Romania: trade unions unhappy with the draft directive on services

In a few days, the European Parliament will give its opinion on the draft Bolkestein Directive. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) will organize, on February 14 in Strasbourg, a huge demonstration which should gather trade-union organizations from old, new and future Europe. It is interesting to notice that the country of origin principle also raises concerns among trade-union organizations in new and future Europe. (Ref. 0680)
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For the first time, the Romanian public opinion, rather happy with the prospect of integrating the EU in 2007, has a hostile reaction towards Europe. The main reason for this hostility is the Bolkestein directive and the fear that it could lead employees of Central and Eastern Europe to remain less paid than their Western European colleagues. The strong trade-union
mobilization pushed the European Commission’s delegation chief in Bucharest, Jonathan Scheele, to explain the draft directive. He e

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