The freedom to provide services allows functioning of the EU internal market and covers the right of establishment, i.e. start of business activity in any member-states.
The member-states must ensure that the right of establishment and freedom to provide cross-border services for natural and legal persons in the EU is not hampered by national legislation.
The acquis under Chapter 3 harmonizes the rules on regulated professions by ensuring mutual recognition of qualifications and diplomas between member-states. For certain regulated professions, member-states must follow a common minimum training curriculum for automatic recognition of qualifications in any member-state. As regards postal services, the acquis also aims to open this sector to competition in gradual and controlled way, under regulatory framework that ensures provision of universal service.