The EU Directive on Services in the internal market will cut red tape across the EU making it easier for service providers, particularly small and medium sized enterprises, to set up and offer services in other Member States. The Directive covers a wide range of services, including:

• business services - such as management consultancy; advertising; facilities management and office management;
• consumer services such as tourism including tour guides and travel agents, leisure services, amusement parks, plumbers and electricians

The Directive means that the process of setting up in Member States will be streamlined and made simpler. Each Member State will also have to set up a single contact point on-line for all necessary information and applications.
In addition, the Directive will introduce a new electronic database to help Member States share information and work more closely together. This will help make sure that service providers meet their obligations to customers and that consumers across the EU are protected.

The Directive is expected to be implemented across the EU by early 2010.