In 2008, EU27 external trade in services recorded a surplus of 78.4 billion euro, compared with a surplus of 86.9 bn in 2007 and a surplus of 71.4 bn in 2006, according to latest Eurostat release.

The decreased surplus in 2008 was mainly due to smaller surpluses in financial services (+30.7 bn euro in 2008 compared with +33.3 bn in 2007) and "other business services", which includes miscellaneous business, professional & technical services (+33.1 bn compared with +35.6 bn), and to increased deficits in royalties & licence fees (-13.8 bn compared with -8.5 bn) and travel (-20.3 bn compared with -18.7 bn).

These deteriorations were partially compensated by increased surpluses in transportation (+24.1 bn compared with +19.9 bn), computer & information services (+17.3 bn compared with +14.8 bn) and insurance services (+7.6 bn compared with +6.8 bn).