Workshop on the proposal for a European services e-card

Published 22-05-2017
The Commission presents its proposal for a European services e-card
On 22 May, the EFTA Secretariat hosted a workshop to achieve a better understanding of the European Commission’s e-card proposal, and to provide input to EU legislators on both the positive aspects of the proposal and those that could be improved.

The workshop was attended by representatives of the four EFTA States, the European Parliament, the Commission’s DG GROW, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Malta, the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE), BusinessEurope, the Confederation of Danish Enterprises, the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW), Eurochambres, the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC), the EFTA Surveillance Authority and the EFTA Secretariat. The agenda can be found here. 

DG GROW presented the objectives of the proposal, as well as the relationship between the e-card and other EU/EEA legislation and instruments and national law. The Commission also provided a practical example regarding the issuing of an e-card, comparing it to the more cumbersome situation that businesses face today. The Commission’s presentations can be found here.

The proposal for a European e-services card consists of a directive and a regulation, and was adopted in January 2017. The workshop contributed to a better common understanding of this complex proposal. Participants expressed support for a services e-card, but also concern with regard to parts of the proposal. The construction sector in particular sees little added value in the proposal. One of the main challenges for the legislators at EU level seems to be enhancing confidence in the e-card.

In July 2016, an EEA EFTA Comment was issued on what was then called the “Services Passport” introduced in the Single Market Strategy. The workshop provided useful input to the EEA EFTA States’ further considerations of the Commission proposal.

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