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2009-09-10

Free movement of services within the EU - still just a vision?

The EU's Service Directive will as a recommendation be implemented in all member countries by December 28th 2009. This directive was announced on December 27th 2006 which resulted in that a three-year period was obtained for the introduction. Despite this, most countries will not meet the set targets.

Eurochambres recent survey shows that nearly 40 percent of EU member states will not have adopted the framework for free movement of services until December 28th 2009 when the EU Services Directive on free movement should come into effect.

Here, the 27 countries and their thoughts are compiled in a short version from a survey conducted by Eurochambres in January 2009.

  • Austria - have responded that the intention is to keep up with and implement the Service Directive.
  • Belgium - the intention is to keep up with and implement the Service Directive.
  • Bulgaria – Probably, there will not be enough time to introduce the Service Directive on time.
  • Cyprus – Wants to implement the Service Directive and will respect the posted schedule.
  • Czech Republic - will implement the Service Directive in accordance with the schedule.
  • Denmark - Works on internal changes to accommodate the Service Directive, however, unclear on the schedule.
  • Estonia - The ambition is that the Service Directive shall be established according to schedule.
  • Finland – Will introduce the Service Directive, but experiences trouble with keeping the schedule.
  • France - The Service Directive will be introduced according to the plan.
  • Germany – Has presented a detailed implementation plan according to the time frame.
  • Greece - Ambition to monitor the Service Directive but has difficulties to keep the schedule.
  • Hungary – Respects the time-line for the introduction of the Service Directive.
  • Ireland – The Service Directive should be implemented according to the plan.
  • Italy – The Service Directive should be implemented according to the plan.
  • Latvia - The Service Directive is a priority and should be implemented according to plan.
  • Lithuania - Unclear on the schedule but works on achieving the requirements and objectives.
  • Luxembourg - The Service Directive will be implemented, but they have trouble with the time-line.
  • Malta - The Service Directive will be implemented, but there may be residual issues to address.
  • Netherlands - The Service Directive as a whole will be implemented according to the schedule.
  • Poland - follows the plan and the Service Directive will be implemented according to the plan.
  • Portugal - The Services Directive shall be implemented according to the schedule.
  • Romania – Has the ambition to follow the requirements.
  • Slovakia - The Service Directive shall be implemented according to the schedule.
  • Slovenia - The Service Directive shall be implemented, but the risk of a few remaining points remain.
  • Spain – Planning on implementing the Service Directive on time.
  • Sweden - The intention is to keep the time-line for the full implementation of the Service Directive, but there are some challenges.
  • United Kingdom - Most of the Service Directive shall be implemented according to schedule.

Free competition in the service sector is a precondition for Swedish and European business recovery and growth after the economic downturn, and if the rules are implemented at different times, many European companies will face disadvantages.


                                                                                         Cecilia Helland

Source

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