Press Release: Gap between domestic and cross-border e-commerce grows wider, says EU report

EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva announced the results of a new EU wide survey on e-commerce and cross border trade. The figures showed that even though e-commerce is taking off at national level, cross-border e-commerce is failing to keep pace. From 2006 to 2008, the share of all EU consumers that have bought at least one item over the internet has increased significantly (from 27% to 33%) whilst cross border e-commerce is stable (6% to 7%). The pattern was similar for those with internet access at home - 56% of consumers with internet at home have made a purchase (in any country including their own) by e-commerce compared to 50% in 2006, while only 13% (of those with internet access at home) made a cross-border e-commerce purchase compared to 12% in 2006.

European Commission: MEMO/08426: Frequently Asked Questions on E-commerce in the European Union – Eurobarometer results http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/08/426&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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