European Parliament
A6-0409/2005
Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL ).
(PT)
We are vehemently opposed to this proposal for a directive aimed at liberalising services.
We cannot overlook the fact that this is one of the most important instruments of the so-called Lisbon Strategy – one of its very cornerstones, in fact – aimed at stepping up the liberalisation and privatisation of public services, and at fomenting social dumping and competition between workers to the benefit of economic and financial groups.
Although pressure from the public, social movements and the workers’ struggles, including today’s demonstration, has led to some fine-tuning of the original wording, the central objective remains in place. Rejection of this proposal is therefore crucial if we are to avoid letting this legislation in through the back door. In the cause of legal certainty and of the protection of social, labour, environmental and consumer rights, it is vital that this proposal be rejected, and this is the way we shall be voting.

