LIB DEMS: SERVICES DIRECTIVE MOST IMPORTANT EU LEGISLATION IN YEARS

10.59.03am GMT Thu 16th Nov 2006

Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament have welcomed the vote on the second reading of the Services Directive in the European Parliament today.

Liberal Democrat European Employment spokesperson and West Midlands region MEP, Liz Lynne, said:

"The Services Directive will bring massive economic benefits to Europe. Estimates range from a 0.3% rise in GDP and a 0.7% increase in employment, predicted by Copenhagen Economics, to a 1.8% GDP increase and 2.5 million new jobs, foreseen by the European Commission.

"A service provider, once established in a Member State, will have free access to and free exercise of his activity in another Member State. This Member State now has a legal obligation to remove all obstacles, except those justified by public policy or public security and health or environment protection.

"Genuine freedom of movement for all workers will now, theoretically, be established across the EU - but only theoretically because regrettably most national governments have restricted movement of workers from the newer member states."

"This is one of the most important pieces of legislation to pass through the European institutions in years. This issue has been hotly debated in most European countries and was a crucial factor in France's rejection of the Constitutional treaty.

"Sadly, little attention has been paid to it in the UK where it will be vastly beneficial to our economy. What we are left with is yet another positive from Europe unlikely to be reported by the British press."