TORY BLUNDER JEOPARDISES UK BUSINESSES AHEAD OF SERVICES DIRECTIVE VOTE

12.00.00am GMT Thu 9th Feb 2006

Temporary worker agencies may be excluded from key legislation opening the EU's service sector after confused Conservative MEPs accidentally tabled an amendment they do not intend to vote for, West Midlands Liberal Democrats MEP Liz Lynne said today.

The amendment, tabled after frantic negotiations late last night, would exclude temporary work agencies from the EU Services Directive. However temporary work agencies have lobbied Euro MPs to be included in the directive, and a frantic lobbying operation is now underway to ensure Conservative MEPs vote against their own amendment.

Liz Lynne, Liberal Democrats Employment Spokesperson, commented today in Brussels, "There's no doubt that EU legislation can be complicated, but this is a monumental cock up."

"Not only are they seeking to exclude temporary worker agencies from the Services Directive, but it appears as if they are calling for the 'one size fits all' Temporary Workers Directive to be put back on the table, which we thought we had kicked into the long grass."

"The Conservatives will either have to vote with the Socialists and exclude temporary worker agencies, or they will have to swallow their pride and sink their own amendment."

"As the Tories seem a bit confused at the moment, I'm happy to offer some simple advice; I will be voting for the Services Directive and ensuring that temporary worker agencies can benefit from a more open EU market. I suggest the Conservatives do likewise."

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Services account for more than two-thirds of economic activity and jobs in the European Union, yet service providers do not fully benefit from the Union's internal market. In theory, consultants, hair-dressers, plumbers and thousands of other professions should be able to operate across borders. In practice, they face many obstacles, for example the requirement to open an office in the country they wish to operate in.

2. The Services Directive was originally proposed by the European Commission in 2004 to address this problem. Subsequent studies have found that the removal of barriers to services trade would provide a massive boost to the European economy. One even suggested that the directive could create up to 600,000 new jobs.

3. The vote on the Services Directive will take place next Thursday 17 February in Strasbourg.

For further information, comment or to book an interview, please telephone Liz Lynne on 003222845521 (Brussels) or 077644 52725 (mobile) or Press Officer Steve Nowottny in Stratford-Upon-Avon on 01789 262785.