Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery - Interim Report - Regulatory Regimes in Selected Professional Services in EU Member States - June 2009

Aug 29, 2026

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Interim report examines regulatory regimes governing selected professional services in eight EU Member States, supporting Caribbean CARIFORUM countries under the Economic Partnership Agreement. It links EU–CARIFORUM objectives for progressive liberalisation of trade in services and related investment adjustments to the need for legislative and administrative changes. The study outlines methodologies using UNCPC-based service disaggregation, surveys current regulatory frameworks for listed professions, and compiles market intelligence to inform professional bodies’ mutual recognition negotiations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages341

Reading Time14 h 19 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Project background under the Economic Partnership Agreement

Objectives and expected service trade gains

Methodology

Scope, countries, and selected professions

UNCPC-based disaggregation approach

Business environment and market related issues

Framework for establishing or supplying services

Regulatory and administrative issues for listed professions

Principal Findings

Executive summary

Summary of findings

Recommendations

Opportunities for Trade in Services

Opportunities by country for CARIFORUM service providers

General Regulatory and Administrative Framework for Supplying Services

Regulatory Framework for Trade in Specific Services

Appendix A: Questionnaire on the Business Environment

CARIBBEAN REGIONAL NEGOTIATING MACHINERY Study on Regulatory Regimes in Selected Professional Services in EU Member States Interim Report June 2009 Study on Regulatory Regimes in Selected Professional Services in EU Member States Contract/Project No AOR 026/2009/WP2/no. 28.1-1.040 Caribbean Region By Noel Watson John J. Downes Submitted by The Views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission TABLE OF CONTENTS | Topic | Page | | --- | --- | | I. Introduction | 1 | | II. Methodology | 2 | | II.1 Introduction | 2 | | II.2 Business Environment/Market Related Issues | 4 | | II.3 General Framework for Setting up in Business or Supplying
Services | 6 | | II.4 Regulatory and Administrative Issues for the Listed Professions | 7 | | III. Principal Findings | 10 | | III. 1 Executive Summary | 10 | | III.2 Summary of Findings | 11 | | III.3 Recommendations | 32 | | IV. Opportunities for Trade in Services | 33 | | IV.1 Estonia: Opportunities for Cariforum Service Providers | 35 | | IV.2 France: Opportunities for Cariforum Service Providers | 44 | | IV.3 Germany: Opportunities for Cariforum Service Providers | 59 | | IV.4 Italy: Opportunities for Cariforum Service Providers | 77 | | IV.5 Malta: Opportunities for Cariforum Service Providers | 87 | | IV.6 Spain: Opportunities for Cariforum Service Providers | 98 | | IV.5 U.K: Opportunities for Cariforum Service Providers | 109 | | V. General Regulatory and Administrative Framework for Supplying Services | 121 | | VI. Regulatory Framework for Trade in Specific Services | 191 | | VII Appendix A: Questionnaire on the Business Environment | 330 | Abbreviations and Explanations | ACP | African Caribbean Pacific | | --- | --- | | CARIFORUM | Caribbean Forum of States : Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Cuba is a member but was not involved in this EPA. | | CRNM | Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery | | EEA | European Economic Area: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway. | | EPA | Economic Partnership Agreement | | EU | European Union : Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden. United Kingdom | | Schengen
Countries | Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden. | | UNCPC | United Nations Central Product Classification | I. INTRODUCTION This project arises from the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the Caribbean ACP (CARIFORUM) and the EU governing trade relations 2008-2028. A key aim of that agreement is to improve the CARIFORUM countries’ global competitiveness and promote export diversification. It is expected that the main gain will be in services as these countries already have market access for their goods. The World Bank has observed that the key opportunities for market growth in the CARIFORUM countries is in the export of services . Title II of the EPA provides arrangements for a progressive two-way liberalisation of investment and trade in services . It is acknowledged that this will require adjustments to legislation, regulations and administrative provisions in the EU. Article 82 para. 2 provides: “the Parties shall encourage the relevant professional bodies in the respective territories to jointly develop and provide recommendations on mutual recognition to the CARIFORUM/EU Trade and Development Committee…for the authorisation, licensing, operation and certification of investors and service suppliers and, in particular, in the

FAQs

What is the main purpose of this interim report?

To identify opportunities arising from the EU–CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement and to outline regulatory frameworks for selected professional services in eight EU Member States.

Which countries and professional services does the study cover?

The research focuses on Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom for services including accountancy, auditing/book-keeping, architecture, engineering, management consultancy, tour operations, and tourist guide services.

How does the report define and structure the selected services?

Service industries are disaggregated using UNCPC classifications, typically defined at the UNCPC 3 or 4-digit level.

Aug 29, 2026

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