Brussels, 10/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - With the European Parliament getting ready to take position next week on a single residence and work permit project for migrants, the French Socialists have voiced fears of the reintroduction of the principle of the country of origin which they opposed in the so-called “Bolkestein” directive on the liberalisation of services. At the plenary session in Strasbourg, the MEPs will have to take position on the report by French MEP Véronique Mathieu (EPP) on a proposed directive entitled “single permit” for migrant workers. But by coming into line with the position of the Council, Mathieu is excluding a whole section of migrant workers, such as seasonal workers or seconded workers from the scope of application of the directive, thus depriving them of social rights, lamented the French Socialist delegation, which states that it has no wish to see the institution of second- and third-class workers. The delegation therefore opposes a discriminatory project which aims to set European nationals and salaried migrants in competition with each other. “This is the return of the principle of the country of origin which we fought in the Bolkestein directive, but this time the risk of social dumping is not European, but global”, warned Pervenche Berès, president of the committee on employment and social affairs of the Parliament. “If this precedent comes into being, today, by distinguishing between the rights of nationals and migrants, this will open the door to announced breakdown in work between nationals as well”, warned Sylvie Guillaume, a member of the committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs. Catherine Trautmann, head of the French Socialist delegation to the European Parliament, stated that together with the Socialists and Democrats Group, the French delegation would vote through all amendments to extend the scope of the directive and to extend social rights, thus paving the way for a second-reading procedure. “And if this strategy does not work, it will vote against Ms Mathieu's report”, she said. (B.C./transl.fl)