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.