Brussels, 24/03/2005 (Agence Europe) - While welcoming the European Council decision on the draft services directive, Stig-Erik Westmark, the President of the Social Cohesion, Social Services and Public Health committee of the Assembly of the European Regions (AER), requested that the important role played by the health and social services sectors in supporting European economic growth should not be forgotten. Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the President of the AER's Culture, Education, Training and Youth committee and Youth Minister in the Land Lower Austria, pointed out that “culture, education and audiovisual services are an integral part of the European social model and cannot be treated as mere commercial merchandise”. “The cultural and educational diversity of Europe contribute to economic growth and competitiveness”, Ms Mikl-Leitner emphasised, adding “these areas should not indiscriminately be subject to market rules, for fear of compromising their diversity and the quality of their content”.
In a declaration, the AER (which represents 250 regions of 30 countries) states that under the current text of the Bolkestein directive, the regions will lose their powers to regulate their schools and social and healthcare services, because “professionals from countries with lower standards could provide services according to the rules of their own country” (the much-criticised “country of origin” principle).