EU member states 'lagging behind' on services directive

A new report reveals that only nine member states have so far implemented the services directive.

The report, published on Tuesday, says that implementation in a further 18 countries is "average" or "unsatisfactory" because of delays.

"EU-wide, the picture is extremely patchy," said Arnaldo Abruzzini, secretary general of Eurochambres, the business organisation that carried out the survey.

"We now expect the commission to take the appropriate steps against those countries which are lagging behind," he added.

Member states were given three years, up to 28 December 2009, to start implementing the directive whose aim is to make it easier for businesses to provide services across the EU.

The survey, the sixth and last one carried out by Eurochambres, says legislative implementation of the law has been completed in about half of member states.

Conversely, some countries have not yet completed the screening of their national legislation.

It names eight countries where implementation has been "poor". They are Bulgaria, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Abruzzini said, "Disappointingly, a number of member states clearly did not consider this directive's implementation as a political and economic priority."

His organisation wants the commission to "interrupt its silence" on the issue and organise a "services directive day" to raise awareness of the possibilities the directive creates.

UK Tory MEP Malcolm Harbour, who helped steer the directive through parliament, described the legislation as being of "unprecedented importance".

He told a news conference, "Maybe its significance has been under-valued but I still think member states have a clear determination to implement the directive."

A commission official said the executive will take action against member states which fail to implement the directive.

"We will not shy away from this issue and take infringement proceedings where necessary," she said.