Neo liberal Bolkestein Directive replaced by a balanced proposal

Comment by PN Rasmussen, PES President, 16 February 2006

Balanced directive will create new jobs and safeguard workers rights and essential services

Commenting on the vote on the Services Directive in the European Parliament, the President of the Party of European Socialists, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, said 

"The neo liberal Bolkestein Directive has been defeated and replaced with a much more sensible proposal.The Parliament has voted for a balanced Directive that should create many new jobs in the services industry while offering essential safeguards for workers and public services. It has been a good day for Europe's economy and for the EU's Parliament."

In the debate in the European Parliament on Tuesday on the controversial Directive Poul Nyrup Rasmussen had called on the Parliament to support the revised text. He told the Parliament "As President of the Party of European Socialists I can recommend this compromise that is now before us."   

More information, Julian Scola, PES Press Officer, mobile 00 32 486 117 394,