Keeping public services out of trade deals

(3 February 2016) EPSU, Social Platform, the European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public Services (CEEP) and ETUC welcome the European Parliament's call for the full exclusion of public services in the Trade in Services Agreement, also known as TiSA. Public services are vital for social cohesion, sustainable growth and job creation.
The European Parliament resolution adopted today demands a “gold standard” clause to exclude public services from the scope of trade agreements negotiated by the European Commission, irrespective of how these services are supplied. This would considerably strengthen the protection of quality, accessible and affordable public services in EU trade agreements. The European Commission should now commit to changing its approach to public services not only in TiSA, but also in TTIP and future trade agreements.