Brussels, 17/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - The vote on the Gebhardt Report in the European Parliament on the Services Directive has been broadly welcomed with a few exceptions (see related article and EUROPE 9133 on positive reaction from European Trade Union Confederation and disappointment from UNICE).
The President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Anne-Marie Sigmund, for example, welcomed the result, 'satisfied that the European Parliament's solution is close to the proposals put forward by the EESC' on 10 February 2005 (see EUROPE 8888). She hoped the 'way was now open to move rapidly to a decision which would lead to the creation of a real single market for services, thus leading to major economic benefits for the well-being of the Union's citizens.'
Xavier R. Durieu, Secretary General of EuroCommerce, congratulated MEPs 'for their political courage in adopting this often misrepresented text, even though a fully well-functioning internal market will require further legislative improvement.' Arnaldo Abruzzini, Secretary General of EUROCHAMBRES, made similar comments, calling on the 'Commission to take into account the EP's position, but to come forward with a revised proposal that clarifies and simplifies the Directive and which will truly open up the EU market in services.' (At a press conference, Evelyne Gebhardt said the European Parliament vote had simplified the draft legislation.) Abruzzini added: 'Chambers fear that those countries whishing to keep their services markets closed have been given ample scope to be imaginative in finding 'necessary and proportional' reasons to deny access to foreign firms.' SME lobby groups welcome the outcome of the EP vote. Hans-Werner Muller, Secretary General of UEAPME, for example, said the 'UEAPME was concerned that the original text would have played into the hands of big enterprises and even opportunists seeking to undercut standards of service provision,' but explained that the 'strongly amended text' approved by the EP 'offers more legal security for SMEs' but 'sill needs to be improved.' Christoph Leitl, President of SME Union, comments that the EP's 'text seems equitable and well-balanced'. He added that the 25 million or so SMEs in Europe 'need the liberalisation of the European services market' and called for the legislative process to be 'finalised quickly.'
Annemarie Muntz, President of Eurociett (European Confederation of Private Employment Agencies), disagrees. Before the vote, she expressed concern (see EUROPE 9132) and after the vote, she commented that 'this decision represents a missed opportunity for the recognition of temporary work agencies' contribution to an effective and attractive EU labour market… MEPs have denied temporary work agency the possibility of contributing to the creation millions of new jobs (sic)'.
The European Building Union (EBC) is delighted with the removal of the concept of country of origin. EBU President Jean Lardin said the principle of country of origin had been replaced with a clearer and more balanced system but the draft directive still needed further simplification. CECODHAS (the European Liaison Committee for Social Housing) is also delighted. CECODHAS President Angelo Grasso welcomed the amendment removing 'social services such as social housing services, childcare and family services' from the scope of the directive, explaining that if the directive had applied to the social housing sector, 'it would be detrimental to social cohesion in the Union and would also be completely ad odds with the principle of subsidiarity.'
ESPO (the European Sea Ports Organisation) is delighted with the exclusion of port services from the services directive. 'The ESPO hope that the exclusion of port services from the services directive and the earlier rejection of the port services directive by the European Parliament (vote on the Jarzembowski Report, Ed.) will make way for an open and broad debate on a coherent EU port policy.' (The ESPO AGM in Stockholm on 1-2 June, to be attended by Commissioner Barrot, will be looking at the EU's port policy.)
The broadcasting industry is delighted that the EP has excluded broadcasting from the services directive. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) welcomes the way the decision 'confirms… the specificity of the audiovisual sector, in the broad sense of the term'. EBU Secretary General Jean Reveillon said: 'I hope that the Council and the Commission will support this important decision made by the Parliament.' Eurocinema echoed this, explaining that as a result of the EP vote, 'audiovisual services shall exclusively be ruled by the Television Without Frontiers Directive that on the one hand states the country of origin principle but on the other hand allows Member States to strengthen the minimal measures stated by the Television Without Frontiers Directive. So it is about broadcasting quotas and restrictions concerning advertising.'
Eduardo Antoja, President of EUROMAT (the European Gaming and Amusement Federation) said 'EUROMAT will not turn its attention to the language used to describe gambling in this exclusion which should not deviate in any way from the definition set down in the electronic commerce directive.' EUBINGO's co-Presidents, Sir Peter Fry and Jose Luis Iniesta, also welcome the EP vote.
The American Chamber of Commerce of the EU (AmCham EU) 'welcomes the single point of contact requirements and prohibition of discriminatory practices… We urge the Commission to carefully consider the needs of European consumers and business as they work through the detail of revising the text in the coming weeks and months.'