Concerning the legal basis, the Council agreed on a double legal basis, striking a balance between the case law of the European Court of Justice on the application of Article 114 to health services and the member states' competencies recognized by the Treaty as regards the organisation and provision of health services (according to Article 168 on public health).
Õigusliku aluse osas leppis nõukogu kokku kahetises õiguslikus aluses, luues tasakaalu Euroopa Kohtu kohtupraktika (artikli 114 kohaldamine tervishoiuteenuste suhtes) ning aluslepinguga liikmesriikidele tervishoiuteenuste korraldamisel ja osutamisel tagatud pädevuse vahel (vastavalt artiklile 168 rahvatervise kohta).