Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Biffen (Conservative). It was answered on Thursday, 21 July 2005.

EU Directive on Services

Question: My Lords, will the Minister confirm that there is a great deal of apprehension on the part of the French concerning this directive? Will he state whether an opt-out would be a perfectly legitimate compromise to help to overcome those anxieties?

Answer: My Lords, I hope that we shall reach an agreement which will not involve an opt-out. The characterisation in some of the French media regarding a liberalised economy over which there are no restraints competing with the European social model has been greatly overstated. I do not think that the March European Council misunderstood the issues; it said that the internal market for services has to be fully operational while preserving the European social model. That specifically tried to address those French concerns. It is our belief that the negotiations will be successful in that respect.

Secondary information