Brussels, 02/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - According to indications from AFP, on Wednesday, Jacques Chirac called for the draft services directive in the internal market to be started from scratch (see above). According to the French government spokesperson, the president called for an urgent need to never leave sight of the “objectives for increasing to a higher level the guarantees offered to workers and consumers in the framework of the gradual harmonisation of European rules…This involves the refusal of any fiscal, social or regulatory dumping”.
Opponents to the directive currently being discussion at the European Parliament fear that if it is adopted in its current state, it will lead to competition between Member States “competition among rules”). The principle of the country of origin is at the heart of the proposal and effectively implies that service providers can propose their services in other Member States by applying the legislation of their country of origin.