Europe Needs an Effective Services Directive
Wednesday, 15 February 2006
Britain 's thriving services sector deserves to benefit from the Services Directive, which will widen choice for consumers, reduce unemployment and increase trade opportunities, Timothy Kirkhope MEP, Conservative leader in the European Parliament, said today.
Mr Kirkhope said that it was only right that almost 20 years to the day since Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher signed the Single European Act, MEPs should endorse this significant step forward in the extension of the single market.
He said:
"The liberalisation of services in the EU is a core issue for Conservatives. We have been the strongest proponents of the completion of the single market. An effective Services Directive would boost trade and opportunities for the thriving and successful British services sector.
"The left in Europe is instinctively hostile to liberalisation and has demonstrated this on many occasions. Those of us who champion the cause of free trade, reducing barriers to trade and deregulation in Europe are at the vanguard of promoting a strong, liberalising services directive.
"The new member states have shown the way in Europe in achieving strong economic growth and enterprise-based economic policies. The Services Directive will assist their economic development as well as the regeneration of the wider European economy.
"If Europe is serious about achieving the Lisbon goals and making itself an engine of economic growth in a globalised economy it must have the means and not just the ends."
ENDS
