| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
|---|---|
| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2012) 261 final (8.6.12) |
| Publication Date | 08/06/2012 |
| Content Type | Policy-making |
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The services sector is a significant driver of growth in the EU as it represents more than 65% of EU GDP and employment. The Services Directive is the key instrument at European level for promoting structural reform in the services sector, and it covers services which account for more than 45% of EU GDP. Implementation of the Directive has resulted in a major step forward in terms of removing barriers and moving towards a truly integrated internal market for services. Hundreds of national laws have been modernised and thousands of discriminatory, unjustified or disproportionate requirements have been eliminated throughout the EU. The tools which have been created ('Points of Single Contact') to support implementation of the Directive are now operational in most Member States and are helping to reduce significantly administrative burdens in this area. The measures which Member States have adopted to implement the Services Directive is bringing an additional 0.8% of EU GDP over time, with the majority of the effect materializing during the 5-10 years following implementation. It is clear, however, that service providers still face obstacles when they want to operate cross-border and, unlike in the internal market for goods, consumers are still not always able to access easily services from across the EU. Economic analysis has shown that if Member States were to abolish almost all the remaining restrictions, the total economic gain would be more than three times what we have already achieved - about 2.6% of GDP. Much more can therefore be done to maximise the economic benefits that the Services Directive offers. Member States, in line with calls from the European Council, should ensure that the Directive can deploy its full force. Full implementation will significantly improve the functioning of the Single Market for Services, in particular by facilitating market access for SMEs and widening choice for consumers. It will also contribute to enhanced competitiveness in the EU, growth and jobs. This Communication shows how this can be done, and responds to the reporting obligation of the Commission as set out in article 41 of the Directive, the requests from the European Council and the European Parliament to monitor closely and report on the implementation of the Directive and on the initiatives to improve and reinforce the Single Market for services. It sets out the actions that Member States and the Commission should take to ensure that the Directive has the greatest possible impact. These actions are based on the detailed information on the implementation of the Services Directive in each Member State and on the outcome of the Performance Checks provided in the accompanying Staff Working Documents. The actions will be monitored using the measures to improve governance of the single market which the Commission has presented in a Communication adopted alongside this one [COM (2012) 0259]. This monitoring will be part of the surveillance carried out in the context of the European Semester and reflected when necessary in country specific recommendations. The Commission already proposed country-specific recommendations on structural reforms in the services sector for 12 Member States on 30 May 2012. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0261:FIN:EN:PDF |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry, Internal Markets |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
