Article 57 ( ** )

( ** ) As amended by Article G( 13 ) TEU./P>

1. In order to make it easier for persons to take up and pursue activities as self  employed persons, the Council shall, acting in accordance with the procedure  referred to in Article 189b, issue directives for the mutual recognition of diplomas,  certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications.

2. For the same purpose, the Council shall, before the end of the transitional period,  issue directives for the coordination of the provisions laid down by law, regulation  or administrative action in Member States concerning the taking up and pursuit of  activities as self employed persons. The Council, acting unanimously on a proposal  from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament, shall decide on  directives the implementation of which involves in at least one Member State  amendment of the existing principles laid down by law governing the professions  with respect to training and conditions of access for natural persons. In other cases  the Council shall act in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189b.

3. In the case of the medical and allied and pharmaceutical professions, the  progressive abolition of restrictions shall be dependent upon coordination of the  conditions for their exercise in the various Member States.

Article 58

Companies or firms formed in accordance with the law of a Member State and  having their registered office, central administration or principal place of business  within the Community shall, for the purposes of this Chapter, be treated in the same  way as natural persons who are nationals of Member States. Companies or firms'  means companies or firms constituted under civil or commercial law, including  cooperative societies, and other legal persons governed by public or private law,  save for those which are non profit making.

CHAPTER 3

SERVICES

Article 59

Within the framework of the provisions set out below, restrictions on freedom to provide services within the Community shall be progressively abolished during the   transitional period in respect of nationals of Member States who are established in a  State of the Community other than that of the person for whom the services are  intended.

The Council may, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission,  extend the provisions of the Chapter to nationals of a third country who provide  services and who are established within the Community.

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