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Implementation

BIS is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Directive with colleagues across Whitehall, the Devolved Administrations, Local Authorities and Regulators. 

The Directive creates significant new opportunities for UK businesses.  It aims to make it easier for businesses both to set up in other Member States of the EU and to provide services across-border or on a temporary basis.  It will achieve this through:

• Setting up points of Single Contact in each Member State through which providers will be able to find the information and complete the formalities necessary to doing business in the Member State in question
• Facilitating greater co-operation between regulatory and authorisation bodies across the EU thereby reducing burdens on business
• Engendering consumer confidence in cross-border service provision through access to information and the high quality of services
• Abolishing restrictive legislation and practices that hinder service providers from setting up in or providing services within the EU

In addition, each Member State is required to report back to the Commission (at the end of the implementation period) on what legislation and practices they have retained and the justification.

To ensure UK businesses benefit from the Directive fully, we are working closely with the Commission and Member States to ensure a cohesive approach is taken across the EU.  The Commission are holding several Working Groups during the course of the implementation stages with Member States, to discuss aspects of the Directive and share best practice.  The UK is playing an active role in these. 

We will continue to liaise with our stakeholders on a regular basis.

Information aimed at competent and local authorities about using the Internal Market Information system (IMI) can be found here: