Text tabled : A6-0375/2006

  Hélène Goudin and Nils Lundgren (IND/DEM), in writing. (SV) The June List welcomes the Services Directive and believes that services companies, irrespective of the country they come from, should not be discriminated against in any EU country.

The key issue in the debate on the Services Directive has been that of whether the country of origin principle should underpin the directive or whether the host country’s legislation should apply in full. The country of origin principle affects significant, but strictly limited, areas such as construction, installation activities and consultancy services. We welcome competition in these areas but believe that it should take place on conditions that are fair to all the parties. We believe that Swedish rules should apply on Swedish territory. It is therefore gratifying that, in its common position, the Council rejects the country of origin principle.

The Council’s position is mainly a victory for those views that the June List represents. Competition within the services sector will be intensified. At the same time, the national independence of the Member States will be respected in that the country of origin principle does not form the basis of the directive. It is a good thing that the national monopolies on services will not be affected and that national labour legislation, collective agreements, union rights and legislation on social security remain untouched.