What are the benefits of the Services Directive for businesses?
The services sector accounts for approximately 70 percent of all economic activity in the 27 Member States of the European Union. It is the foremost source of foreign direct investment and, crucially, 95 percent of newly created jobs are in the services sector.
The Services Directive makes it easier for businesses to establish themselves in EU Member States and to provide services across borders on a temporary basis. Each country has to:
- Set up “Points of Single Contact” through which businesses can obtain information and complete the necessary formalities when doing business in the Member State in question
- Abolish restrictive and legislation and practices that hinder service providers from setting up in or providing services within the EU
- Cooperate with administrations in other EU countries to avoid duplication of control on businesses and thereby significantly reduce the administrative burden
- Engender consumer confidence in cross-border service provision through access to information and the high quality of services
What are the concrete benefits for you? You can:
- Set up a new business or branch under simpler and faster procedures, in your own country or in another EU country
- Easily offer services in other EU countries without having to set up a business there
- Obtain information and complete administrative procedures through one place in each country ("Point of Single Contact")