The "IMI Awareness-Raising Conference" taking place in Brussels on February 25th 2009 marks the IMI Services Directive pilot project launch, a key point in time, as the first exchanges of information on services in Internal Market Information system (IMI) will start as from March 2009.

The "IMI Awareness-Raising Conference" has been conceived as a large awareness-raising conference targeted at Member States officials. With the leitmotiv "Connecting Administrations - Building Trust", the conference aims to create a good understanding of the importance of effective administrative cooperation to make the Services Directive work in practice and of the need to devote substantial resources and efforts to this end.

The Member States, in close cooperation with the Commission, have to set up a fully operational network of administrative cooperation by the Directive's implementation deadline end 2009. This Conference aims to make participants aware of the importance of building up momentum in their national administration and actively participating in the IMI Services pilot to make it a success.

Internal Market Information system (IMI)

The Internal Market Information system (IMI) is being developed to improve communication between Member State administrations. It is an electronic tool that provides a system for the exchange of information so that Member States can engage in more effective day-to-day co-operation in the implementation of the Internal Market legislation.

IMI is meant to help overcome important practical barriers such as different administrative and working cultures, different languages and a lack of clearly identified partners in other Member States. Its aim is to reduce administrative burdens and to increase efficiency and effectiveness in day-to-day co-operation between Member States.

As a first step, a pilot project was launched in early 2008 to support the cooperation between competent authorities in relation to the recognition of professional qualifications. Prior to that, EDPS published his opinion concerning the implementation of the Internal Market Information System (IMI) as regards the protection of personal data. The aim of the Professional Qualifications Directive pilot, which was limited to four professions , was to assess whether IMI was fit for purpose. At the end of 2008, Member States had registered some 425 competent authorities with over 900 users and more than 340 information requests were sent through IMI.

Administrative cooperation between Member States is essential to create a borderless Single Market. For that reason the Services Directive requires Member States to work closely together by providing mutual assistance and exchanging information.

The key priority for 2009 is the preparation of a Services Directive module within IMI. The mutual assistance provisions of the Services Directive require Member States to supply the information requested by other Member States by electronic means and within the shortest possible period. Member States are invited to participate fully and actively in the pilot project from the beginning of 2009 in order to be ready to comply with their mutual assistance obligations by the transposition date.