Services Directive hits the finishing line

The Services Directive has become a reality for businesses and consumers across the EU. Adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in December 2006, the Directive’s three-year transposition period expired end 2009.

This concluded an intensive implementation process, during which Member States have cooperated in an unprecedented manner with the Commission - and among themselves - to put into action a major modernisation and simplification package. But the end of the transposition deadline will not mean an end to the efforts to improve the functioning of the Single Market for services. It marks the start of an innovative working method called ‘mutual evaluation’, aimed at assessing the results of implementation and the need for further initiatives in the Single Market for services.