On 14 January 2004, in Strasbourg, the European Parliament approved the report by Philippe Herzog (European United Left, France) on services of general interest within the European Union. The report was adopted by 383 votes to 123 and 13 abstentions. After a difficult debate and vote (see EUROPE of 14 January, pages 11 and 12, and 15 January, p.14), a Parliament majority choose compromise between continued liberalisation of the sector and the need to adopt a legislative framework at European...