ESBA - The Independant Voice for Small Business

INDEPENDENT SMALL BUSINESSES AND SELF-EMPLOYED SUPPORT FREEDOM TO PROVIDE SERVICES

Brussels, February 14^th 2006

Thursday’s plenary vote on the services directives is crucial for SMEs as well as for growth and jobs in Europe. ESBA calls MEPs to vote in favour of the freedom to provide services and follow the input of the Internal Market Committee.

As the debate around the services directive has reached its momentum in a highly emotional context, ESBA recalls that the aim of the proposal is simply to allow services operators to provide services across the EU, simply to put into practice a principle which builds the basis for the Internal Market and was enshrined in the European Community treaties 50 years ago.

99.8% of EU businesses are SMEs, of which 89% are in the services sector. SMEs do need this directive. They are currently deprived of the Internal Market advantages due to endless administrative and discriminatory procedures incurred when internal borders are crossed. The services directive will cut red tape, lift barriers and facilitate cross border trade in services.

Contrary to arguments used by trade unions, the services directive has nothing to do with social dumping. This proposal is neither about cutting jobs, nor about bringing down social benefits. It is about facilitating trade, creating jobs, and maintaining jobs within the EU! Importantly, sectors such as health, environment and social security will be exempted from the scope of the directive. Member States will keep the right to enforce specific requirements on service providers for reasons of public policy, public security, protection of health or the environment.

ESBA supports the current compromise achieved by the rapporteur and shadow rapporteur. Although we believe that the country of origin principle would make life much easier for small businesses, it is important that the proposal is adopted by Parliament and member states with no further delay. In this context, ESBA calls for a dedicated SME impact assessment to be carried 5 years after implementation that will assess whether SMEs have benefited from the services directive.

SMEs do definitely need the liberalisation of the services market. Please do not allow that the spirit of the proposal is watered down by irrational fears or media scaremongering. Please vote for a true freedom to provide services across the EU.

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Note to the editor: ESBA is a non-party political European group which gathers member organisations from 22 European countries. It is the only organisation in Europe to focus its representation on the needs of fully independent small business organisation (vs. statutory or compulsory membership groups). ESBA currently represents almost 2 million small business entrepreneurs and represents them through targeted EU advocacy activities. ESBA also works towards the development of strong independent lobby and benefits groups in European countries. For more information, please contact:secretariat@esba-europe.org

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Page last updated: 02/02/2007 4:59:43 PM