REPORT on the Internal Market for Services: State of Play and Next Steps

18.7.2013 - (2012/2144(INI))

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Rapporteur: Anna Maria Corazza Bildt


Procedure : 2012/2144(INI)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
A7-0273/2013

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

on the Internal Market for Services: State of Play and Next Steps

(2012/2144(INI))

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union,

–   having regard to Articles 9, 49 and 56 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–   having regard to the Commission Communication entitled ‘The implementation of the Services Directive – A partnership for new growth in services 2012-2015’ (COM(2012)0261) and the accompanying Commission staff working documents,

–   having regard to the Commission study entitled ‘The economic impact of the Services Directive: A first assessment following implementation’ (Economic Papers No 456),

–   having regard to the Commission Communication entitled ‘Towards a better functioning Single Market for services – building on the results of the mutual evaluation process of the Services Directive’ (COM(2011)0020) and the accompanying Commission staff working document entitled on the process of mutual evaluation of the Services Directive (SEC(2011)0102),

–   having regard to the Commission Communication entitled ‘Single Market Act II – Together for new growth’ (COM(2012)0573),

–   having regard to the Commission Communication entitled ‘Better Governance for the Single Market’ (COM(2012)0259),

–   having regard to the Commission Communication entitled ‘Single Market Act – Twelve levers to boost growth and strengthen confidence’ (COM(2011)0206),

–   having regard to the Commission Communication entitled ‘Towards a Single Market Act’ (COM(2010)0608),

–   having regard to the European Council Conclusions of 14-15 March 2013 on the contribution of European policies to growth and employment,

–   having regard to the European Council Conclusions of 28-29 June 2012 on a Compact for Growth and Jobs,

–   having regard to the Council Conclusions of 10 March 2011 on a better functioning Single Market for services – mutual evaluation process of the Services Directive,

–   having regard to Directive 2006/123/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on services in the internal market[1],

–   having regard to its resolution of 7 February 2013 with recommendations to the Commission on the governance of the Single Market[2],

–   having regard to its resolution of 25 October 2012 on the 20 main concerns of European citizens and business with the functioning of the Single Market[3],

–   having regard to its resolution of 25 October 2011 on the mutual evaluation process of the Services Directive[4],

–   having regard to its resolution of 6 April 2011 on governance and partnership in the Single Market[5],

–   having regard to its resolution of 5 July 2011 on a more efficient and fairer retail market[6],

–   having regard to its resolution of 15 February 2011 on implementation of the Services Directive 2006/123/EC[7],

–   having regard to Rule 48 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (A7-0273/2013),

A. whereas our single market is a cornerstone of the European construction and its good functioning is essential for the proper implementation of EU policies and is a basis for recovery;

B.  whereas the services sector accounts for more than 65 % of EU GDP and total employment and is a pillar of our economy; whereas services covered by the Services Directive amount to 45 % of EU GDP;

C. whereas the full implementation of the Directive will greatly improve the functioning of the single market in services, in particular by facilitating the market access of SMEs and the self-employed, expanding consumer choice and helping to strengthen competitiveness in the EU, growth and employment;

D. whereas a functional, efficient and more competitive services market is necessary for European industry, European enterprises (especially SMEs) and consumers;

E.  whereas the Services Directive has brought concrete benefits since its adoption in 2006, facilitating market access for both business and consumers, but has not yet yielded all expected results, due to shortcomings in its implementation;

F.  whereas fragmented interpretation and inadequate implementation of the directive are still hampering free movement of services across borders;

G. whereas businesses, in particular SMEs, are still having to comply with an extensive range of administrative and bureaucratic requirements which are a heavy burden for them, particularly when taken together with the difficulties they face in gaining access to credit;

H. whereas the risk of Services Directive fatigue should not cause us to relax our efforts to realise the directive’s full potential,

I.   whereas the time has come to act, given that, with rising unemployment and deteriorating public finances, the services sector is more than ever a source of competitiveness, growth and jobs that cannot be neglected;

Services untapped potential for growth and jobs

1.  Highlights that unnecessary and disproportionate administrative burden, discriminatory practices and unjustified restrictions to service provision across the EU are blocking significant sources of growth, hampering the creation of jobs and causing businesses to miss opportunities;

2.  Emphasises that if Member States were ready to implement the Services Directive properly and fully, and remove unjustified restrictions, the Commission’s ambitious estimate is that the EU could make an economic gain of up to 2.6 % of GDP in 5-10 years;

3.  Notes that the Commission should focus its efforts on those service sectors that are of great economic importance and have above-average growth potential, such as business services, construction services, tourism services and retail, so as to produce tangible results in the short term for growth and jobs;

4.  Stresses that effective enforcement of existing rules is a smart and fast way of contributing to growth without public spending; underlines the urgent need to make the directive work in practice with a view to releasing its untapped potential and contributing to Europe’s model of a balanced and sustainable social market economy;

5.  Stresses the importance of developing better indicators of Single Market performance based on real experiences and expectations of businesses and consumers to enhance functionality and their knowledge of the various rights that can be invoked to ensure access to the Single Market for Services;

6.  Welcomes the development of the Digital Single Market and new forms of services such as digital and mobile services and mixed goods/services packages; underlines the need to implement the directive to its full extent, in letter and spirit, and in a future-proof manner in order to encourage innovation;

7.  Encourages also the gradual opening-up of the internal market for services in the welfare sector, while respecting the provisions of the Services Directive;

8.  Recalls that the Services Directive does not force the liberalisation of services, but paves the way for both business and consumers to grasp the full potential of our single market in the context of a competitive social market economy;

9.  Welcomes the Commission Communication on the implementation of the Services Directive entitled ‘A partnership for new growth in services 2012-2015’ (COM(2012)0261), which responds to the reporting obligation as set out in Article 41 of the directive; reiterates the need to take account of the medium- and long-term effects of the Services Directive on employment in the EU;Barriers, borders and burdens to free movement

10. Regrets that there is a significant number of identified cases where Member States are inappropriately invoking overriding reasons of public interest (Article15 of the Services Directive) for the sole purpose of protecting and favouring their domestic market; considers that the use of overriding reasons of public interest should always be objectively justified and strictly proportionate to the objective pursued, consistent with European Court of Justice (ECJ) case law; highlights the fact that burdensome legal-form and shareholder requirements, territorial restrictions, economic needs tests and fixed tariffs create unjustified obstacles to efficient cross-border establishment and damage the internal market for services;

11. Regrets that the proportionality assessment is rarely made; asks the Commission to clarify the concept of proportionality and issue practical guidance to the Member States on how to apply it, building on existing ECJ case law;

12. Urges Member States to apply effectively and fully the freedom to provide services clause (Article16 of the Services Directive) and to remove double regulatory burdens;

13. Points out that, for activities where the number of authorisations available may be limited because of scarcity of natural resources or technical capacity, the Services Directive states the need to enable the provider to recoup the cost of investment and to make a fair return on the capital invested, without restricting or distorting free competition;

14. Is concerned at the growing number of discrimination cases reported by consumers; urges Member States to enforce correctly and fully Article 20(2) of the Services Directive and calls on businesses to refrain from unjustified discriminatory practices on grounds of nationality or place of residence; highlights, however, that any obligation to sell is against the fundamental principle of freedom of contract; welcomes, therefore, the Commission’s ongoing work on a guidance report on non-discrimination, striking the right balance for the benefit of consumers and businesses; welcomes also the role of European Consumer Centres in identifying and solving the irregularities observed;

Smart governance of the internal market for services

15. Underlines that the smooth functioning of the internal market for services requires interplay with sector-specific rules that may require extra authorisations, leading to cumulative costs especially for businesses; highlights that it also depends on the implementation of other EU legislative acts; calls, therefore, on Member States to take an integrated approach to the internal market for services in order to ensure legal certainty for consumers and business, in particular SMEs;

16. Calls on the Commission to ensure consistency between the peer review under the Services Directive and the mutual evaluation under the Professional Qualifications Directive; stresses that a careful case-by-case assessment should be made, including of the justifications put forward by Member States on why certain requirements are maintained, in order to identify specific areas where Member States are disproportionately regulating the exercise of a profession or blocking access to certain professions; urges Member States to remove such unjustified requirements;

17. Asks the Member States to make greater use of mutual recognition to facilitate the free movement of services, wherever harmonised rules are not yet in place;

18. Notes that the diversity of national standards is causing fragmentation and uncertainty; encourages the development of voluntary European standards for services covered by the Services Directive as a way to improve cross-border comparability and trade;

19. Considers that the European Commission and the European standardisation organisations should work in close cooperation in order to ensure, where relevant, coherence in the terminology used so that the rules are applied consistently throughout the EU;

20. Highlights also the fact that inadequate cross-border coverage of insurance for service providers is a major hindrance to free movement; urges stakeholders to find solutions through dialogue;

21. Encourages broader use of the IMI-system between Member States to check compliance with the requirements of the directive, in particular in cases of the cross-border provision of services, and of European Consumer Centres as well as SOLVIT to help businesses and consumers with conflicting rules and non-compliance; underlines, to this effect, the importance of ensuring full access of associated partners to the SOLVIT network at a technical level;

22. Notes that Single Market tools including SOLVIT should work better in terms of time taken to resolve cases; stresses the importance of improved targets and key performance indicators in this regard; welcomes the Commission’s initiative to revise SOLVIT’s legal framework;

23. Urges Member States to upgrade to second-generation Points of Single Contact that are fully functional, multilingual and user-friendly e-government portals; stresses the importance of taking a service-provider approach covering the entire business cycle; believes that e-procedures will enhance simplification, reduce compliance costs and increase legal certainty; calls on Member States to ensure full interoperability of their PSCs and make them known across borders, informing European citizens and businesses about their rights and opportunities deriving from the Services Directive; calls, furthermore, on the Commission to set out clear benchmarking criteria for the evaluation of PSCs, including data on their usage levels, and to regularly report to Parliament on progress made;

Better enforcement for maximised economic effects

24. Highlights the fact that, where properly enforced, the Services Directive has brought concrete results in terms of jobs and growth; supports, therefore, the exchange of best practices between Member States, including innovative solutions between competent authorities in border regions;

25. Points out that inadequate implementation has a ‘borderless’ impact, with citizens across the EU paying the price; emphasises that all Member States have a responsibility vis-à-vis one another and the Union to enforce effectively the directive and should be confronted with their obligations on an equal footing;

26. Calls on the Commission to assist Member States with the key problems they have identified regarding implementation and application of EU Single Market legislation, including on how to improve transposition and compliance deficits and obtaining fast and efficient judicial redress;

27. Stresses that competent regional and local authorities must also take their shared responsibility for full and qualitative enforcement of the letter and the spirit of the directive, with the overall aim of stimulating economic activity and employment; highlights, in that respect, the importance of reducing administrative burdens;

28. Strongly supports the Commission’s zero tolerance policy with regard to unjustified restrictions; encourages the Commission to make use of all means at its disposal to ensure full and correct implementation of existing rules, in dialogue on an equal basis with Member States; calls for fast-track infringement procedures to be applied and completed no later than 18 months, whenever incorrect or insufficient implementation or breaches of the directive by Member States are identified;

29. Calls on the Commission to use the ‘Single Market Month’ as an opportunity to showcase the benefits of the Single Market for services to businesses;

Strengthening transparency and accountability

30. Asks the Commission, on the basis of the outcome of the peer reviews, to list the most burdensome restrictions, propose targeted reforms and keep the Council and Parliament informed;

31. Encourages the Commission to pay particular attention to the services sector in Annual Growth Surveys and State of Single Market Integration Reports, and to include services in the country-specific recommendations; considers that the Commission and the Council, via these detailed country-specific recommendations, should continue to encourage Member States to adopt and implement long-term growth policies;

32. Calls on the national parliaments to engage actively in supporting the enforcement of the directive and use their powers of scrutiny vis-à-vis national authorities at all levels;

33. Urges stakeholders, the business community and social partners to play their part in holding governments to account for revitalising the European services sector and creating stable jobs;

34. Asks the Council and its Presidency to place the internal market for services on the agenda for Competitiveness Council meetings on a regular basis; suggests reintroducing the Commission’s ‘compliance reports’ as a means of measuring the progress made in facilitating market access;

35. Urges the members of the European Council to take full political responsibility for a well functioning internal market for services; invites the President of the European Council to keep this topic on the European Council’s agenda for as long as is necessary, with a commonly agreed roadmap, including specific benchmarks and a timetable for Member States to give a fresh impetus and remove remaining obstacles to the full enforcement of the Services Directive;

36. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the European Council, the Council, the Commission, and the parliaments and governments of the Member States.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The internal market for services is not about reinventing the wheel - it is about getting the wheel rolling. It is about moving from inadequate implementation to full enforcement. This resolution is aimed at confronting Member States with their responsibility to fully and correctly apply the letter and the spirit of the Services Directive. The Rapporteur recommends an extensive interpretation covering new forms of services, without calling for a revision of the directive. The economic crisis has made it even more urgent to act in order to unleash the full potential of the services sector for growth and jobs. Therefore, we cannot afford to take it off the political agenda.

Services’ untapped potential for growth and jobs

The services sector accounts for more than 65% of EU GDP and is a dynamic, modern and future-oriented part of the European economy. Diverse ways of providing services are constantly emerging, driven by innovation. Digital and mobile services are changing the way the economy operates. Goods and services are increasingly sold together as packages. We are also witnessing a growing “servicification” and a stronger inter-connection between services and manufacturing (e.g. after-sales services, ICT services...). For all these reasons, a better functioning internal market for services is a building block for a more competitive European economy as a whole.

Since 2006, the Services Directive has been and continues to be an important engine for structural reform in the European services sector. According to the Commission, those Member States that have carried out reforms to open up their market for services have reaped significant benefits. Yet, three years after the transposition deadline, the Directive is still not fully and correctly applied in all Member States. There is ample evidence of how the accumulation of bureaucracy and barriers is putting a brake on growth and depriving citizens of jobs, while discriminatory practices undermine consumers’ confidence in the single market.

There is also a Services Directive fatigue at political and administrative level, as the high expectations have not yet been met. The Services Directive’s potential was not overestimated, but rather some Member States’ political will to carry out the necessary reforms has been insufficient. With rising unemployment, it is imperative not to diminish our ambitions. At a time where there is a call to complement austerity with growth policies but we cannot spend ourselves out of crisis with taxpayers money, the internal market for services is one of the few areas where we can generate growth without increasing public debt. The Commission’s study on the economic impact of the Services Directive has clearly shown that if Member States were to take a bolder approach to implementing it, the total economic gain could be more than three times of what has been achieved, about 2.6% of GDP.

Barriers, borders and burdens to free movement

Businesses experience a wide range of requirements that taken one by one seem harmless, but taken together put a serious burden on services providers, especially SMEs. Articles 15 and 16 of the Directive give leeway to Member States to decide if certain national requirements can be maintained based on necessity and proportionality tests. Unfortunately, some Member States have too often too widely interpreted their discretion to protect and favour their market and professions. Instead, Member States need, as a matter of priority, to tackle the “grey zones” in a responsible way.

In particular, burdensome legal form and shareholder requirements, territorial restrictions and economic needs tests impede establishment in another Member State, hamper services provision and shut certain stakeholders out of the market. For instance, architects may have to change their business model to establish a daughter company in another Member State. Retailers may also have to justify the added-value of their shop to a commission composed of their competitors.

According to Article 20.2 of the Directive, businesses must refrain from discriminating consumers on the basis of nationality or place of residence. Yet particularly online, consumers are often refused to buy from another Member State or offered the same services, such as car rentals and cruise packages, at a higher price. While freedom of contract should prevail and SMEs cannot be obliged to sell in loss, discriminatory practices that reduce consumers’ choice and increase prices should be addressed. In this context, the Rapporteur welcomes the Commission’s work on a specific guidance report on non-discrimination.

Smart governance of the internal market for services

The scope of this resolution focuses on job creation, in accordance with article 1 of the Services Directive:” this Directive does not affect labour law, that is any legal or contracting provision concerning employment conditions, working conditions, including health and safety at work and the relationship between employers and workers…”. The social dimension of the services sector is of course very important, but it is covered in separate legislations, such as the Posting of Workers directive and in national labour laws.

The focus should therefore lie on mobilising the political will at national, regional and local level to remove the hideous obstacles to free movement and to face corporations and vested interests. Many barriers to job creation stem from a poor interplay between the Services Directive and other EU or national rules. It is high time to take an integrated and future-proof approach to implementation.

The Commission has taken a first step through performance checks in the field of business services, construction and tourism. It is now necessary to move forward in this direction. In particular, the interplay with the Professional Qualifications Directive is a priority and Member States should remove unjustified requirements that block access to certain professions. Also, service providers currently either have to pay for two insurances or limit their activity to one country. The Rapporteur therefore welcomes that the Commission is engaging with the insurance sector to find concrete solutions.

Overall, Member States should refrain from “goldplating”, i.e. adding extra requirements that create costs. Far too often, the blame for fragmentation is put on the EU, while the responsibility for effective transposition and interpretation lies with national, regional and local authorities as well as public administrations. Therefore, while work to harmonise rules and develop common standards should be pursued to reduce market fragmentation, Member States should also make full use of mutual recognition.

To diminish red tape, enhance legal certainty and facilitate a coherent application of rules throughout the EU, instruments such as the Internal Market Information system (IMI) and SOLVIT should be better and more frequently used. In addition, the Points of Single Contact (PSCs) constitute a tangible tool at the disposal of service providers and recipients. Reforms in those Member States, who have already upgraded their PSCs to 2nd generation, have shown that completion of e-procedures ultimately reduce compliance costs and facilitate market access. Information and awareness-raising among stakeholders is key to make the PSCs an effective e-government portal. Efforts should be stepped up to make them simple, accessible and open to applications in another Member States’ language. The Commission should evaluate progress made by Member States, according to clear benchmarking criteria laid down in a PSC Charter.

Better enforcement for maximised economic effects

The political significance of services market integration in Europe should not be underestimated at a time when it is important to have a united EU, to promote cohesion between euro and non-euro zone and avoid unions within the Union. All Member States have a shared responsibility to complete the common market for services. The Rapporteur is aware of the different realities in Member States, the difficulties encountered in opening up the market and the importance of recognising progress achieved. However, no double standards or exceptions should be tolerated. Preaching the internal market without practicing it would undermine European citizens’ confidence in the EU reform agenda.

In this context, the Rapporteur welcomes the Commission’s excellent communication “A Partnership for new Growth in Services” and supports the zero tolerance policy against clear-cut breaches of the Services Directive. The Commission has already started pre-infringement procedures against 12 Member States. The Rapporteur also supports a constructive, pragmatic and result-oriented dialogue with Member States to maximise economic effects and Europe’s global competitiveness.

Joint efforts should now be focused on creating more opportunities for businesses, more possibilities for jobs and more choice for consumers within a truly united market. Therefore, Member States should shift perspective, looking at what more can be done to enforce the rules in a way that includes the digital economy and is conducive to growth, rather than looking only at what is required by the letter of the Directive.

As such, the ongoing peer review is an excellent forum for exchange of best practices. Member States can learn from those countries that have undergone successful reforms of their services sectors to revisit their regulatory framework. In particular, it is high time to question the proportionality of many requirements that Member States chose to maintain. The Commission should put the spotlight on excessive use of the protection of the public interest and issue a guidance report to Member States on the proportionality assessment and the grey zones. This should also foster better knowledge and raise awareness - in particular at local level - of the negative consequences of restrictive practices.

Strengthening transparency and accountability

The utmost responsibility for full, coherent and ambitious implementation of the Services Directive lies with the Member States themselves. The citizens of Europe have the right to know the price they are paying for inadequate implementation. Therefore, this resolution calls for increased transparency and accountability.

The national parliaments play an important role and can use their powers of scrutiny to hold governments accountable. The business community and the social partners should also take their shared responsibility in putting pressure on their governments.

The Rapporteur supports efforts by the Commission to be bold in confronting Member States with their responsibilities. In particular, results of peer reviews, compliance reports and country-specific recommendations on services should be made publicly available to the Parliament. Raising awareness and public debate about the problems of completing the internal market for services will empower citizens to participate and hold competent authorities accountable.

Most importantly, the members of the European Council and the Competitiveness Council should be entrusted to regularly keep the internal market for services on the political agenda, with a clear roadmap to remove barriers to free movement. Ultimately, it is only if the Member States commit to a truly free and open internal market for services to the benefit of all citizens that, finally, Europe will lift off for mission growth.

OPINION of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (20.6.2013)

for the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

on the Internal Market for Services: State of Play and Next Steps
(2012/2144(INI))

Rapporteur: David Casa

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs calls on the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

A. whereas the services sector accounts for more than 65 % of total GDP and employment in the EU, and a more integrated and better-functioning Single Market in services is crucial for economic recovery and the fight against unemployment;

B.  whereas the Services Directive facilitates matters for self-employed persons and small and medium-sized enterprises wishing to carry out and expand their business activities and to recruit staff in other Member States;

C. whereas the services covered by the Services Directive account for 45 % of the EU’s GDP and 43 % of employment in the Union;

D. whereas the Single Market in services must develop fully whilst preserving the European social model;

1.  Welcomes the Commission communication on the implementation of the Services Directive entitled ‘A partnership for new growth in services 2012-2015’, which responds to the reporting obligation as set out in Article 41 of the directive; reiterates the need to take account of the medium and long-term effects of the Services Directive on employment in the EU;

2.  Recalls that the Services Directive must be interpreted in the light of the new treaty provisions, in particular Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union, the horizontal social clause in Article 9 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), Article 14 TFEU, Protocol No 26 annexed to the Treaties, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;

3.  Reiterates the need to take account of the medium- and long-term effects, as well as the impact, both quantitatively (job creation and destruction) and qualitatively (job quality, working conditions), of the Services Directive on employment in the EU;

4.  Notes that all main stakeholders have to commit themselves to properly enforcing the full implementation of Single Market legislation, whilst also ensuring that its social dimension is taken into account; considers that the deepening of the internal market in services should be seen as an opportunity to strengthen social welfare, worker’s rights and decent working conditions for all EU citizens, including implementation of the principle of equal pay for equal work as enshrined in Article 157 TFEU; also considers that provisions on social protection, health and safety at work cannot be viewed as constituting disproportionate restrictions;

5.  Recommends proceeding to an ex post evaluation of the impact of liberalisation of services on employment and living and working conditions, and evaluating this impact in relation to the expected effects at the time of adoption of the directive;

6.  Recalls that the directive excludes a number of fields from its scope of application, including non-economic services of general interest, healthcare services and most social services; further notes that the directive does not apply to labour law, nor does it affect Member States’ social security legislation;

7.  Notes that over two decades the Single Market has proved to be a great success; believes, at the same time, that more efforts need to be concentrated on promoting economic prosperity, creating high-quality jobs, quality of services for the final consumers and the preservation of natural resources and the environment, as means of enabling the EU to overcome the current crisis;

8.  Points out that a clear definition of the term ‘worker’ needs to be laid down at European level with a view to averting the growing phenomenon of circumvention of labour, social security, and health protection regulations, for example through bogus self-employment;

9.  Expresses its support, with a view to boosting employment levels and job creation in the EU, for initiatives aimed at improving the crossborder provision of services whilst respecting labour and social regulations.

10. Stresses the need for the strong defence of safeguards for workers in process of changing employer; considers it important to ensure that a previous employer’s workforce can be transferred automatically to the new employer without undermining workers’ rights as enshrined in Chapter IV of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Titles IX and X of the TFEU, with particular emphasis on to the role of trade unions and the ‘balanced support’ clause of TFEU Article 154;

11. Notes the new Commission communication entitled ‘Single Market Act II – Together for new growth’, which aims to enhance the integration of the Single Market within the EU, stimulate growth and foster the creation of high-quality jobs, particularly for young people; welcomes the support offered by the communication to social entrepreneurship; calls for this initiative to be followed by others in support of SMEs as a whole;

12. Stresses the need to improve the rules on portability of pension schemes, in particular occupational pension schemes;

13. Stresses that in one key sector, namely that of the internet, communications and the creative economy, the internal market has yet to be completed; points out that the completion of the digital Single Market still has huge growth and employment potential;

14. Calls on the Member States, for the purposes of the crossborder delivery of services, to provide the necessary guidance on current labour, social security, and tax law to employers, workers, and other stakeholders; considers that such information must be accessible before, during, and after the mobility experience;

15. Notes the significance of Points of Single Contact (PSCs) in providing a single interface that explains all the necessary procedures for businesses, thus reducing administrative obstacles and encouraging business activities;

16. Recognises the need for developing a second generation of PSCs that are more user-friendly and facilitate the crossborder completion of procedures; stresses the importance of raising awareness of the existence of these PSCs and the benefits they provide.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted

20.6.2013

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

41

4

0

Members present for the final vote

Regina Bastos, Edit Bauer, Heinz K. Becker, Jean-Luc Bennahmias, Phil Bennion, Pervenche Berès, Philippe Boulland, Milan Cabrnoch, David Casa, Alejandro Cercas, Ole Christensen, Derek Roland Clark, Marije Cornelissen, Emer Costello, Frédéric Daerden, Karima Delli, Sari Essayah, Richard Falbr, Thomas Händel, Marian Harkin, Nadja Hirsch, Stephen Hughes, Danuta Jazłowiecka, Martin Kastler, Ádám Kósa, Jean Lambert, Verónica Lope Fontagné, Olle Ludvigsson, Thomas Mann, Elisabeth Morin-Chartier, Csaba Őry, Sylvana Rapti, Licia Ronzulli, Elisabeth Schroedter, Birgit Sippel, Joanna Katarzyna Skrzydlewska, Jutta Steinruck, Traian Ungureanu, Inês Cristina Zuber

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto, Richard Howitt, Jelko Kacin, Ria Oomen-Ruijten, Birgit Sippel

Substitute(s) under Rule 187(2) present for the final vote

Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, Ricardo Cortés Lastra, Jürgen Klute

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted

9.7.2013

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

23

2

13

Members present for the final vote

Claudette Abela Baldacchino, Pablo Arias Echeverría, Adam Bielan, Preslav Borissov, Sergio Gaetano Cofferati, Birgit Collin-Langen, Lara Comi, Anna Maria Corazza Bildt, Cornelis de Jong, Vicente Miguel Garcés Ramón, Evelyne Gebhardt, Thomas Händel, Małgorzata Handzlik, Philippe Juvin, Sandra Kalniete, Edvard Kožušník, Toine Manders, Hans-Peter Mayer, Franz Obermayr, Sirpa Pietikäinen, Phil Prendergast, Robert Rochefort, Heide Rühle, Christel Schaldemose, Andreas Schwab, Catherine Stihler, Róża Gräfin von Thun und Hohenstein, Emilie Turunen, Bernadette Vergnaud, Barbara Weiler

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Jürgen Creutzmann, Ashley Fox, María Irigoyen Pérez, Othmar Karas, Roberta Metsola, Olle Schmidt, Olga Sehnalová, Sabine Verheyen