure and synergy to improve the quality of the services provided and publicise them. Under pressure from Germany in particular, Member States refused to pledge that the centres would respond within 10 days, also refusing to provide additional funding (see Europe of 2 March 2002).