16/02/06

A major victory for European workers: the initial Bolkestein proposal is dead

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) regards the result of the European Parliament (EP) vote on the Services Directive as a real victory for European workers. The European Parliament has today approved, by a large majority, the compromise reached by the main political groups in the Parliament, at the same time burying the initial Bolkestein proposal and putting a new text in its place. 

"This vote shows clearly that MEPs have succeeded in finding a compromise that allows for the opening up of the services market, while at the same time safeguarding the European Social Model, even if there are still some improvements to be made," declared ETUC General Secretary John Monks.

The majority of the ETUC’s demands have been met:

*  labour law is excluded, and in particular issues linked to the posting of workers;
*  sensitive sectors such as temporary work agencies and private security services are excluded;
*  fundamental rights to collective bargaining and action are respected;
*  services of general interest and some services of general economic interest, such as healthcare, are excluded;
*  the country of origin principle has been abolished, enabling Member States to exercise better supervision and apply rules to protect the public interest.

This is the first stage. The ETUC remains mobilised, with a view to consolidating this firm progress and achieving further improvements.



Your feedback is valuable to us
Was this article interesting and relevant for you? Do you have any comments?
 You can post a reply to this article here.



Last Modification :February 16 2006.

European Trade Union Confederation

International Trade Union House (ITUH)

Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 5

B-1210 Brussels

Belgium

Phone: +32 (0)2 224 04 11

Fax: +32 (0)2 224 04 54

E-mail: etuc@etuc.org

Calls for tender

More information:

Patricia Grillo
Head of Press and Communications
+32 (0)2 224 0430
+32 (0)477 770 164
Pgrillo@etuc.org
ETUC