The finance market is one of the key elements of the European Union Common Market in goods and services. Its proper functioning determines the growth of effectiveness of companies in the Member States. This objective is of particular importance since, in accordance with the strategy accepted by the European Council in 2000 in Lisbon, by 2010 the EU is set to become the world's most dynamic economy. The finance market will play a significant part in the adjustment process which has been undertaken by the Member States as a means to achieve this ambitious goal. Integration of the national finance markets into one EU market should help companies to attract capital and provide investors with a wider range of deposit types. Since 1999, when The Financial Services Action Plan was introduced, a number of directives have been issued, designed to remove obstacles hampering the harmonious development of the EU finance market. Several new directives concerning this goal are imminent. In the longer perspective, the functioning of this market is likely to be significantly influenced by the anticipated reform of the EU decision-making system.