Reform of services notification procedure

‘EU Legislation in Progress’ briefings aim to provide Members of the European Parliament with systematic and automatic analysis on all substantial proposals for EU legislation at every stage of the legislative procedure. Each contains an account of the purpose, content and legal aspects of the legislation proposed, in particular analysing what the legislation would change, as well as any previous legislation and the background. An overview of stakeholders’ views is also provided, as well as the opinions of national parliaments and the two advisory committees.

They are all made publicly available for stakeholders and the public.

The briefings are continuously updated as they pass through the policy making process and the source url hyperlink above should take you to the latest available version.The 2006 Services Directive requires Member States to notify the European Commission of changes to national rules on services, providing the EU executive and other Member States with the opportunity to examine potential incompatibility with EU legislation early in the process.

Based on its own assessments and public consultation, the European Commission proposed in January 2017 to reform the current procedure in order to address various shortcomings identified in the preparatory process. The new procedure seeks to allow intervention by the Commission or other Member States before the law is adopted.

The Council of the European Union reached its general position in May 2017 proposing a number of modifications with regard to the scope, timing and requirements concerning the Member States and the Commission. The European Parliament rapporteur published his draft report on 19 June 2017 and a deadline for amendments has been set for 6 September 2017.

First edition.

Author: Marcin Szczepafiski

EP: EPRS: Briefing: EU Legislation in Progress http://epthinktank.eu/eu-legislation-in-progress/

ESO: Background information: Notifications of new restrictions on services. Reforming the existing procedure under the Services Directive (EPRS: Briefing: Implementation Appraisal, September 2016) http://www.europeansources.info/record/notifications-of-new-restrictions-on-services-reforming-the-existing-procedure-under-the-services-directive/

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