Brussels, 08/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 8 March Martin Power, Head of Cabinet for Charlie McCreevy, European Commissioner for the Internal Market, indicated that the Commission was expected to present its amended proposal on the internal market services directive on “4 April”, during a conference in Brussels organised by the Friends of Europe. Although some flexibility exists over the timetable, presentation will take place before the informal Competitiveness Council on 20-22 April, where a political discussion on the subject will take place. At the same time as its amended proposal, the Commission will publish an “explanatory guide” on the transposition of the 96/71/EC directive on the “detachment of workers”. Martin Power indicated that the Commission would not change the substance or the structure of the compromise voted in mid February during the first reading at the European Parliament on the principle of free provision of services, which will define cross-border service provision (EUROPE 9133). Power added that the Commission would, nevertheless, proceed to a legal tightening up on this point. Power explained that with regard to the field of application for the directive, it was assumed that “private security services” and “temporary job agencies” would remain covered by the directive although the College had not yet made a definitive ruling on its position. Gambling, however, is excluded.