Freedom to provide services
The principle of freedom to provide services guarantees EEA citizens the freedom to provide services on the territory of another EEA State.
The EEA States can restrict the provision of certain services in their territories provided that they have a legitimate objective relating to, for example, the protection of public policy, public security or public health. Any restrictions must be necessary and proportionate to the aims they seek to achieve.
The recent Services Directive aims primarily to codify the case law on services of the European Court of Justice. It also establishes close administrative co-operation between the EEA States in order to improve and simplify trade in services in the whole EEA. The Services Directive is expected to enter into force in the EFTA States during autumn 2009.
In relation to health services, a new Directive on cross-border health care has been adopted in the EU on 9 March 2011. It is not yet part of the EEA Agreement
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