The largest sector of commercial activity in the European Union does not function on a pan-Union basis. Services, which constitute some 72% of EU GDP, are almost entirely delivered within the Member State in which they originate. The European Commission, convinced that significant growth would be possible if this situation were to change, is intent on creating a political/ commercial environment that encourages the uninhibited migration of Services, across the Union.
The Services Directive, that comes into effect in December 2009, is the first step to creating that environment, requiring as it does that Member States take action to remove legislative barriers to cross-border services delivery and to assist service providers considering the delivery of such a service by providing a single point of contact (SPC), for all information relevant to taking that decision.
In parallel with this development, CHESSS (CEN Horizontal European Services Standardization Strategy) is an initiative seeking to identify the most effective role for European Standardization in facilitating this process.
Taking as its main thrust, the concept of a relatively small number of generic standards underpinning the broad range of services capable of cross border delivery, the CHESSS feasibility study will, through the construction of a comprehensive stakeholder base, a focussed research program, face to face interviews with key stakeholders and a series of workshops around the European Union, provide CEN and the European Commission with a detailed report that should enable meaningful decision as to the structure and content of a future European Services Standardization programme.
For more information, visit the CHESSS web-site: www.chesss.eu
