The new Services Act in The Netherlands Implementation of the EU Services Directive

1. The new Services Act in The Netherlands Implementation of the EU Services Directive Jan Leerling, senior Legal Advisor The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce 11 June 2009

2. Benefits of one internal market: economic growth between 1,4 and 6,3 billion euro In line with several existing Dutch programs Less administrative burdens / rules Simplification of permits Several e-government programs Especially for service providers active but not residing in another EU member state And a great stimulus for online transactions within The Netherlands itself Significance

3. Legal approach Implementation mandatory before 28 Dec. 2009 • 2006 - 2008 Screening Dutch legislation • 2006 - Monitoring new legislation (Commercial Register Act / decree) • 2008 - 2009 Services Act (proposal) (Main obligations; change legislation) • 2010 - Alteration Act (proposal, 6 months) • 201? - Act for small repairs

4. Two electronic Points of Single Contact • One electronic Point of Information to consumers • National Consumer Authority • www.consuwijzer.nl • One electronic portal for service providers and business customers • At Ministry of Economic Affairs • Information, support, procedures and formalities • For enterprises / business customers • From EU member states • In Dutch / partly English • www.antwoordvoorbedrijven.nl (answer for companies)

5. ´Answer for companies´ portal (1) • Providing information/ support • By competent authorities (CCI´s) and Ministry of Economic Affairs • General vs detailed information • Support via ´message box´ in PSC Problems: • Connect local CCI´s or CCI NL? • Technique for delivering information (cooperating catalogues or other) • Language

6. Answer for companies portal (www.antwoordvoorbedrijven.nl) Competent authority Encrypted message box Service Provider/ business customer Message box Service Provider Message box Competent authority Notification email Notification email Secured messages Unsecured email messages

7. ´Answer for companies´ portal (2) • Online registration • All ´enterprises´ • Also from The Netherlands • Facilitator model (no case handling) • ´message box´ in PSC (low security) Problem: Identification / authentication by CCI´s Solution: Link to web application ´self service enterprises´ CCI´s Use electronic qualified signature Electronic confirmation via message box

8. Registration process (2 scenario´s) B1 Fysical mailbox Traditional registration form Paper flow B2 Routing to one of the CCI´s Self Service Enterprises-application A2 A3 A4 Registrationby competent CCI AvB-site CCI-site A1 Confirmation message to enterprise Message box enterpreneur Message box CCI A6/ B4 A5/ B3 A7/ B5 Internet flow CCI´s

9. ´Answer for companies´ portal (3) • Online registration: Problem: Electronic signatures from other MS Solution: Support Ministry of Interior Problem: No electronic signatures for SME´s Solution: Free signatures (Program E-Recognition Enterprises) Problem: Language Solution: Dutch (maybe English)

10. IMI and the Dutch CCI´s (1) • Internal Market information system (IMI) • Ministry of Economic Affairs responsible for implementation • CCI´s must connect (preferably in pre phase) Problems: • Connect all CCI´s or CCI NL? • Questionnaires EC • Manual (workload; mistakes) • Translation of answers • For free? • Art. 28.7 and 28.6 EU-Directive • Financing principle: user of information pays • Information or verification? • Relation with new Dutch system of base registers

11. IMI and the Dutch CCI´s (2) • Solution: • Information via EBR / registers, Verification via IMI • Authorities and IMI refer to EBR / registers as primary source • Advantages: • Fixed format, Automated process / translation • Clear difference between information and verification • Clear difference between non free and free information (No tension with basic principle: user pays for information) • Problems / challenges: • EBR needs all EU official company registers • EBR is not an EU institute

12. Questions?