date: Thursday 16 February 2006

embargo: immediate

'Victory for social Europe' on Services Directive

Commenting on the European Parliament's vote to amend the Services Directive by removing the country of origin principle, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'This is a major victory for social Europe delivered primarily by union campaigning across the EU.

'While we still have some points to press, the Parliament's main left wing and right wing groups have voted to continue the key principle that makes Europe more socially progressive than the US - that we should balance the economic benefits of liberalising trade with the protection of people at work, consumers and the environment. Today's amendments add up to a series of pragmatic changes that should help ensure that the Services Directive does not undermine social Europe.

'The onus is now on the European Commission to build on today's compromise and bring forward a draft that can win approval. I hope that UK ministers will reflect on how they ended up to the right of the European Parliament's main right wing group and now back today's compromise.'

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Press release (300 words) issued 16 Feb 2006