EU Service Directive

Strengthening the Single European Market for Services

By the end of the year 2009 it became easier for European businesses to provide their services in other EU Member States. Whereas goods can be moved almost freely within the European single market, the movement of services still has to overcome significant administrative obstacles.

Businesses were still required to abide by national laws in other EU Member States. As a result, consumers and businesspeople alike face a variety of sometimes very diverse regulations, regardless of whether their activities are only temporary or of a more permanent nature. Since service personnel sometimes need to cross borders in order to perform their services on/for local customers, the ser vices sector is most visibly impacted by differing national regulations.

The new EU directive on services in the internal market removes these obstacles in order to facilitate cross-border-services and the establishment of service companies in other EU countries.

To attain these goals European legislators and governments are obliged to reduce administrative restrictions by

• reducing national regulations that tend to obstruct the border-crossing provision of services within the EU.
• establishing points of single contact, where service providers can complete all relevant administrative procedures.
• providing essential information about the requirements foreign service providers have to comply with.
• Making procedures and information accessible from a distance and by electronic means.

The German Business Portal provides basic information on bringing services to Germany and guides you to your point of single contact.