On Tuesday 21 November, the 'employment and social affairs' committee (EMPL) of the European Parliament rejected, by a very large majority (30 votes to 6 and 14 abstentions), the opinion put forward by Paloma López Bermejo (GUE/NGL, Spain) calling for a rejection of the European Commission's proposal on the directive introducing a proportionality review prior to the adoption of new national rules for professional services.
Readers may recall that earlier this year, the Commission presented a proposal in the framework of the 'services' package to bring in an ex-ante review of the proportionality of new national rules governing the professions aiming to restrict access to regulated professions (see EUROPE 11700).
The Spanish MEP, rapporteur for the opinion on behalf of the EMPL committee, explained in her opinion that the proposal went against the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. She submitted compromise amendments, but this upset many MEPs as there was little consensus on them. The EPP, ALDE and ECR groups then submitted alternative compromise amendments that caused a split of the vote, particularly within the S&D.
The question of whether or not to exclude professions related to health and care services from the scope of application of the directive, which some members had protected in a key vote, was another major cause of dissent, particularly within the group. The GUE/NGL ended up voting against its own opinion, finding that it lacked ambition, and the EPP and ADLE are also reported to have voted against it. Only the Greens/EFA voted in favour.
There will be no more opinions on this text from the EMPL committee, a parliamentary source told EUROPE.
The 'internal market and consumer protection' committee (IMCO) is the competent committee on the substance and its rapporteur is Andreas Schwab from Germany (EPP). Its vote is scheduled for 4 December. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)