Interner Verhandlungszeitplan der EU für die GATS-offers
From: "Erik Wesselius" <erik@corporateeurope.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2002 9:55 AM
Subject: Leaked calendar for preparation of EU GATS offer

Yesterday I received a leaked internal EU agenda for the GATS negotiations leading up to the deadline for initial offers on 31 March. This is a very important paper. It shows that the Commission will present a first draft initial offer to the EU member state governments in mid January 2003. Members states can comment on the draft until mid-February 2003. Therefore, the period MID-JANUARY till MID FEBRUARY 2003 seems a CRUCIAL PERIOD for national parliaments and the european parliament if they want to claim democratic control over the formulation of the EU GATS offer.
Erik Wesselius, Corporate Europe Observatory / GATSwatch

Preparation of Gats offer from EC and its Member States - Tentative timeline

2 October 2002 > Initial assessment in 133-Services Committee of requests to EC and its Member States in the fields of professional and financial services in addition to horizontal issues of real estate and investment.

16 October 2002 > Initial assessment in 133-Services Committee of requests to EC and its Member States in the fields of computer, construction, distribution and business services. Member States complete inital assessment of national level restrictions targeted in incoming requests.

21 October / 1 November 2002 > CTS and bilateral meetings in Geneva.

6 November 2002 > Initial assessment in 133-Services Committee of requests to EC and its Member States in the fields of tele-communication, postal- and couriere, environmental, transport and energy services in addition to horizontal issue of mode 4.

27 November 2002 > Initial assessment in 133-Services Committee of requests to EC and its Member States in the fields of Tourism, education, health, audio-visual, recreational andfinancial services in addition to horizontal issues of mode 4, public utilities and subsidies.

2-13 December 2002 > CTS and bilateral meetings in Geneva.
18 December 2002> Assessment in 133-Services Committee of state of the play.
Mid-January 2003 > Commission present 1st draft initial offer.
Mid-February 2003 > Member States comment on 1st draft.
Mid-march 2003 > Commission present 2nd draft initial offer.
End-March 2003 > Member States endorse initial offer.
31 March 2003 > Submission in Geneva of initial offer.