European Union finance ministers will take aggressive steps today to strengthen the bloc's huge internal market in an attempt to kickstart a sluggish economy and create more jobs.
Making trade in goods and services across the EU's national borders easier for its 450 million citizens would help boost economic growth rates as the bloc struggles with an ageing society, shrinking workforce and global competition.
The measures include beefing up the ability of banks to withstand market shocks and improving the scrutiny of firms, both aimed at increasing investor confidence.
As an example, the finance ministers will back the European Commission's plans to encourage people to put money into funds across the EU for their pension.
Initial results of investigations by the commission into the market for insurance, retail banking and utilities will also be discussed to see if there are obstacles to greater competition.
British Chancellor Gordon Brown will ask the commission to find and remove existing legislation that is not delivering any benefits for Europe's financial services.
Ministers will also call for a role in shaping trans-atlantic ties as they see growth opportunities in financial services by making it easier for European banks to operate in the United States to widen their customer base.
EU and US market watchdogs have already begun to forge ties, but finance ministers want to build on them by including broader, macroeconomic issues in discussions between the two trading partners.