Services in the internal market. Services Directive

The Council reached political agreement on the proposed Directive on services in the internal market. Upon finalisation of the text the Council will adopt its Common Position to be forwarded to Parliament for a second reading.

The Council’s agreement is based on a compromise text, put forward by the Austrian Presidency. The substance of the text is closely aligned to that of the European Parliament’s following the first reading of the proposal as well as that of the Commission’s modified proposal.

The key features of the political agreement concern the Directive’s: scope; freedom to provide services; and the monitoring process for national requirements that can be imposed on service providers.