Brussels, 02/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Brussels bureau representing small and medium sized enterprises in Europe, UEAPME, is calling for a European regulator to be established, but does not want an EU directive on services of general interest. (See EUROPE of 14 January, p. 11, and 15 January, p. 14 and EUROPE/Documents No. 2345 of 23 January). Expressing its views on the management of services of general interest in the EU in the consultation process launched by the Commission's Green Paper in May 2003, the UEAPME says that a regulator would minimise differences in interpretation of legislation in the different Member States, but a framework directive setting out common principles would not be appropriate because the ideas of universality, quality, consumer protection and accessibility differ from one sector to the next. Moreover, notes the UEAPME in a press release, any horizontal directive would be a diversion from the EU's main responsibilities (the single market and competition) and would run counter to current legislation on state aid, competition and public tendering. The SME representative body supports the liberalisation of services of general interest, claiming that so far this has resulted in modernisation, interconnection and integration, along with a reduction in costs, high quality services and greater consumer choice. UEAPME asserts, however, that liberalisation should be accompanied by a regulatory framework to ensure that the general interest is catered for.