The European Union-funded FASTeTEN project is looking into an initiative that will involve using the FAST bundle of services to help regional and local authorities in the EU put in place the bloc’s Services Directive (2006/123/EC).

This legislation, which was finalised in 2006, is designed to make it easier for companies, especially small businesses and independent traders, to do business in EU countries other than their home state. The Directive requires EU countries to set up a Point of Single Contact (PSC), which will be an an electronic one-stop-shop through which service providers can find the information and complete the necessary formalities necessary to doing business in a particular country. EU countries are supposed to comply with the Services Directive by 28 December 2009.

The PSC will need to be linked to back office systems in member states. In the UK, for example, the government plans to offer standard forms through the PSC that non-UK businesses can use to obtain information or complete administrative tasks. Local authorities will be able to log in to the UK system and retrieve information.

In terms of use of the FAST bundle of services for implementation of the Services Directive, the FASTeTEN project is looking at adapting a process developed by another eTEN project (SPES – a project dealing with electronic signatures), which would enable proof of required qualifications and specifications to be delivered online as prescribed by the Services Directive.

Further news on this initiative will be published as it becomes available.