Bolkestein in Berlijn verwelkomd door demonstranten (en)

The Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein is to be met with protests later today (18 October) during a visit to Berlin.

Demonstrators will protest against a planned directive from his department which would liberalise public services such as health and education.

Opponents of the new law fear that it will cause a lowering of standards in these services across the EU.

According to German press agency reports, Sahra Wagenknecht, a German left wing MEP, said the protest would be held with anti-globalisation movement Attac and a Berlin trades union.

Mr Bolkestein will be speaking at the Humboldt University in Berlin.