HOW TO IMPROVE THE FUNCTIONING OF THE EU SINGLE MARKET FOR SERVICES

The Single Market is one of the biggest accomplishments of the EU. However, it has not, to date, delivered the same benefits for services that it has for goods. This results from the fact that regulations concerning the Single Market for services are not known, they haven't been implemented, or various (often unjustified and disproportionate) obstacles still hinder cross-border services activities. The purpose of this paper is to provide systematized assessment of the real effectiveness of the series of policy initiatives proposed within the so-called "services package", aiming at better use of opportunities offered by the common market for services, in light of existing significant barriers. The examination of specific European legislative documents and analysis, as well as opinions and views expressed by advisory committees, national parliaments and stakeholders, demonstrate that although the latest Commission's proposals address both administrative and regulatory barriers, they are not ambitious enough for the completion of the free movement of services within the EU. The research findings confirmed the imperative of making greater progress in making the Single Market for services a reality, in an economic context where services are contributing an increasingly greater share of manufacturing and digitalisation. Thus, it is essential to take resolute and comprehensive policy actions to overcome the persisting deficits in the proper functioning of the internal market for services. These include actions at both the European level for the Commission, and at the national level for the Member States.