Offers to open services market would aid trade talks, says EU

The European Union called on trading partners to reciprocate its latest offer to open the giant European services market to foreign competition, saying progress in services was essential to move global trade talks forward, 2 June 2005. The EU's revised services offer, submitted to the World Trade Organisation, covered most commercial services such as banking, insurance, energy and tourism. However, it exempted sensitive sectors such as the audio-visual industry and public services including education and health.

European Commission: Press Release: MEMO/05/190, Summary of the EU's revised services offer in the Doha negotiations: June 2 2005 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/190&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: Press Release: IP/05/654, EU tables revised services offer in Doha Round negotiations http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/654&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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