Brussels, 11/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - During a “Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council” on Tuesday 11 December, the Council adopted in a second reading, the draft directive on services in the internal market. Lithuania and Belgium abstained. On Tuesday 12 December, the acting president of the Council and the president of the European Parliament will sign the legislative act to enter into force the after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. The EP approved the common position of the Council in mid-November by rejecting all the amendments submitted by the PES, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL groups (EUROPE 9307). Applicable as from 2010, the services directive aims to open up the internal services market further, while respecting workers and consumers' rights. Its provisions on cross-border provision of services provoked a real controversy in the EU and contributed to the rejection of the constitutional treaty, notably in France in spring 2005. (mb)