arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)
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EU constitution could open borders to foreign private hospitals and schools by Dirk Saturday August 09, 2003 at 09:44 AM |
The draft EU constitution could lead to the establishment of foreign-owned private health care and educational services.
The draft would give the EU the right to negotiate trade deals on behalf of the member-states' educational and health care services. This means that the public services of the individual member-states could face more international competition.
Under the plan
health care companies or private schools run by American or Asian companies, for instance, could be allowed to operate within the EU, provided that they obey local laws and regulations.
The countries might also lose the right to subsidise domestic providers of services, such as local authorities, unless the same support is given to private companies.
The new EU constitution is expected to come into force in 2006.