EU
Services Directive
- Overview
The
European Commission has published proposals to improve the free flow of services around
the EU in an effort to unlock European businesses’ potential,
increase productivity and job creation, and deliver benefits
to consumers through greater competition.
The
Services Directive aims to break down barriers to cross
border trade in services between EU Member States by making
it easier for providers to:
· Establish
themselves and offer services in other Member States by
removing unnecessary regulation and bureaucracy
· Provide
services temporarily and/or at a distance based on the rules
in the country in which they are established (under the country
of origin principle).
Background
The
proposals, which are part of the Lisbon Economic Reform Agenda agreed by European leaders in
2000, are in response to a specific request to make the
Internal Market work for services as well as goods.
A
survey by the Commission, the ‘State
of the Internal Market’ (2002), identifies some 91 barriers
that service providers have faced in providing services
across borders (this Report was produced following a consultation
with service providers across the EU in 2001). The
Commission concluded that many service sectors were hampered
by problems such as burdensome authorisation procedures,
excessive red tape and legal uncertainty.
Contacts:
To
contact the Department
of Trade and Industry team handling
the Directive or if you wish to be informed when this site
is updated, please email: servicesconsultation@dti.gsi.gov.uk
DTI Enquiry Unit
Tel:
020 7215 5000
Email: dti.enquiries@dti.gsi.gov.uk
|
