Internal Market: Commission action leads to removal of unjustified restrictions in Austria (company establishment) and Germany (patent agents)

The European Commission decided to close two infringement cases against Austria and Germany in the area of free movement of services and freedom of establishment. The new laws introduced following the Commission's action will have real practical benefits for EU consumers and service providers: nationals from the Member States that joined the EU in 2004 can now establish a company freely in Austria, and patent agents are no longer required to have an address in Germany for any action at the German office of trademarks and patents.