FN-FORUM: EU seeks to Destroy EU IT jobs

date posted 7th August 2003 18:20

You think times are hard now, and with the impending EU Enlargement, next
the EU want fall market access to the EU IT market for all foreign workers.

I am extremely concerned about the following document that is being proposed
by the European Commission (through the auspices of the European Union) to
the World Trade Organisation at the GATS trade negotiations under the Doha
Development Agenda. I can see absolutely no benefits to European people if
these proposals are ratified.

Under Computer & Related Services, the commissions proposals are summarised
as
(http://trade-info.cec.eu.int/doclib/docs/2003/april/tradoc_112343.pdf):

"In computer services, a sector that is key to the development of the
Information Society in Europe, the Commission proposes to offer full market
access to foreign service providers, including to high-skilled self-employed
computer experts. This should enable Europe to benefit from the best
computer services at the lowest cost, with a view to reach the goal set in
the "Lisbon strategy"."

Please take the time to read this document, it is not long but it is
explosive. I believe that it has the smell of back-room negotiations and was
never submitted for proper consultation. This would seem to be backed-up by
the fact that there is no author's name provided nor any credits given,
something that is not usual for EC documents. However, to verify the
validity of the document you can visit the EC site of DG Trade at the
following URL:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/sectoral/services/index_en.htm. The
document is the fourth item under Related items. It also might be useful to
read Pascal Lamay's comments on the document, which is the fifth item.
Incidentally, if, and this is a big if, this document was ever released to
the Press then they are totally ignorant of the consequences of these
proposals as, to the best of my knowledge, it has appeared nowhere in the
media.

I implore you all to write to your local MP's and to publicise this in any
way you can.

After all we're all going to be hit by this if it goes through



Andy McDonald

Andrew McDonald
Webguru Services
t: 01202 252736
e: [EMAIL REMOVED]
w: http://www.webguru.uk.net

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