ECR European Conservatives and Reformists´ : Services agreement will boost exports whilst protecting public services

ECR MEPs have backed a report from the International Trade Committee establishing the Parliament's position on the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA).

The report calls for an ambitious agreement which could form the basis for further progress at the multilateral level for trade in services, where progress up until now has been less than satisfactory.
TiSA is currently under negotiation in Geneva by 23 members of the World Trade Organisation - including the EU - who together account for 70% of world trade in services.

The aim of TiSA is to open up markets and improve rules in areas such as licensing, financial services, telecoms, e-commerce, and professionals moving abroad to provide services.
ECR spokesman on International Trade, Emma McClarkin, said: 'I welcome the broad support of MEPs for TiSA, as this agreement is of vital importance to Europe, especially given the increased role that services play in the global economy.

'Europe is the biggest exporter of services in the world, with tens of millions of jobs relying on this sector.

'European businesses are well placed to directly benefit from greater and fairer access to foreign markets, often on an equal footing with domestic suppliers.'

The British MEP added: 'ECR MEPs recognise the value of public services in EU countries and have supported specific safeguards to ensure that these services are properly protected.

'Nothing in TiSA will prevent EU governments from running public services in the way they see fit'.