he article deals with the issue of the legal status of education under EU law. It claims that education does fall within the scope of application of EU law, when it constitutes a service within the meaning of EU law; this is the case when an education activity is carried out against consideration of price. The application of European rules and principles has noticeable effects on the organization of the entities which provide education services. On the one hand, it promotes the development of a EU wide market for education in which operators (at least the private ones) compete to supply education services. On the other hand, it has a clear bearing on the Member States’ choices how to fund education, since, whether the funding is to be granted to privately held schools or Universities, compliance with EU State aids provisions is required