The European Commission's proposal for a directive on services in the internal market aims to provide a legal framework that will eliminate legal and administrative barriers to the freedom of establishment for service providers and to the free movement of services between the member states, giving both the providers and recipients of services the legal certainty they need to exercise these fundamental freedoms.

Notably, the proposal provides for application of the country of origin principle to service-providers, so that a provider is subject only to the law of the country in which he is established and Malta (like the other member states) may not restrict services from a provider established in another member state.

Stronger mutual assistance between national authorities is provided for, to effectively supervise service providers. The proposal also makes provision for a right of recipients to use services from other member states without being hindered by restrictive measures imposed by their country or by discriminatory behaviour on the part of public authorities or private operators. The proposal also contains several elements aimed at eliminating remaining obstacles to the freedom of establishment.

In view of the great importance and relevance of this proposal to the business community, the Malta Business Bureau (MBB), which is run by the Malta Federation of Industry, Chamber of Commerce and the MHRA, organised a half-day conference on this proposed EU Directive on Friday, November 4.

Among the speakers addressing this event were Minister for Competitiveness and Communications Censu Galea; Phyllis Farrugia, a consultant to the Minister for Competitiveness and Communications; Godwin Warr, director general at the Commerce Division; and Joseph Muscat, MEP.

For seminar presentations visit the MBB Website: www.mbb.org.mt