POSTED WORKERS:: FUSS OVER THE DIRECTIVE.

The Commission's standpoint.

"If these articles are to be scrapped, the Commission will be forced to revise the position of member states. Based on this analysis, the Commission should then take the necessary measures to ensure that member states conform both to European law and the European Court of Justice case-law" announced Vladimir Spidla, the European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, on February 7. The Commission is thus raising the issue of infringements which in recent years have only been used with utmost caution. On the other hand, a source close to the commissioner revealed to EIS that amending the text of the directive is not an option at the moment. The Commission is now drawing up a report of the existing situation which is likely to lead to two initiatives: "on one hand to draw up a guide to the European Court of Justice case law, and on the other to identify best practices in the process of improving administrative cooperation". MEPs have been promised that the report will be ready in March although it may be a few weeks late.

The Parliament's standpoint.

The employment committee is already tackilng the subject. Elisabeth Schrodter (Greens, Germany), has been made responsible for producing an own initiative report, which is expected in May. In one of the initial meetings, on Januart 25, invited experts (including the unions, ETUC and employees, UNICE, UEAPME) disagreed on two points: the basic text is good and should not be changed but there are "still too many grey areas in the directive". Opinions however differed far more on the reforms that needed to be made. An opibnion shared by certain MEPs.

"We possibly need to look at ways in which workers are posted, at least certain aspects" said Anne van Lancker (PES, Belgium), rapporteur on the services Directive, speaking to EIS on February 9. "For example, the Commission might propose that sectors, currently excluded might be included, such as the maritime sector. We would also need to be able to counteract some of the abuses of the directive". She did however acknowledge that at a political level "reopening the debate on the wording of the text would be difficult. Given the existing balance of power, we cannot be sure of improving standards, it well be the contrary". But even without a new text, there are certain actions that the Commission can implement. "We have high expectations of a real network of work inspection. And it should also be...