What they say…

Date: 09/02/06

"UNICE would like the European Parliament to vote in the direction they did last November, which means applying the country of origin principle. This has nothing to do with social dumping: UNICE and each of its members has already made clear that they all want to avoid social dumping. To those who fear its development, the answer is that Europe has a tool to avoid it: the posting of workers directive."

Ernest-Antoine Seilliere, President of UNICE

"ETUC supports the need for administrative simplification, better information for enterprises and workers when supplying services across borders, and better co-operation and supervision by member states. However, it finds the key proposals of the draft directive, especially regarding the removal of obstacles and the establishment of a country of origin principle for cross-border service provision, unacceptable, and questions their economic and legal validity."

ETUC statement

"At the core of this directive is the freedom to provide services across borders, as already enshrined in the European treaties. Our redrafting of the central article of the proposal clearly sets out these freedoms. These must be balanced by equally clear safeguards that enable member governments to defend crucial public interests. These include all aspects of public health, safety, environment and employment. However, member states must not be given an open hand to regulate over and above what is necessary and to frustrate cross-border service provision."

Malcolm Harbour MEP (UK, EPP-ED)

"The key question behind the discussion about the services directive is whether we want the EU to be simply a large free-trade area or whether we want it also to enshrine the principles of the European social model, focusing on citizens and their needs. Do we want to focus solely on improving the competitive environment for European companies, even if this comes at the expense of the structures and systems put in place by the member states? Should we try to guarantee the quality of public services or should we focus on liberalisation at all costs?"

Evelyne Gebhardt MEP (Germany, PES)

Four brief comments on the proposed Directive on Services in the Internal Market by Ernest-Antoine Seilliere, President of UNICE; the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC); Malcolm Harbour MEP (UK, EPP-ED); Evelyne Gebhardt MEP (Germany, PES).

European Commission: PreLex: COM(2004)2: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Services in the Internal Market http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2002:002:FIN

European Commission: DG Internal Market: Services and Establishment: The Internal Market for Services http://ec.europa.eu/comm/internal_market/services/index_en.htm

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