EU: MEPs look set to vote in favour of the services directive today following the tabling of a series of amendments designed to offer safeguards to trade unions and workers.
Discussions between the main political groups in the parliament will continue up until the final vote, but most parliamentary observers expressed confidence that it would pass. More than 400 amendments to the original commission proposal have been tabled, although in practice MEPs are expected to vote in favour of a compromise package agreed by the two biggest political groups, the EPP-ED and the Socialist Group.
The services directive proposes to enable EU firms based in one state to offer services in other member states. This right is already contained in the EU treaties, although many EU states have erected legal barriers to protect the market.
This compromise removes the controversial "country of origin" clause from the directive, which would have enabled firms to remain subject to their home country laws and regulations while offering services in another EU member state. If the compromise package passes, as expected today, service providers will have to abide by the laws and regulations of the country in which they are providing services.
Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa, a staunch critic of the original directive proposed by the commission, said he would now vote in favour of the compromise text.
"We have a responsibility as lawmakers to put forward a piece of legislation. If we don't do that, it will be left up to the European Court of Justice to decide," he said.
Many socialist MEPs fear that opposing the directive may have led the court to make a series of rulings to liberalise the EU services market without any safeguards.
Most Irish MEPs are expected to vote in favour of the compromise, but Sinn Féin and independent Kathy Sinnott will vote against it.