FIA

The Government Department Business, Innovation and Skills [BIS] leads on implementation in the UK and an FIA delegation met recently with Ravinder Walia, Assistant Director of the Services Directive Implementation Team, and several of his departmental colleagues.

We outlined the concerns of industry regarding compliance with existing codes and standards in the UK when the market becomes more open. Our main concern centres on Article 16 of the Directive and the need to preserve sufficient market controls in the UK to maintain existing standards of service.

BIS explained that they believe the Services Directive would lead to a £46 billion trade benefit to the UK and create around 80,000 new jobs.

They also advised that the regulators hold mutual evaluation meetings to address issues concerning trade barriers. A Point of Single Contact [PSC] is to be established in all member states to allow service providers to determine which rules were in place and how to go about meeting these requirements. It is also a vehicle to report where any rule or requirement is in breach of the Directive. In the UK, the PSC is via Businesslink.gov.