Now that a political agreement has been reached in the Competitiveness Council
yesterday, UNICE acknowledges that legislative discussion on this proposal is coming to
an end.
Progress has been made on freedom of establishment, screening of national
requirements, quality of services and information to recipients, and transnational
administrative cooperation. UNICE is particularly pleased with the screening and
notification process for national requirements that can be imposed on providers. This will
increase transparency and counterbalance to some extent the legal uncertainty.
Nevertheless, UNICE still regrets the excessively reduced scope of the directive and the
legal uncertainty as regards the applicable law for cross-border provision of services.
Ernest-Antoine Seillière, President of UNICE : "The result of very difficult negotiations,
this proposal, although insufficiently ambitious, is a promising step towards creation of a
genuine internal market for services in the EU. We therefore have to make the best of it.
"When the legislative process has been completed, it is vital that Member States
transpose and implement it correctly and in good time so that the expected contribution
to the growth and job strategy is fully realised. UNICE and its national members will
closely follow this process and will contribute actively."
NOTE TO THE EDITOR
UNICE is the voice of more than 20 million small, medium and large companies.
Active in European affairs since 1958, UNICE's members are 39 central industrial and employers' federations
from 33 countries, working together to achieve growth and competitiveness in Europe.
For further information, please contact: Maria Fernanda Fau
+32(0)2 237.65.62
www.unice.org
AV. DE CORTENBERGH 168
TEL +32(0)2 237 65 11
B-1000 BRUSSELS
FAX +32(0)2 231 14 45
VAT BE 863 418 279
E-MAIL: MAIN@UNICE.BE
WWW.UNICE.ORG