Services need to circulate across the EU!

Services represent 75% of EU GDP and 70% of EU jobs. Nine out of ten new jobs are created in the services sector. Yet, services account for only a fifth of all intra-community transactions. On 31st January, the European Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry EUROCHAMBRES together with the European Employers´ Federation BUSINESSEUROPE organized a conference devoted to the Services Directive.

The aim of the conference was to evaluate the implementation of the Services Directive one year after it came into force. The role of the Services Directive adopted in December 2006 is to remove barriers to the services circulation, thus facilitate their movement across the EU. The implementation of the Directive consists in the adaptation of the national legislation to the European one and in the establishment of so-called Points of Single Contact (PSCs). While providing important information to businesses regarding the conditions of services provision in the given country, the PSCs allow submission of necessary documents. However, conference participants pointed out that the PSCs do not allow the online form completion (10 PSCs) as well as the use of digital signatures very often, that they communicate only in a limited number of languages (in the national language and English) and are run by unqualified staff in some cases.

Nevertheless, electronic tools and numerous language versions are the key to allowing the PSCs to exchange the information across the EU. Participants also recommended covering more procedures and service sectors by PSCs, providing additional services (e.g. consulting services in areas such as VAT) by PSCs and focusing on business awareness. Five EU member states have not yet set up fully functional PSCs. Improvement of the PSCs and inclusion of some services excluded from the scope of the directive (such as health or transport services) in forthcoming work on the Single Market Act was required by the MEPs during their Plenary on 15th February. The Member States´ cooperation, as well as feedback from users, play an important role in the PSCs´ efficiency. Besides the technical aspects of the PSCs, other barriers still persist such as the lack of recognition of professional qualifications, diversity of legal rules for crafts across the EU and different rules for holding equity in private companies. In the Czech Republic, 15 PSCs operate on regional level via trade offices. PSCs are physically decentralized, accessible through a single Web www.businessinfo. cz.

As the first one in the EU, the Czech Republic managed to unite public counseling services for businesses (PSCs), assistance for placing new products on the market (ProCop) and help regarding the Internal Market (SOLVIT).