Services Directive
Introduction
The EU Services Directive aims to break down barriers to cross border trade in services between EU Member States, making it easier for service providers, particularly small and medium sized enterprises, to:
- set up business and offer services in other Member States; and
- provide services temporarily and/or at a distance in other Member States.
For a copy of the Directive please see External Links. Further information can be found on the link for FAQs.
The final text of the Directive was agreed in December 2006 and EU Member States are required to implement by December 2009. BERR lead on implementation in the UK. We work closely with other Government departments, the devolved administrations, local authorities and regulators in tasks such as screening legislation for compliance with the Directive and establishing an online ‘Point of Single Contact’ for service providers looking to do business in the UK.
The Government published a consultation document setting out proposals for implementing the Directive in the UK in November 2007, together with an accompanying Impact Assessment. The Government’s response to consultation, which summarised respondents’ views and set out the Government’s latest policy position was published in June 2008 is below together with a link to the page that provides copies of the Services Directive consultation documents:
Implementing the Services Directive. Government response to consultation on implementing the EU Services Directive in the UK
(307KB)
Consultation on implementing the Services Directive
Further details on the implementation process, including interim results of the large-scale exercise to screen national legislation in the UK for compliance can be found on our Services Directive Implementation Updates page.
Guide to navigating this site
The pages can be accessed via the left-hand bar and attachments can be viewed or downloaded by clicking on Related or External Links sections in the right-hand column of each page. If you require further information or would like to receive regular updates, give feedback, ask questions or share views on the Services Directive, please e-mail us at: servicesconsultation@berr.gsi.gov.uk