Definicija: Načelo enake obravnave pomeni, da za državljane EU, ki želijo ustanoviti podjetje ali opravljati storitev v drugi državi članici, ne smejo veljati strožji pogoji kot za domače osebe kar zadeva znanje, sposobnost ali izobrazbo. Po drugi strani pa so jim v drugi državi članici zagotovljene enake pravice samo, če izpolnjujejo enake pogoje, kot veljajo za državljane tiste države. Zato morajo na primer imeti dokazilo, da so dokončali zahtevano poklicno usposabljanje ali opravili potrebne izpite in pridobili ustrezne kvalifikacije v državi gostiteljici.

Definicija: The principle of equal treatment means that EU citizens wishing to set up on their own account or provide a service in another Member State cannot be required to satisfy stricter conditions than local people in terms of knowledge, skills or qualifications. Conversely, they are assured equal rights in another Member State only if they satisfy the same conditions as apply to that country's nationals. They must therefore, for example, be able to show that they have completed any vocational training required or passed the necessary examinations and obtained the relevant qualifications in their host country.