Degrees of transparency

Belgium appears to have emerged as the most progressive European Union (EU) government when it comes to allowing access to documents used in negotiating the opening up of public services under GATS.

According to information gathered by the Belgian government, Belgium has offered the highest degree of transparency among the 15 EU countries, with the possible exception of Austria where unions were sent a copy of the draft proposal. In Belgium, MPs, NGOs, trade unions and employer organisations all got to see the draft proposals during consultation sessions where they could examine and discuss the document, but had to return it at the end of the session.

In addition, Belgium insisted on transparency at the beginning of March when it pressed for the release of the European Commission's (EC) draft GATS offer.

Levels of EU members transparency according to the Belgium government are:

Austria: one draft per union, not available to NGOs
Denmark: draft not shown to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or unions, the EC's summary available only
Finland: parts of the draft were shown under conditions of confidentiality
France, Luxembourg, Sweden: no information received
Germany: draft not shown
Greece: oral explanations only, the summary not shown
Ireland: draft not shown
Italy: draft not shown
Netherlands: draft not shown
Portugal: "civil society did not show any interest"
Spain: oral explanations only
UK: as Denmark