9 February 2012 – Commission reply to MEP Question

Written Reply to MEP Question:

1. The Services Directive in its Article 4.1 defines service by referring to the notion of service under Article 57 of the TFEU. Recital 33 contains a list of service activities covered by the directive, one of the activities being mentioned are distributive trades. On this basis the Commission is of the view that retail services are covered by the Services Directive including retail work by pedlars.

2. Based on what is said above, the Commission is of the view that the retail sector falls within the definition of a service under the Services Directive.

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