11/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Council formally adopted its common position on the "investment services" directive, which will allow investment companies to propose their services throughout the EU, including for transactions between clients of a financial firm without going through the stock exchange ("internalised" operations) - as they had done during the adoption of a political agreement at the Ecofin Council on 7 October (see EUROPE of 8 October, p.9). The United Kingdom, Ireland, Luxembourg, Finland and Sweden voted against the common position. Divergence covers Article 25 of the draft directive, which makes it compulsory for companies to publish their prices beforehand during internalised transactions. The Parliament's rapporteur, British Conservative Theresa Villier, is also opposed to this provision.