Conference criticises De Rossa’s Services Directive vote

Press Statement by Campaign Against the EU Constitution - Saturday February 18th

A major international conference in Dublin this weekend singled out Dublin Labour MEP Proinsias de Rossa for criticism on account of his vote for the EU’s controversial Services Directive in Strasbourg last Thursday.

The Conference entitled “Ireland & Europe: Alternatives to Neo-Liberalism” was called to mark the Services Directive vote which is seen by many as indicative of a right-ward shift in EU politics. Among the international figures present to debate alternatives to this current trend were the writer/activist Susan George, anti-militarist Frank Slijper and UK trade unionist Brian Denny.

Brendan Young of Irish Campaign Against the European Constitution said:

“This Directive is a big gain for supporters of neoliberalism, and a setback for supporters of a social Europe. European transnational corporations will benefit – and not small businesses as the Irish government and De Rossa claim. This Directive will also advance the privatisation of essential public services.”

“That Labour’s Proinsias De Rossa has chosen to vote for the liberalisation of such basic services as water, education is deeply worrying. Under the Directive multinational service providers in these areas will have an automatic right to set up in any country of the EU. If elected governments wish to regulate these companies they will be subject to gruelling legal processes at the European Court of Justice to justify every regulation. Multinational service companies have massive financial resources and the case law of the ECJ favours liberalisation.”

“The Labour Party is committed on paper to promoting the idea of a social Europe. Despite this De Rossa has chosen to vote for a Directive which if passed into law will lead to the liberalisation of education services, culture services, environmental services, distribution and purification of water, waste services, postal services, energy services, and the services of storage of dangerous goods. Competition by transnational providers could not be blocked. Thus a creeping privatisation would be set in train.”

“The approval of this Directive by the European Parliament bodes ill for our governments future ability to promote high-standards and universal access to public services. We call on all who support a social Europe to demand that the Irish government oppose the Directive when it goes to the Council of Ministers.”

For further comment

Brendan Young 085 713 1903 (Campaign Against EU Constitution)

For more on Conference see:

http://www.freewebs.com/alternativestoneoliberalism/