Members of the European parliament on Thursday approved plans to create a free market in services, despite last-minute opposition from some large national delegations.
Thursday’s vote followed weeks of tense internal negotiations to resolve both the ideological rift among lawmakers about the benefits of further market opening and national differences.
MEPs voted by 394 votes against 215, with 33 abstentions, in favour of a compromise deal, brokered last week by the assembly’s two largest groups. The deal watered down or removed several of the more controversial aspects of the original proposal, tabled in 2004 by the European Commission.
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See also: FT briefing: EU services directive Q&A
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