By Anna McLauchlin - 30th September 2003
Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein is set to take on protectionist practices in the service industry across the EU.
Officials are working on a proposal to be put to the European Commission at the beginning of December.
The move could mean doctors, lawyers and consultants would be allowed to practise freely in any part of the European Union without having to go through a lengthy authorisation procedure.
Or retail operators wishing to establish stores in other member states could be allowed to use their own country's estate agents, engineers, banks and insurance companies in order to do so.
The exact details of the proposal are yet to be thrashed out and the Commission will be starting internal negotiations towards the end of October.
But it will mean in some sectors member states will have to allow service providers that can legally operate in their home country to operate in other EU markets as well.
In others, where there are concerns over a certain provider, administrations will have to consult each other over whether or not the provider is legal and if it is the member state would be encouraged to allow it to operate.
Finally a code of conduct would be introduced for industry bodies to set rules on harmonising rules within the European services market.
EU sources say the directive will be ready at the beginning of December, although a spokesman said on Wednesday this was by no means certain.
But Bolkestein has already warned the directive could have far reaching effects which may anger some vested interests.
"No doubt, there will be resistance to some of the ideas," he told the Kangaroo Group on Tuesday, a European Parliament pro-single market organisation.
"What is an obstacle to one is a safe haven to another. However, we cannot let short-term interests stand in the way of Europe's future prospects".
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