On 18 April, ETAF submitted its contribution to the consultation on the reform of the notification procedure (Services Directive). This consultation stands in the framework of the internal market strategy of the European Commission (see point 4.2. of the strategy). The main background of the consultation is that the Commission is not satisfied with the current notification procedure according to art. 15 § 7 of the Services Directive, and therefore envisages to reform this procedure. The objective of the Commission is – and several questions show this quite clearly – to gain more influence in the legislative procedure of the member states concerning professional regulations. ETAF expressed, as a basic approach, that national legislation procedures should not be blocked, the sovereignty of the member states should be preserved and additional administrative burdens avoided.
