BRUSSELS, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- About 60 percent of cross border internet shopping orders were refused within the 27-member European Union (EU), a new report published by the European Commission showed on Thursday.

    The reason why many cross border transactions could not be completed by consumers was because the trader did not ship the product to their country or did not offer adequate means for cross border payment, according to the report.

    While the internet is the fastest growing retail channel with 51 percent of EU retailers' selling online in 2008, "the extent to which the European single market for consumers is just not happening in online retail," said EU Commissioner Kuneva.

    The report also showed that in more than half of the 27 member states, 50 percent or more of products can be found 10 percent cheaper, included transport costs, from a website in another member state.

    Moreover, 50 percent of products searched could not be found in national sites and are only available from another member state trader, according to the report.

    But the gap between domestic and cross-border e-commerce is widening as a result of barriers to online trade.

    "Achieving a Digital Single Market is a top priority for Europe," said Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media, adding "we won't have a real Digital Economy until we remove all barriers to online transactions, also for end-consumers."