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A services economy that works for Europeans

Added 1/10/2017
Ilustrační foto
European Commission - Press release; Photo ec.europa.eu
Today the Commission is presenting an ambitious and balanced package of measures that will make it easier for companies and professionals to provide services to a potential customer base of 500 million people in the EU. A fresh boost to the services sector will benefit consumers, jobseekers and businesses, and will generate economic growth across Europe.
As part of the roadmap laid out in the Single Market Strategy, today's proposals deliver on President Juncker's political commitment to unleash the full potential of the Single Market and make it the launchpad for European companies to thrive in the global economy. This goal was confirmed by the European Council in its December 2015, June 2016 and December 2016 conclusions. The proposed measures aim to make it easier for services providers to navigate administrative formalities, and to help Member States identify overly burdensome or outdated requirements on professionals operating domestically or across borders. Rather than amending existing EU rules in the area of services, the Commission focuses on ensuring they are applied better, as evidence shows that implementing them to their full potential would provide a significant boost to the EU economy.

Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, responsible for Jobs, Growth Investment and Competitiveness, said: "Barriers to trade in services are also barriers to competitiveness. Making better use of the Single Market for Services will help European businesses create jobs and grow across borders, offering a wider choice of services at better prices, while maintaining high standards for consumers and workers. Today we are proposing to simplify procedures for cross-border service providers as well as a new and more modern way for Member States to work together to regulate their services sectors."

The four concrete initiatives adopted by the Commission today are:
  • A new European Services e-card
  • A proportionality assessment of national rules on professional services
  • Guidance for national reforms in regulation of professions
  • Improved notification of draft national laws on services
Detail are available here.