The “EU Services Directive” - facts and arguments in respect of a legal form, which would concern everybody

March 2006, Bela Hollos, Andreas Höferl, 45 pages

Some say: It would be the intended accomplishment of the Internal Market. It would open the market to ensure that service providers across Europe would be able to work without obstructions at last. Unnecessary red tape would be reduced. Hundreds of thousands additional jobs would be created. Protected sectors such as services of general interest would be spared. The rights of employees would also not be affected. And Austria would be among the main beneficiaries. Others say: it would be the so far most radical and comprehensive assault on social systems of the EU States. It would not accomplish the internal market, but its consequence would be a diminished democracy. It would result in most massive wage and social dumping and mean abandoning services of general interest. Consumer protection would be reduced to a minimum and environmental standards would be bypassed. It would lead to enormous legal uncertainty. The "Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on Services in the Internal Market" would let emotions run high. As it would fundamentally change the life of many people in Europe. We have outlined all significant aspects concerning this Directive in a clear, comprehensible and complete manner.

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