Services in the internal market: The Council proceeds to its final adoption

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In the framework of the codecision procedure, the Council adopted today by qualified majority[1], the Directive on services in the internal market (PE-CONS 3667/06).

This Directive aims at improving the basis for economic growth and employment in the EU by facilitating the establishment of an internal market in services through the removal of legal and administrative barriers to the development of service activities. This Directive strengthens the rights of consumers as users of services and establishes legally-binding obligations for effective administrative co-operation between the Member States.

Following negotiations with the European Parliament, the Council approved the three technical amendments adopted in second reading by the European Parliament (15183/06) and adopted the Directive in the form of its common position as amended by the European Parliament.

The President in exercise of the Council and the President of the European Parliament will sign the Directive on 12 December 2006. It will be then published in the Official Journal and will enter into force the day after its publication.

Member States are obliged to transpose this Directive into their national laws within three years following its entry into force.

See also press release 9926/06 (Presse 160).

[1] The Lithuanian delegation abstained and the Belgian delegation declared that it abstained from taking part in the vote.