Brussels, 25/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - Several organisations have given a positive welcome to the preliminary report by Social-Democrat Evelyne Gebhardt on the proposal for a directive on internal market services (EUROPE 8930, 8931 and 8932), while others consider it totally ignores their demands.
The European organisation for small and medium-sized enterprises and the European Builders' Confederation (EBC) welcome the fact that the principle of the country of origin has been replaced by the principle of mutual recognition for the building sector, and the proposal to apply the principle of country of destination to controls on companies providing services. “The country of origin principle would lead to unfair competition, that cannot be acceptable for businesses. Opening markets means setting up the same rules for everyone (…). Member States have neither the means to check construction sites on which some of their nationals are involved, nor have they an interest in doing so, as their own territory consumers are not concerned”, an EBC press release states. The Assembly of European Regions (AER) states that the directive must be revised to better take into account the European social model and that the social and health services should be excluded from the scope of the proposed legislation. It calls for the adoption of a sector-specific approach for regulating services of general interest and considers that the Gebhardt draft report is along these lines.
The European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation (CEEP) welcomes Evelyne Gebhardt's document that takes into account the specific nature of services of general interest (SGI). Ms Gebhardt has made a proposal that safeguards the acquis communautaire of SGI and the freedom of Member States to define, organise and finance these services, Rainer Plassman, CEEP General Secretary, states in a press release.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) considers the Gebhardt draft is “a step in the right direction” as it excludes labour law, collective agreements, legislative provisions applying to labour relations and SGI from the scope of the proposal of directive. “It is important to make the directive watertight against social dumping” and to “keep a strong social dimension for the internal market”, an ETUC press release reads. The European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI) expresses satisfaction with the draft report and its General Secretary, Helmut Müllers says that doing away with the principle of country of origin and excluding SGI such as health services corresponds to his organisation's demands. “Contrary to some arguments used by the rapporteur and trade union representatives, most small businesses and self-employed are in favour of the main features of the European Commission proposal, including the country of origin principle”, the European Small Business Alliance (ESBA) nonetheless states in a press release. The organisation calls, however, for “more clarity in terms of definitions, scope and consistency with existing EU legislation”.