The four freedoms—goods, services, establishment and capital


Produced in partnership with Dr Alexander Türk, Professor of Law of King’s College London
Practice notes

The four freedoms—goods, services, establishment and capital


Produced in partnership with Dr Alexander Türk, Professor of Law of King’s College London

Practice notes
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In brief

The free movement of goods, freedom to provide services, freedom of establishment, and free movement of capital (the ‘four freedoms’) constitute limitations imposed by EU Treaties on the EU Member States to ensure the functioning of the EU Internal Market. This form of negative integration has limits. Most restrictions adopted by the Member States that are caught by the scope of the four freedoms can, however, be justified, provided such restriction are proportionate.

While the Court of Justice has had a particularly important role in the interpretation of the four freedoms (and their limits), any remaining restrictions can ultimately only be eliminated through harmonisation measures adopted by the EU (‘positive’ integration). For further reading on this, see Practice Note: Harmonisation.

This Practice Note examines the four freedoms underpinning the EU Internal Market in more detail.

Free movement of goods

Restriction on imports

Scope of the prohibition

Article 34 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) prohibits ‘quantitative restrictions on imports and all measures

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Jurisdiction(s):
European Union

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