The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, convening in Barcelona, Catalonia on 19^th and 20^th November 2009:

The services directive has to be transposed at the latest by December 28^th 2009. This directive is of great importance to obtain a free market for services. The services directive aims at constituting a freedom of establishment in all the member states of the EU as well as facilitating the free movement of services between member states. This directive also aims at extending consumer choice of services across the EU as well as improving the quality of the offered services.   

Today, unfortunately, there are many exemptions in the free market for services under directive 2006/123. The services of employment agencies are excluded. However, this sector will become very important once the economy is booming again. Child care is another excluded sector; nonetheless this sector is dealing with a lot of shortages on the supply side.

Calls upon:

-         The new European Commission to continue with the construction of a real free market for services. The European Commission has to start with the preparations in order to create a services directive ‘bis’. At the same time, many countries have not fully implemented the services directive.

-         Its member organisations to continue pressing for full implementation of the services directive.

-         Member States to support a greater role of the European Union in the areas already covered by the current services directive and that will be covered by the new one.