Services Directive is badly started says Luxembourg Minister to EPSU
Press Release- 16 June 2005
A EPSU delegation had a long discussion with the Luxembourg Presidency on the Services Directive on 15 June 2005. We raised concerns on the Directive and the negative effect on workers and public services such as energy and water services. We argued for the withdrawal of the Directive. Minister Jeannot Krecké called the Directive a piece of legislation, which was on a bad track. He indicated he agreed with EPSU it would have been better to withdraw it and start anew. This is for the Commission to do however. He further agreed with EPSU that the European Commission should commence work on a Framework Directive on Services of General, Interest while recognising the differences, which exist between Member States.
“We welcome that the Luxembourg Presidency has listened attentively to our concerns and shares many of these. It is clear that this is a rotten dossier and the Commission should withdraw it rather then muddle through”, says EPSU Depury General Secretary Jan Willem Goudriaan on the eve of the European Council. “Withdrawing this Directive is one concrete and rapid measure the Commission and Europe’s governments can take to restore trust and demonstrate they take workers and citizens concerns seriously. The other rapid measure is to respect the decision of the European Parliament on working time to show that they also believe in a democratic European Union.”
The EPSU Delegation met the Minister to consider a number of energy issues. The Minister is currently president of the Council of Ministers for Energy.
Services Directive and utilities
The Minister informed the delegation that the Council is considering proposals which would exclude energy and water services (including waste water treatment) from the country of origin principle of the Services Directive. EPSU stressed these and other public services should be excluded from the scope of the Directive.
Comprehensive evaluation of electricity and gas liberalisation needed
EPSU voiced its doubts concerning the direction of Commission policy.. EPSU is concerned that the Commission is biased and works towards further liberalisation and increased competition without considering if alternatives deliver better and more economically efficient results. An honest and comprehensive evaluation, which includes considering the social consequences, is needed and the Commission should be prepared to propose changes, which correct the internal market. The EPSU delegation stressed that Member States’ governments should engage in and should stimulate the social dialogue in electricity and especially in the gas sector in the light of the many changes taking place.
South East European Treaty needs a social dimension
EPSU stressed its demand for a social dimension to the South East European Energy Treaty. It is no acceptable that the internal market for electricity and gas is extended to the Balkan countries without taking account of the EU social acquis and social dialogue. EPSU requested the Luxembourg Presidency to support that the European Parliament be able to debate and vote on the Treaty.
The EPSU delegation was Tom Jungen, national officer for the CGT-Luxembourg, Reszo Gal, President of the Hungarian electricity union VdSzSz and Claude Pommery of the French electricity and gas union CGT-FNME. Both are vice-president of the EPSU Standing Committee Utilities and members of the EPSU Executive Committee. Jan Willem Goudriaan, EPSU Deputy General Secretary completed the delegation.
Jan Willem Goudriaan, + 32 475 256912 or + 32 2 2501080. By email: epsu@epsu.org
EPSU the European Federation of Public Service Unions is a member of the ETUC. 8 million workers organised in their 195 trade unions are members of EPSU. These workers deliver services to the public in health and social services, local, regional and central government, and the utilities in energy, water and waste. EPSU organises workers in both public and private companies including large transnational companies.
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