You're listening to European Parliamentary Research Service podcast on the Single Market for Services.

Like the free movement of goods, the freedom to provide services across the EU is one of the core principles of the single market.

But despite many barriers having been removed since the liberalisation effort started

in the 1980s, it is still easier to move a crate across Europe than it is to move in a

continent or a car mechanic.

Want to know why?

Join us on the analysis of the single market for services.

Services account for over 70% of Europe's output and a similar share of jobs, but for only a fifth of the EU's internal trade.

The smaller size of the intra-EU market for services, as opposed to goods, may be due to the fact that many services are less tradable than goods and can only be provided locally.

Nevertheless, globalisation and developments and communication technologies

are encouraging more and more companies to offer their services across borders.

The right to do so is enshrined in the EU treaties

and has been championed further by the EU Services Directive.

Adopted in 2006, this aimed at removing red tape

and making it easier for service providers to establish

themselves in their home country as well as abroad and to provide services inside as well as

outside their own country. Although certain sectors such as healthcare or social services were

left outside the scope of the directive, it covers services accounting for 46% of EU GDP in sectors like

retail, tourism, construction and business services. In addition, specific rules have been

developed for the financial services sector, transport, telecommunications, postal services,

and broadcasting, as well as for patients' rights. But the freedom to provide services across the EU

is linked with the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, which has been guaranteed by

...