The barriers that confront service businesses represent Europe's final commercial frontier. But that's about to change. From December 2009, when the EU's new Services Directive takes full effect, businesses from management consultants to hairdressers, ad agencies to undertakers will be able to trade freely across EU borders. Services comprise Europe's single biggest commercial sector and the removal of regulatory and administrative barriers has major implications for business. The new directive will put services on an equal footing with goods, which already enjoy unfettered movement within the EU. It's one of the most significant changes to European law in more than a decade.
展开▼
