Moving to Europe? Take your business with you.

Expatica

New opportunities and tools from the EU Commission for businesses with operations in different regions in Europe. To make business easier...in theory.

Businesses in most of the services sector will soon be able to take greater advantage of European markets thanks to the EU Services Directive. As an EU* business you will benefit from:

• Online licence applications through a Point of Single Contact in every country to establish legal requirements in operating in another country.
  
  
• Streamlined regulation, including greater recognition of licences in other European countries
  
  
• Less red tape as European countries remove unnecessary barriers to business
  
  
• A wider customer base.
  

Business Minister Ian Lucas commented that “the market for services in Europe is opening up. It's important that UK firms are ready to grasp the opportunities this presents for new jobs and growth." Mr. Lucas added that opening up European markets for services would also be good news for consumers with greater choice and lower prices.

If a British family wished to open a restaurant in Spain for example, they would be able to log-on to the 'Point of Single Contact' web portal in Spain. On this site they would be able to see if any licence is needed to establish their business in Spain, register their company details and from there build their customer base.

Similarly, if a public relations company from Britain wanted to offer their services to businesses in Sweden, Managers would have to visit the website of the 'Swedish Point of Single Contact' and obtain information on the requirements for Sweden in terms of offering their business services there. The British company would then need to file all the required documents and applications etc. electronically via the web-based 'Point of Single Contact' and would receive all decisions, permits etc. by the same route.

To ensure consumers anywhere in Europe consider buying services from abroad, the Services Directive will be also be ensuring that consumers have access to a minimum amount of information no matter where a business in based in Europe. From the end of 2009, businesses will be required to make sure that clients have access to certain information about the service they provide. The requirements are simple and businesses won't need to take much action to fulfil them.

BIS/Expatica

* This includes markets in the EU and Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Visit the BIS Services Directive (Department of Business Services and Skills) website for more details including the recently published business guidance document.

European Commission - business portal