Brussels, 26/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - During its meeting on 17 September (EUROPE 17 September p 16), the Executive Bureau of the European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (ECITU) adopted an opinion on the, "Green Paper on services of general interest". In this opinion the ECITU opposes further liberalisation in the area of services of general interest. It believes that, "the mandate for providing services, for which Member States are responsible, and consequently, the security in services for consumers, has to be given clear priority over competition". The ECITU is calling on the Commission to "define minimum standards on quality for services of general interest". However, the unions states that, "it falls to the Member States to elaborate and practically ensure a certain safety in provision of services". The ECITU adds that, "in compliance with the subsidiarity principle, Europe should be committed to enabling the local authorities, in particular, decide for themselves how to guarantee services of general interest though their democratic decision-making structures and their democratic control mechanisms".