MEPs vote to open services market
The European Parliament has approved a law boosting competition in services, which is widely seen as one of the most important EU directives for a decade. The Services Directive makes it easier for caterers, software companies, plumbers and other service providers to do business across European borders. The EU has long backed the principle of free movement of services, but had failed until now to make it a reality.
See "MEPs vote to open services market", BBC News, BBC News Online, November 14, 2006