Ruling paves way to free trade in sector

A European Commission ruling that defines social services as an “economic activity” could open the door to more foreign competition.

The statement clarifies that the commission sees social services as an area it could legislate on in the future to remove barriers to free trade within the European Union.

The European parliament would also have to agree to any such plans, but it recently rejected a similar proposal under the EU services directorate (Social care exempt from Euro directive
, 13 April).