Socialists and Services Directive

international | eu | press release Wednesday March 23, 2005 10:59 by Michael Mc Loughlin - Labour Party mmclo at eircom dot net

European Parliament Socialists today claimed victory in their campaign to secure far-reaching changes in proposed rules on Europe's lucrative market in services.

SOCIALISTS CLAIM VICTORY ON SERVICES DIRECTIVE



European Parliament Socialists today claimed victory in their campaign to secure far-reaching changes in proposed rules on Europe's lucrative market in services.



After the EU Summit agreed to revision of the draft directive on services, Martin Schulz, leader of the Parliament's 202-strong Socialist Group, immediately threw down a challenge to his right-wing opponents.



Mr Schulz called on the European People's Party Group to support him during the parliamentary progress of the legislation in changing the legislation to allow "more competitiveness and more social cohesion."



The Socialist Group has campaigned against the draft directive's threat of social dumping – cutting wages, consumer rights and environmental standards – as a result of service provision from low-cost countries.



Said Mr Schulz: "The decision by the EU Summit is a victory for the Socialist Group. During the parliamentary stage of the procedures, we will do everything in our power to improve this directive in terms of social responsibility.



"I now call on the EPP to give their support to our proposals It is time for them to stand up and be counted and to show whether or not they wish to safeguard the European social model."



German social democrat Evelyne Gebhardt is to put forward a comprehensive reform of the proposed directive in a parliamentary report for debate in Strasbourg later this year.