The European Commission will consider exceptions to its proposal to open up the EU's services market in a bid to clinch a deal on the controversial issue this year, the EU executive's president said today.
"I believe it is possible to reach an agreement during this semester," Jose Manuel Barroso told a business seminar at the European parliament.
"We are going to have it, if we take into consideration some specific concerns."
Parliament is now considering amendments to the European Union executive's proposal on services, with many of the bloc's 25 member states saying that it goes too far in allowing more competition in the sector including making it easier for professionals to work in different EU countries.