The EU Services Directive is difficult to achieve without also affecting issues of national
social policy closely related to the welfare state. The EU Services Directive's
characteristics have raised numerous legal questions essential for its full understanding and
implementation. It has become a moving target for the national administrations. In this book
important issues are covered: is the EU Services Directive to be interpreted as law or simply
policy and what are its actual effects on the regulatory autonomy of the Member States? Does it
represent a new and innovative instrument which facilitates prosperous integration within the
EU or has the EU legislator gone beyond its regulatory competence? This book helps to
understand the EU Services Directive and its effects on the regulatory autonomy of the Member
States of the European Union in a broader perspective. It is valuable for academics
practitioners and officials both nationally as well within the EU institutions.
