EU Competition rules apply to the services sector, including real estate, retail, postal services, and professional services, all of which have a direct impact on the daily life of EU consumers.
With the increase in the use of online platforms for purchasing both goods and services, the Commission has adopted both the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to ensure a safe digital space where the fundamental rights of consumers are protected, and where businesses do not have to compete with unfair advantages often enjoyed by large online platforms.
Operators providing professional services qualify as undertakings, and therefore EU Competition rules apply. In 2004 the Commission adopted a report on Competition in Professional Services, which was followed in 2005 by a further report on the Scope for More Reform. In these reports the Commission explained that it is not opposed to regulation as such, as there are legitimate arguments in favour of certain regulations in the professions, regulations should only exist where they provide an effective means of protecting consumers.
In 2022 the Commission adopted its Guidelines on the application of EU competition law to collective agreements regarding the working conditions of solo self-employed people, i.e. people who work completely on their own and do not employ others. The Guidelines aim to improve legal certainty and ensure that EU competition law does not impede efforts to improve collectively the working conditions of the “solo self-employed” in cases where they face a significant imbalance in bargaining power.
